Jordan Times
Friday, June 9, 2006
King tells Olmert
2-state solution must be achieved
PM assures Monarch Tel Aviv committed to roadmap
By Alia Shukri Hamzeh
AMMAN — King Abdullah on Thursday reiterated Jordan’s commitment to help
Palestinians and Israelis resume peace negotiations stressing that a two-state
solution based on the internationally recognised roadmap for peace was the only
way.
“A two-state solution is the only solution that we should seek. It is a solution
that must be achieved through bilateral Palestinian-Israeli negotiations and
agreements that are based on the roadmap,” King Abdullah told the press
following a 90-minute meeting with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
The King also said a negotiated agreement, which leads to a viable and
contiguous independent state on Palestinian territories, will help establish a
just and comprehensive Middle East peace that provides security and stability to
Arabs and Israelis.
The Monarch said he shared with Olmert concern over the worsening economic and
humanitarian situation in the Palestinian areas.
“We expressed Jordan’s desire for all parties to work together to guarantee the
resumption of assistance to the Palestinian people.” Olmert said he assured the
King that Israel would take concrete measures to improve the humanitarian
situation of the Palestinian population, adding that he would facilitate any aid
that comes from Jordan to the Palestinians.
Major international donors, led by the US, froze direct and crucially needed aid
to the Palestinian government after Hamas came to power in March, and refused to
recognise Israel and embrace existing interim Israeli-Palestinian peace deals.
The King said Olmert assured him of his commitment to the roadmap, and to
“reaching a peace agreement in the near future in partnership with the
Palestinians.”
“I am pleased to learn that he will be meeting soon with Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas,” the King said.
“I look forward to a strong partnership for peace with you, Mr. Prime Minister,
and to more cooperation between our two countries. We agreed to stay in close
contact in the weeks ahead to help move the process forward.”
Olmert said his talks with the King were “fruitful,” adding that he will meet
with Abbas in order to encourage the peace track.
“I told His Majesty that Israel is committed to the roadmap and to advancing the
bilateral track with the Palestinians. Israel will invest all efforts in order
to advance this avenue.”
“To that end, and in order to achieve the goal of a two-state solution that we
all strive for, I assured His Majesty that I intend to meet with Palestinian
Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in order to encourage the process that will
enable us to exhaust progress in accordance with the roadmap,” he said.
Olmert said the political stalemate in the Middle East was bad for all sides
including Israel, the Palestinians and Jordan.
He said he hoped that the Palestinian government will fully implement the
demands of the Quartet and the international community to facilitate future
negotiations on the basis of the roadmap, saying it was essential to avoid
stagnation.
But “should the Palestinians not meet their obligations, and should no political
horizon be apparent, we will have no alternative but to look for other ways in
order to move the situation in the Middle East forward,” he said.
“I hope that the Palestinian leadership will rise up to meet this challenge,”
Olmert added.
Neither Israel nor the Palestinians have met their commitments under the
roadmap, which envisions an independent Palestinian state side by side with
Israel. Under the internationally backed plan, the Palestinians are expected to
dismantle factions while Israel should freeze settlement expansion.
Olmert’s visit to Jordan is the first by an Israeli prime minister since 2003,
and his second trip to an Arab country since taking office in May. Olmert held
talks last week with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in the Sinai resort of
Sharm El Sheikh.
His trips to Arab countries are seen as part of the Israeli leader’s quest for
support for his controversial pledge to set his country’s borders by 2010,
unilaterally in case of failure to agree with the Palestinians. The plans raised
concern and were rejected in the region.
Both leaders made no mention in their press statements of Olmert’s controversial
pledge. Olmert’s visit comes a day after the King warned against any unilateral
moves.
The King and Saudi King Abdullah issued statements Wednesday slamming Israel’s
“unilateral solutions” and called for a resumption of the peace process based on
an Arab initiative drawn up by Saudi Arabia in 2002 and the roadmap.
They also called on Palestinian factions to “discard disputes and protect
national unity,” in a clear reference to recent clashes between the former
ruling Fateh movement and the government led by the Islamist movement Hamas.
The King and Olmert yesterday said they also discussed bilateral issues and ways
to advance economic cooperation such as the possibility of expanding the QIZ
areas.
“For Israel, transparent relations with Jordan are fundamental, essential and of
strategic importance. Israel will do everything possible to strengthen our
relations thereby strengthening both our countries,” Olmert said. “I am very
encouraged by the cooperation between our countries along our common border in
the struggle against global terror and other radical elements plaguing our
region. Jordan plays a crucial role in maintaining the stability and security of
our region.”