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.
© Jordan Times 2010
