FM conveys King’s message to Abbas

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Tuesday conveyed a message from His Majesty King Abdullah to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, which reiterated the “deep-rooted” Jordanian-Palestinian relations and joint efforts to mobilise international support for launching “serious” negotiations to reach a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

The message also covered means for upholding the ceasefire and the cessation of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, halting all illegal Israeli actions in Jerusalem and the occupied Palestinian territories, as well as maintaining Jordanian-Palestinian coordination and consultation.

Abbas conveyed his greetings to His Majesty, voicing appreciation of the Kingdom’s unaltered stances in support of Palestinians, exerting all efforts to meet their legitimate rights.

The Palestinian president, during the meeting, acquainted Safadi with the latest developments in the occupied Palestinian territories and the discussions made with Arab countries and major international powers, notably the US, towards stopping the Israeli aggression, violations and provocations against Jerusalem and Al Aqsa Mosque Al Haram Al Sharif, and respecting the legal and historical status quo, including the Hashemite Custodianship over the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

In joint press remarks with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Maliki, Safadi said that the Royal message emphasises the Kingdom’s historical position to support Palestinians by all possible means to meet their legitimate rights, mainly those pertaining to statehood, in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

The message also covered efforts exerted towards addressing “the current sensitive stage” following the cessation of the Israeli aggression on Gaza and ensuring moving forward towards “finding a political horizon” such that the last escalation would not occur again, according to the statement.

Violations at Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif as well as the forced displacement of the residents of Sheikh Jarrah and Selwan neighbourhoods, must be stopped, Safadi said, noting that forced displacement is regarded as a war crime that would refuel the situation.

“The world is talking about a permanent truce. The sole way to that end is finding a political solution, and eradicating the root cause of the conflict, which is the continuation of the occupation and the failure to realise the two-state solution,” he added.

He also highlighted the importance of this meeting as it comes ahead of the US Secretary of State’s visit to Palestine on Tuesday, and Amman on Wednesday.  

The positions of the US administration towards the two-state solution, Israeli settlements, forced displacement and unilateral steps that undermine peace opportunities are “all positive”, he said.

Safadi also highlighted the Kingdom’s ongoing coordination with the Palestinian and Egyptian sides, as well as all Arab countries, noting that under Royal directives, he will travel on Thursday to Portugal to meet the foreign ministers of the European Union in a meeting over the Palestinian issue.

Maliki for his part, lauded the Jordan’s “well-known” supportive position for the Palestinians rights, extending best wishes for the Jordanians and the government on the occasion of the Independence Day. 

He also commended the level of coordination between Jordan and Palestine, adding that the meeting focused on upholding the truce in Gaza, Jerusalem and the West Bank.