Jordan Times
Friday, March 12, 2010
Israel policies recipe for
more violence - King
Agencies
His Majesty King Abdullah reiterated on Thursday Jordan’s condemnation of
Israeli plan to build more settlement units in East Jerusalem, warning against
more violence in the region as a result of Tel Aviv’s unilateral measures in
occupied Palestinian lands.
The King made his remarks during a meeting with US Vice President Joseph Biden,
during which they discussed the latest developments in the Middle East and
efforts to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on the two-state solution.
During the meeting, attended by Prime Minister Samir Rifai, the Monarch warned
against the consequences of the Israeli unilateral measures, especially the
settlement construction and measures that hinder the peace process and alter the
identity of Jerusalem.
The King said the Israeli Tuesday decision to establish new settlements in East
Jerusalem aborts efforts to achieve peace, highlighting the US focal role in the
peace process.
During the talks, which continued over a lunch banquet, the King highlighted US
President Barack Obama’s commitment to the peace process, stressing the need for
more international efforts in light of the current Israeli practices that would
block the way for the emergence of an independent Palestinian state. He warned
against wasting the opportunity to achieve peace in the region.
Discussions also covered means to enhance bilateral ties, with the King voicing
appreciation for the US’ economic assistance to the Kingdom.
Moscow meetings
The King’s talks with Biden Thursday came after he returned to the Kingdom from
a several-day visit to Britain and Russia.
Earlier in the day, King Abdullah discussed with Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev the latest developments in the Middle East and efforts to resolve the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on the two-state solution within a
comprehensive regional context, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
During their meeting Thursday, discussions also focused on means to enhance
cooperation between Jordan and Russia at all levels.
At a joint press conference with the Russian president, King Abdullah said the
meeting was part of efforts to boost bilateral ties with Russia, noting that the
relationship between the Kingdom and Russia is improving continuously.
His Majesty highlighted the need for Russia to continue playing its role in
supporting peace efforts, stressing the significance of bolstering international
coordination to overcome obstacles hindering the resumption of serious and
effective Palestinian-Israeli negotiations to realise the Palestinians’
aspirations for liberty and an independent state.
For his part, Medvedev underlined the “distinguished” relationship between
Jordan and Russia, which he said has seen significant development during the
last years, especially in economic fields.
He indicated that the two countries are facing huge responsibilities regarding
the need to resolve regional crises.
During the talks, which continued over a lunch banquet held in honour of the
King, the Monarch warned against unilateral Israeli measures, particularly
settlement construction and other attempts to alter the identity of Jerusalem,
which he said constitute real obstacles to peace.
Discussions also focused on the latest developments in the peace process and the
start of indirect negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis, which are
threatened by Israel’s recent decision to build new settlements in East
Jerusalem.
The two leaders looked into prospects for further cooperation, especially in the
field of economy, stressing the need to build on existing ties.
His Majesty’s visit to Russia came before the Middle East Quartet meeting,
slated to be held on March 19 in Moscow with the participation of the US, EU and
UN, in addition to Russia.
Also Thursday, Jordan and Russia signed the executive programme of a bilateral
scientific and cultural cooperation agreement.
The programme, signed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Judeh and his
Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, includes several agreements for bilateral
cooperation in the fields of higher education, culture, media, health, sports
and youth for the period 2010-2012.
Under the agreement, concerned sectors in both countries will organise several
programmes and activities and cement cooperation through the exchange of
expertise and scholarships. They will also cooperate in holding scientific and
cultural events and activities geared towards youths as well as media
activities.
The deal also entails cooperation in holding activities for youths and
collaborating in the IT sector and training.
During his visit to London, the King discussed with British Prime Minister
Gordon Brown means to surmount obstacles hindering a resolution to the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict according to the two-state formula and within a
regional context.
Talks also covered means to boost ties between the Kingdom and Britain.
Also while in London, the Monarch delivered a speech at the UK Defence Academy,
which focused on challenges facing the region as well as efforts to achieve
peace.
Biden in Tel Aviv
In Tel Aviv earlier Thursday, Biden called for Palestinian-Israeli peace talks
to start without delay despite Palestinian insistence that Israel first cancel a
settlement project condemned by Washington, Reuters reported.
Israel’s announcement this week, during Biden’s visit, of plans to build 1,600
settler homes in an area of the occupied West Bank it unilaterally annexed to
Jerusalem, cast a shadow over US efforts to relaunch Middle East peacemaking.
“The most important thing is for these talks to go forward and go forward
promptly and go forward in good faith,” Biden said in a speech at Tel Aviv
University. “We can’t delay because when progress is postponed, extremists
exploit our differences.”
The settlement announcement embarrassed Biden, who said it undermined peace
efforts, and infuriated the West Bank-based Palestinian leadership, which had
agreed to a US proposal for indirect talks under pressure from Washington and
Arab allies.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told Arab League Secretary General Amr Musa
on Wednesday that he had decided not to enter the talks for now. The Arab League
had endorsed a four-month framework for the US-mediated negotiations.
In a telephone conversation with Biden before the Tel Aviv address, Abbas
“reiterated to him that Israel must annul the settlement project in Jerusalem so
that indirect talks will not be obstructed”, Abbas aide Nabil Abu Rudeina told
Reuters.
Palestinian officials had no immediate comment on Biden’s speech.
US officials expressed confidence that despite the flare-up, the indirect
negotiations could begin as early as next week, when US Middle East envoy George
Mitchell is scheduled to return to the region.
In his address, Biden gave no sign Washington would press Israel to cancel the
project as the Palestinians have demanded, and Israeli officials made clear it
would not do so.
Instead, he termed “significant” assurances from Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu that building at the site, a religious settlement, would not start for
years.
With no construction scheduled for now, Biden said, negotiators would have time
to “resolve this and other outstanding issues”. He stressed that indirect talks
should lead to direct negotiations on key issues of Palestinian statehood.
In a statement, Netanyahu said he had voiced his displeasure to his interior
minister, a leader of the ultra-orthodox, nationalist Shas Party, over the
timing of the announcement of the project. But there appeared to be little
chance of any imminent crisis within his governing coalition.
A total of 50,000 new homes for Jewish settlers in mainly Arab East Jerusalem
are in various stages of planning, Agence France-Presse reported, citing a
report published on Thursday by an Israeli anti-settlement group.
Plans for 20,000 apartments are in advanced stages of approval, while plans for
the other 30,000 still need to be submitted to planning committees, the Ir Amin
group said.
Israeli assurances
Biden’s speech was widely seen in Israel as an attempt by the White House to
counter-balance the address to the Muslim world that Obama delivered in June in
Cairo.
Many Israelis view Obama with suspicion, and Biden reaffirmed in his speech a US
commitment to Israel’s security and what he called Washington’s determination to
ensure that Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons.
On the Palestinian-Israeli diplomatic front, Mitchell, who has been trying to
broker for a year a resumption of talks, was expected to return to Israel and
the West Bank next week.
Israel considers all of Jerusalem its capital, a claim that has not won
international recognition. Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of
the state they hope to establish in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
“Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and construction there will be carried out
like in Tel Aviv or any other city - in every part of Jerusalem according to the
plans,” Israeli Cabinet Secretary Zvi Hauser told Israel Radio.
The Palestinians say the settlements, considered illegal by major world powers,
will deny them a viable state.