Jordan Times
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Jordan will not abandon peace
efforts - Judeh
AMMAN (Petra) –– Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said that despite criticism of
Jordan’s stance as “conventional rhetoric”, the Kingdom will not abandon its
commitment to ending the Arab-Israeli conflict through a two-state solution.
In an interview with Jordan Television on Friday, Judeh said that any future
efforts to bring about peace and stability in the region will be based on ending
the conflict within a regional context and the two-state solution.
The top diplomat said that during the annual United Nations General Assembly
last month, Jordan reiterated the importance of establishing an independent and
viable state for Palestinians on their national soil with Jerusalem as its
capital.
He indicated that in a speech to the UN assembly, US President Barack Obama
stressed his commitment to achieve peace in the region according to the
two-state solution and to ending Israeli occupation of all Arab lands seized in
1967.
Obama also highlighted the US administration’s rejection of Israeli settlement
measures and addressed final status issues including security, borders, refugees
and Jerusalem, Judeh pointed out.
It is important to take advantage of the US stance towards the region, which is
committed to ending the Arab-Israeli conflict, the minister said. He noted that
while Arab countries are committed to peace under the 2002 Arab Peace
Initiative, Israeli officials are hindering peace efforts.
According to opinion polls in Israel, over 60 per cent of Israelis support
ending the conflict and believe in the two-state solution, he stressed.
Meanwhile, Judeh pointed to Egyptian efforts to reach reconciliation between
Palestinian factions, indicating that there is an opportunity to strengthen the
Palestinian side in peace negotiations.