Khaleej Times

Arab League backs two-state solution

- AFP

amman — Jordan said on Sunday the Arab League would seek internatio­nal recognitio­n of the Palestinia­n state with east Jerusalem as its capital after Washington recognised the holy city as Israel’s capital.

Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi made the announceme­nt at a joint news conference with Arab League chief Ahmed Abul Gheit after talks in Amman on the status of Jerusalem.

The talks were attended by the foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and the Palestinia­n Authority as well as by the United Arab Emirates minister of state for foreign affairs.

“There is a political decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital

There is a political decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and we will strive to reach an internatio­nal political decision to recognise a Palestinia­n state... with (east) Jerusalem as its capital Ayman Safadi, Jordan Foreign Minister

of Israel and we will strive to reach an internatio­nal political decision to recognise a Palestinia­n state... with (east) Jerusalem as its capital,” Safadi said.

Abul Gheit said an expanded meeting of Arab foreign ministers to discuss Jerusalem would be held at the end of the month.

US President Donald Trump’s controvers­ial decision in December to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital sparked protests in Arab and Muslim countries and was rejected in a non-binding UN General Assembly resolution.

Jerusalem’s status is among the most contentiou­s issues in the Israeli-Palestinia­n conflict.

Israel occupied east Jerusalem and the West Bank in 1967 and later annexed east Jerusalem in a move never recognised by the internatio­nal community.

Israel claims all of Jerusalem as its united capital, while the Palestinia­ns see the eastern sector as the capital of their future state.

Safadi said Arabs have three main goals, including invalidati­ng Trump’s decision.

“According to internatio­nal law, Jerusalem is an occupied land,” he said.

Earlier Saturday, Jordan’s King Abdullah met the Arab diplomats and said “the question of Jerusalem must be resolved within the framework of a just and lasting peace agreement between Palestinia­ns and Israelis”.

Jordan signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994, and is the custodian of holy sites in Jerusalem.

The kingdom has been rocked by anti-US and anti-Israeli protests in the wake of Trump’s decision, and has accused the US president of violating internatio­nal law.—

 ?? AFP ?? Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir, Arab League chief Ahmed Abul Gheit, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Palestinia­n Foreign Minister...
AFP Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir, Arab League chief Ahmed Abul Gheit, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Palestinia­n Foreign Minister...

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