Jordan king: Israel's annexation plans jeopardize regional peace

Abdullah tells British lawmakers in virtual meeting that only path to comprehensive and lasting Mideast peace is establishment of independent Palestinian state based on 1967 lines and with East Jerusalem as its capital

Reuters|
Jordan's King Abdullah warned on Monday that any unilateral Israeli moves to annex territory in the West Bank would fuel instability and dim hopes of a final settlement of the decades-old Arab-Israeli conflict.
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  • The monarch told British lawmakers the only path to a comprehensive and lasting Middle East peace was the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on land captured by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day-War, and with East Jerusalem as its capital.
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    ועידת הליגה הערבית בטוניסיה
    ועידת הליגה הערבית בטוניסיה
    King Abdullah of Jordan
    (Photo: AP)
    "Any unilateral Israeli measure to annex lands in the West Bank is unacceptable, as it would undermine the prospects of achieving peace and stability in the Middle East," the monarch told members of the British foreign and defense parliamentary committee in a virtual meeting, according to Al Husseiniya Palace.
    Jordan has led a diplomatic campaign along with most other European countries that oppose the Israeli plans that envisage annexing parts of the West Bank as part of a deal being promoted by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration.
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    King Abdullah meeting with White House aide Jared Kushner in Amman
    King Abdullah meeting with White House aide Jared Kushner in Amman
    King Abdullah meeting with White House aide Jared Kushner in Amman
    (Photo: Archive)
    King Abdullah, a staunch U.S. ally, has also in recent months warned that Israeli policies along with Trump's peace plan would lead to conflict and deal a blow to Israeli-Jordanian relations.
    Jordan lost the West Bank and East Jerusalem to Israel during the 1967 Six-Day war.
    It was the second Arab country after Egypt to sign a peace treaty with Israel and many of its more than 7 million citizens are of Palestinian origin.
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