‘Jordan is keen to coordinate with Abbas’

AMMAN — Jordan has stressed that it would maintain coordination with the Palestinian leadership and President Mahmoud Abbas.

During a meeting in Amman with Abbas on Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh conveyed the King's “greetings and keenness to maintain continued coordination and consultations with the Palestinian president, especially in light of the latest developments in the Palestinian arena”, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The meeting occurred on the heels of the King’s discussions with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Amman on Saturday. 

Judeh reasserted during his meeting with Abbas that Jordan deems the Palestinian cause the core conflict in the region. 

Judeh renewed the call for the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state on Palestinian national soil within the pre-1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with relevant international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. 

Abbas expressed his appreciation of His Majesty King Abdullah’s support for the Palestinian people in their pursuit to regain their legitimate rights, citing the latest efforts led by His Majesty to stop the Israeli attacks and acts of aggression. 

In a related development, Judeh on Sunday said that upholding the status quo in line with previous understandings between Israel and Jordan is the Kingdom’s first priority.

He said the recent escalation at Jerusalem’s sanctuaries and the violence worries Jordan, noting that Jordan’s custodianship and responsibilities at Al Haram Al Sharif are one  of its top priorities, and that the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Saturday pledge to uphold the status quo is welcomed and on the correct path.

He said Jordan supports efforts aimed at bringing back peace, and stopping the violence and provocative measures to continue resolving problems through serious negotiations, Petra reported. 

Kerry on Saturday stated that Netanyahu was committed to maintaining the unchanged status quo at holy sites in Jerusalem.