Jordan Times
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Judeh warns against Israeli
measures
AMMAN (Petra) - The government on Saturday warned against the dangers posed by
excavation works Israel carried out beneath and around Al Aqsa Mosque, and by
house demolitions in Jerusalem, stressing that such Israeli measures will have a
negative impact on any future peaceful settlement.
In a speech yesterday at a conference of foreign ministers of the Organisation
of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Damascus, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser
Judeh reviewed the role of the Hashemites in protecting the holy sites in
Jerusalem.
Stressing the need to continue efforts to rally the international community's
support for the two-state solution, the minister also emphasised the importance
of launching serious negotiations in accordance with a specific time frame based
on the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative and the international terms of reference,
within a regional context.
The minister said the future of peace cannot be separated from the future of
Jerusalem, and no future is possible without an end to the Israeli occupation,
preserving the holy sites and the Islamic and Arab identity of Jerusalem.
Judeh said Israel must meet its commitments stipulated by the roadmap, which
require it to stop building settlements and all activities that threaten the
establishment of an independent, sovereign, viable and contiguous Palestinian
state. The roadmap also requires Israel to ensure freedom of movement of the
Palestinians, lifting blockades and an end to the construction of the separation
barriers.
The minister, who said it was significant to start Palestinian-Israeli
negotiations in a regional context, voiced appreciation for the US commitment to
this end.
Judeh also urged inter-Palestinian dialogue and expressed the Kingdom's support
for Egyptian efforts to achieve this objective.
In addition, the minister highlighted the important role played by the OIC in
dealing with challenges facing the Arab world and the Islamic Umma.
On the sidelines of the gathering, Judeh met with his Russian, Turkish and
Syrian counterparts, Sergei Lavrov, Ahmet Davutoglu and Walid Mouallem, as well
as OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu.
Discussions covered means to foster ties and efforts exerted to bring about
peace and stability in the region.
The minister also reviewed His Majesty King Abdullah's efforts to launch serious
and effective Palestinian-Israeli negotiations based on the two-state solution,
the Arab Peace Initiative and international resolutions.