Jordan Times
Monday, December 7, 2009
King urges European pressure to halt Israeli measures in Jerusalem
AMMAN (JT) –– His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday
urged a more active European role in removing obstacles that hinder efforts to
end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, according to a Royal Court statement.
During a working lunch with the ambassadors of European Union member states in
Amman, the King stressed the need to intensify efforts to relaunch serious
negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis within a clear time frame
that tackle final status issues and guarantee the establishment of an
independent and viable Palestinian state that can live in peace and security
next to Israel.
The Monarch called on European countries to place more pressure on Israel to
halt its unilateral measures in occupied Jerusalem, saying that these measures
seek to change the identity of the city by forcing Muslims and Christians to
leave their homes and lands and threaten Islamic and Christian holy places.
He commended the efforts of Sweden, which currently presides over the EU, to
forge a unified European stance that recognises East Jerusalem as the capital of
the Palestinian state.
A row has broken out between Israel and the EU over the proposal that the bloc
call for an "independent, democratic, contiguous and viable state of Palestine
comprising the West Bank and Gaza and with East Jerusalem as its capital,"
Agence France-Presse reported.
The draft text was prepared for a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on
Wednesday, but diplomats said it could change ahead of the talks because of
opposition from member states, AFP said.
Israel occupied and annexed East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war and
considers it the Jewish state's "eternal indivisible capital", in a move never
recognised by the international community.
King Abdullah told the EU envoys that ending the conflict according to the
two-state solution is the sole means to bring security and stability to the
region.
His Majesty reviewed Jordan’s efforts to implement development and reform
programmes to achieve sustainable growth in various fields.
He stressed the Kingdom’s keenness to upgrade cooperation with EU countries,
expressing hope that the endorsement of the Lisbon Treaty as of this month will
boost the European role in the international arena and reinforce partnerships
with countries in the region.