Continued Israeli violations threaten prospects for peace — FM

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Ayman Safadi on Monday warned of the dangers of continuing illegitimate Israeli procedures that entrench the occupation and undermine prospects for realising a just and comprehensive peace.

Safadi's remarks came during an international meeting that announced the "Peace Day Effort" initiative, launched by Saudi Arabia, the EU and the Arab League, with the support of Jordan and Egypt, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

The minister added that the main message of this meeting was that peace is a necessity for the stability and development of the region. However, peace will never be realised without ending the occupation and meeting the Palestinian people's right to freedom and a sovereign independent state on the national soil based on the two-state solution according to international law, accredited reference and the Arab peace initiative. 

He said that the initiative emphasises the importance of the Arab peace initiative as the most comprehensive proposal to achieve a stable and secure future that provides development and welfare opportunities for all peoples in the region.

Safadi added that the "Peace Day Effort" initiative is based on the pillars of the Arab peace initiative, which adopts peace as a pan-Arab strategic option as the sole path to ending the Israeli occupation of Arab land and establishing an independent Palestinian state on the pre-1967 borders according to the two-state solution that lives in security and peace with Israel. 

The minister added that the Arab peace initiative has presented a pan-Arab vision for comprehensive and lasting peace that is consistent with international law and is capable of placing the region on the cusp of a new era of cooperation and development. However, Israel has not responded to this initiative and continues its actions and policies that prevent the achievement of peace.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and Arab league Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit opened the meeting, which was held on the sidelines of the High-level Meetings of the UN General Assembly's 78th Session in New York. 

Earlier in the day, Safadi met with CEO of the American Jewish Committee Ted Deutch and President of the Committee Michael Tichnor and reviewed developments related to the Palestinian issue.

During the meeting, the foreign minister stressed the need to halt all unilateral Israeli measures, resume serious and effective negotiations, and intensify efforts to achieve a just peace according to the two-state solution. 

Also on Sunday, Safadi participated in the 18th ministerial meeting on the Middle East, organised by the International Peace Institute in cooperation with Qatar and the EU on the sidelines of the high-level week of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly.