Safadi, Shoukry reaffirm coordination to confront illegal Israeli actions

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Monday met Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry within the framework of the ongoing coordination and consultation to confront illegal Israeli  actions that undermine the peace process, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

In a joint press conference following the meeting, Safadi said that Shoukry has delivered a letter from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to His Majesty King Abdullah addressing the recent escalation in the occupied Palestinian territories and joint efforts to build on what has been achieved in connection with the ceasefire, cessation of Israeli violations and finding the required political means to support Palestinians and   meet their legitimate rights. 

Safadi highlighted the ongoing coordination and consultation between the two countries, noting that discussions during the meeting with his counterpart has focused on future actions, in coordination with the international community and the regional players, including Palestine, to ensure that what happened would not be repeated, the statement said.

Talks also went over efforts to find a political solution towards relaunching an active international action to end the occupation and achieve a fair and comprehensive peace that guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Priority is attached to three issues: Ensuring the continuation of ceasefire and cessation of Israeli aggression against Gaza, and ensuring that Israeli violations, that fuelled the last escalation, would not be repeated.

Safadi said that enforcing a siege on the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood would refuel tensions, stressing the issue of the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood should be addressed in accordance with the principle that the Israeli side has no right to forcefully displace the residents of Sheikh Jarrah from their homes, considering such actions a war crime that should be prevented by the international community.

The other issue is the Israeli violations against Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif, he said, highlighting the Kingdom’s efforts in this arena to stop provocations and maintain the historical and legal status quo and the Arab-Islamic-Christian identity of the holy city.

Safadi also touched on the Jordanian-Egyptian coordination over rebuilding the Gaza Strip, noting that the two sides will convene during the upcoming days with the US state secretary to discuss means of moving forward according to the proposed bases. He added that intensive contacts will be made with the European side, besides communications with the Arab countries. 

He also expressed appreciation of Egypt’s efforts to reach the ceasefire.

Responding to reporters’ questions, Safadi said that Jordan and Egypt “see eye-to-eye” on rejecting all illegal Israeli  practices that undermine the two-sate solution and breach international law.

Safadi stressed that Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine, reiterating that the custodianship over the holy sites is Hashemite.

Infringing upon Jerusalem and its holy sites is the shortest way to fueling conflict and provoking the feelings of Muslims and Christians worldwide, Safadi said.

He added that Jordan has contacted Hamas during the last period, noting that the intention was to serve the interests of Palestinians. 

Shoukry for his part, emphasized the importance of maintaining the Hashemite Custodianship over Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian holy sites, highlighting keenness to advance Jordanian-Egyptian ties to confront regional challenges.