House speaker urges Arab counterparts to assume stronger rejection of Israeli annexation move

AMMAN — Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh on Wednesday called on his counterparts in the Arab world to adopt strict stances rejecting the plans of the Israeli government to annex parts of the Jordan Valley, the West Bank and the Golan Heights. 

In a Lower House statement carried by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, Tarawneh reiterated the Kingdom’s commitment towards the Palestinian cause and stressed Jordan’s support to Palestinians in refusing any solutions that compromise their rights on their national soil, mainly their right to statehood.  

In another statement, the speaker, in his capacity as president of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union (APU), said that Arab parliaments "must pressure their governments and contact effective powers in international decision-making to foil the Israeli plans, which undercut all peace agreements".

The Palestinian issue is witnessing its "most dangerous phase ever" as Israel is increasing threats and seeks to impose new facts on the ground, "backed by US support and bias", Tarawneh added.

Despite division among Arab countries on several issues, “Palestine has always been and will continue to be our central issue”, said the APU president, stressing that "it is time for the issue to be at the top level", especially since it is the "real driver" for the region's peace, security and stability. 

He stressed: "Palestinian forces and factions are required today to achieve the national conciliation to form the first front of Arab rejection of all steps that aim at dissolving the Palestinian cause and countering the annexation plots."