Jordan Times
Friday, February 20, 2004

Israeli barrier illegal, FM reiterates

By Alia Shukri Hamzeh

“Jordan's official position is that the wall is illegal and as such, the wall, if it is inside Palestinian territory, has to come down,” Muasher told a press conference following talks with visiting South Korean counterpart Ban Ki-moon.

Muasher reiterated that “not only does the wall threatened a viable Palestinian state and the peace process, but also Jordan's national security.”

“We always maintained, and this was an integral part of our presentation to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), that the wall is in violation of the humanitarian law and international law because it's being built on occupied territory,” Muasher added.

He said Jordan was ready to deliver its speech to the ICJ, which opens hearings on the legality of the 700km barrier next week. Jordan has presented its legal argument to the ICJ in the Hague, along with other countries.

“We are comfortable with our legal argument,” Muasher said.

Israel, the US and EU presented brief statements to the ICJ but refused to recognise its jurisdiction to decide on the issue. Israel announced it would not participate in the hearings and decided to send a Jerusalem bus wrecked in a suicide bombing last month to the Netherlands as part of its public relations offensive to the hearings.

Israel argues that the so-called security barrier is meant to fend off attacks and suicide bombings. Palestinians however say the “segregation wall” aims at annexing more Palestinian land and isolating its people.

The International Committee of the Red Cross on Wednesday said the controversial wall violates international humanitarian law because it cuts across Palestinian land. It said the barrier bars thousands of Palestinians from adequate access to basic services such as water, healthcare and education.

Yesterday, Amnesty International (AI) called on the Israeli authorities to immediately dismantle the sections already built inside the West Bank and halt the construction of the “fence/wall” and related infrastructure inside the occupied territories. AI also considers the barrier in violation of international law.

While 44 UN member states made written submissions to the ICJ, around 15 countries asked to present oral statements. Jordan's oral statement will be delivered on the second day of the hearings, Muasher said.

The EU, which considers any opinion from the tribunal on the wall “inappropriate” and believes that it risks undermining peace efforts, will not address the court. Neither will the US.

Meanwhile, Muasher told journalists his talks with the Korean foreign minister focused on enhancing economic, cultural and political bilateral ties.

Ban, who chose Jordan as his first destination outside South Korea since he became foreign minister, said both countries have enjoyed excellent ties since the establishment of bilateral relations in 1962.

Ban announced his country has extended an additional $5 million grant to Jordan for economic development projects and plans to dispatch expert teams led by the Korean International Cooperation Agency to discuss mutually beneficial programmes.

He also extended an official invitation to His Majesty King Abdullah to visit Korea this year. The King, he said, has accepted.

He said Jordan assured Korea of its assistance and cooperation to help facilitate the safety and operations of its troops in Iraq. South Korea's parliament had approved a government plan to send 3,000 troops to help with the reconstruction of the war-torn country. The deployment will make South Korea, which sent 675 noncombat troops to Iraq last May, the country with the third-largest contingent in Iraq after the US and UK.

Commenting on Israeli announced plans for a unilateral withdrawal from Gaza by dismantling settlements, both officials called on Palestinians and Israelis to return to the Quartet-backed roadmap for peace, saying any unilateral action from either side would be counterproductive.

“We have requested the parties concerned to refrain from taking any unilateral measures which may not be conducive to a smooth implementation of the road map agreed to in the Quartet meeting,” said Ban.

Muasher however, said Jordan was still unsure if the step to dismantle Gaza settlements was a positive one.

“Anytime there is a withdrawal from any settlement, I think it is a positive development, but we also want to make sure that this is first within the context of the roadmap and second that this does not result in an action in the West Bank that would be against the roadmap or that would lead to an expansion of settlement there,” he said.

Muasher told reporters Jordan has not made an official response pending some clarifications from Israel regarding the proposal.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon earlier this month proposed a unilateral disengagement plan by which Israeli settlements in Gaza would be dismantled.

Sharon recently gave orders to prepare to uproot as many as 17 of Israel's Gaza settlements.

Palestinians, however, maintain that under the unilateral separation plans, Israel would trade in Gaza for permanent control over areas of the West Bank.

In reference to Jordanian prisoners held in Israeli jails, Muasher told journalists efforts were still under way to secure the release of all prisoners including the four, who were detained since before the 1994 peace treaty with Israel.

The government has in past months been in contact with Israeli officials to ensure the release of Jordanian citizens. Israel freed 10 Jordanians last November. Muasher said another group — around 20 — was expected to be released last month following a planned visit by Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom to the Kingdom. But the visit was postponed for “technical reasons.”

Shalom was expected to discuss the release of an estimated 71 Jordanian prisoners.

Also on Thursday, Muasher met president of the German Parliament (Bundestag), Wolfgang Thierse, for talks on the latest developments in the region, particularly the peace process and Iraq, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Muasher stressed the need to revive the peace process and implement the roadmap. He also reviewed Jordan's efforts to accelerate the transfer of power to the Iraqis. The meeting was attended by First Deputy Speaker of the Lower House Nayef Fayez.

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