AMMAN (JT) — Jordan renewed its condemnation of Israel’s continued military operations and “collective penalties” against Palestinians.

Bashir Zu'bi, acting head of the Kingdom’s UN mission, told a Security Council meeting on the Mideast situation that the latest developments jeopardise security and stability in the region, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Saturday. Zu'bi said Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip weaken the prospects for peace and urged the council to "send a clear, strong message about that unproductive attitude, which should end". "Any failure to send that message would facilitate a further deterioration of the situation," he told the meeting in New York. He called on Israel to end its practices that violated the rights of the Palestinians.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Abdul Ilah Khatib on Friday telephoned EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and European Neighbourhood Policy Commissioner Ferrero Waldner, urging the Quartet to help end Israel’s aggression and channel aid to the Palestinians. Khatib also met with the ambassadors of the five permanent member states of the Security Council as well as Germany and warned against grave repercussions of the Israeli aggression.

Khatib telephoned his Israeli counterpart Tzipi Levni and demanded an end to Israel’s military operations and its siege imposed on the Palestinians.

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