Jordan: “Settlement Freeze Must Include Jerusalem”

Sunday November 29, 2009 10:25 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Jordan’s Foreign Minister, Nasser Joudah , stated Saturday that the Israeli declaration of a temporary freeze of settlement activities, excluding in Jerusalem, is an insufficient step that does not help in reaching a two-state solution, as settlement freeze must include occupied East Jerusalem.

Nasser Joudah - akhbaralaalam.net

Joudah added that the International Community is trying to achieve peace based on a two-state solution, so the Palestinians can have their state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Jordanian FM added that the peace process should be resumed from where it was halted, and should tackle all major issues, mainly Jerusalem, borders and refugees.

He said that the United States must be actively involved in the peace process and should set a clear timeframe under international guarantees for a full Israeli withdrawal to the borders of June 4, 1967.

Joudah further said that Jordan rejects the illegal Israeli activities in Jerusalem, and the attempts to affect the demography of the city in addition to the ongoing Israeli violations against Muslim and Christian Holy sites.

He also stated that Jordan rejects the unilateral Israeli decisions that mainly aim at altering the status of Jerusalem as an occupied city, and called for halting all Israeli settlement activities until a permanent peace deal is reached and clear borders are set.

arab world | jerusalem | news report saed at imemc dot org