Jordan has criticized Israel for “unilateral measures” to prevent a two-state solution. During a visit to the USA, Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi called for an end to settlement expansion and the confiscation of land. In addition, Israel should not interfere in Jordan’s responsibility for the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, he said during a meeting with US Secretary of State Blinken, according to Israeli media (Friday).
“It is in all of our interests, in order to preserve the chances of peace,” which is important for all peoples in the region – Palestinians, Israelis, Jordanians and everyone else – said the Jordanian minister. Safadi is in Washington to sign a new seven-year bilateral memorandum with the US.
“We recognize how difficult the situation is at the moment, but we cannot throw in the towel,” he said, referring to the growing tensions in the Palestinian territories and the increasing number of clashes with the Israeli military. Together with the US, “we will continue to work on this and we hope for better times when Israelis and Palestinians come together peacefully,” Safadi added.
Blinken stressed that the US advocated a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders with mutually agreed land swaps. President Joe Biden made a public commitment to this at his meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in July.
In the face of deteriorating conditions and growing violence in the Palestinian territories, US diplomats have been pushing for the continuation of Israel’s security coordination with the Palestinian Authority in recent weeks. However, the Israeli media write that it is finding it difficult to maintain control and legitimacy in the face of the economic crisis. Most recently, Barbara Leaf, the senior US diplomat for the Middle East, visited the region and implored all parties to stabilize the PA to prevent a larger crisis.
