Jordan's king 'very concerned' over East Jerusalem settlements
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Berlin, Nov 29, IRNA -- Jordanian King Abdullah here Tuesday said he was 'very concerned' over Israel's settlement activities in occupied East Jerusalem.
Speaking at a joint press briefing with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at her office in Berlin, the king 'underscored the need to halt (Israeli) settlement activities.'
'We are very concerned about the settlement activity that we see in East Jerusalem,' he added.
The Jordanian leader made clear Israel's settlement policy was an impediment to resuming peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians.
He stressed it was 'crucial' that Israel let through blocked western aid 'to build infrastructure and improve the economy' in the Palestinian-run territories.
'We hope that the Israelis will look at releasing funding in an area that will have a direct impact on schools and hospitals, meeting the vital needs of the Palestinian people,' Abdullah added.
Meanwhile, Merkel said she was very 'troubled' that the peace negotiations were 'not advancing at all.'
She warned that the situation in the Mideast conflict could deteriorate, if there is no progress in jump-starting Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
Palestinians have reiterated such talks could not be revived unless the Zionist regime imposes a settlement building freeze.
Reagrded usually as a die-hard supporter of the Zionist regime, Merkel has seriously questioned whether the illegal Jewish state was even interested in having peace with the Palestinian side amid ongoing Jewish settlement plans.
Berlin has time and again called on Tel Aviv to end all settlement activity, saying it threatened a negotiated solution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
OT**1412
Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30689647
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
