Jordan’s king visits West Bank
Jordan’s King Abdullah II paid a rare visit to the West Bank on Thursday in a show of support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ successful bid for UN recognition of a Palestinian state.
The Jordanians spoke out sharply against Israel’s latest plans to build thousands of new settler homes in response to the Palestinian move, including initial plans to revive a contentious project east of Jerusalem.
The project, known as E1, would separate the West Bank from East Jerusalem, the Palestinians’ hopedfor capital, and drive a big wedge between the northern and southern flanks of the West Bank.
“The settlement policy is not only rejected from our side as Arabs and Palestinians, but also by the whole world,” Abdullah’s foreign minister, Nasser Judeh, said.
Neither the king nor Abbas commented publicly after the meeting.
But Abdullah’s arrival gave a highprofile boost of support to the UN bid, which has come under fierce Israeli criticism. Jordan is one of just two Arab countries with a peace agreement with Israel, so the king’s public support was significant.
The UN resolution recognized a Palestinian state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip — territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war. Israel rejects a return to its 1967 lines and says a future border must be reached through negotiations.
The new settlement plans have drawn widespread international condemnation, with the U.S. and key Israeli allies in Europe all urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to call off the plans.