Momani says US decision to relocate its embassy to Jerusalem is ‘null and void’

AMMAN — Minister of State for Media Affairs Mohammad Momani on Thursday reconfirmed that the US decision to relocate its embassy to Jerusalem is “null and void”, noting that it lacks legal status, harms the peace process and only serves extremist organisations.

Momani’s remarks came during his weekly interview on the Jordan Television’s morning show “News and Dialogue”, in response to a question on a tweet by US President Donald Trump saying that Washington plans to relocate its embassy in May. 

The minister, who is also the government spokesperson, noted that the absence of a just solution to the Palestinian issue is causing despair and feeding extremism in the region, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Jordan has always stressed and will continue to affirm the international consensus on the invalidity of the US decision, he underscored, adding that the resolution was unilateral and will neither serve the peace process nor contribute to a just settlement to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. 

Replying to a question about the replacement of US troops in Syria with Arab forces, Momani said that official stances cannot be built on information circulated on media outlets.

He added that the Kingdom’s stance towards the Syrian crisis has always called for a political solution based on UN resolutions that guarantee the unity of Syrians and the territorial integrity of the country.

Locally, he described talks on amendments to the Elections Law as a “civilised national status”, highlighting that the matter is still under negotiations among political and parliamentary figures.

This phase has to take enough time and go through all required efforts to reach certain ideas that political powers can discuss so as to serve the political reform process, the minister pointed out. 

As for bank robberies, Momani condemned the people taking to social media to express their sympathy with robbers, describing sympathisers as “criminals against themselves and their society”.

In this regard, he said that ensuring security for banks and financial institutions requires cooperation between the sector and official organisations through a security system that guarantees protection and safety for all financial institutions.

Asked about hybrid vehicles, Momani said that the government granted merchants a month to finalise clearance for their hybrid vehicles, noting that the government’s policy on this type of cars has achieved its goals and led to an increase in their number in the Kingdom. 

The government seeks to encourage fully electric cars, the minister added, pinning hopes for such a move to contribute to increasing their number in light of their role in positively reflecting on the environment, infrastructure and reducing fuel consumption.