Jordanians united in support of Palestinian people — Tarawneh

AMMAN — Jordan stands united behind the Palestinian people, with an unwavering stance in support of the establishment of the state of Palestine on the 1967 borders, Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh said at the extraordinary session of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva. 

Delivering Jordan’s address at the session, held on the sidelines of the Inter-Parliamentary Union meetings, Tarawneh said His Majesty King Abdullah, in line with the Hashemite custodianship over Christian and Muslim sites in Jerusalem, is in contact with the international community and key powers to put a stop to Israeli violations in Jerusalem and Al Aqsa Mosque.

The speaker warned that a continuation of Israeli provocations will negatively affect Jordan-Israel relations, stressing that all diplomatic and legal options are available to the Kingdom to deal with these “extremist violations”, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The Jordanian authorities, he added, are studying and preparing these options, which will be used at the right time to end “this Israeli arrogance which has crossed the line”.

The frequent incidents of breaking into Al Haram Al Sharif have provoked 1.5 billion Muslims, Tarawneh noted, stressing that Jordan’s political efforts are aimed at embarrassing the Israeli position, which does not stand on solid ground. 

He criticised Tel Aviv’s policies that speak of peace while its actions expose its crimes and violations.

To this end, Jordan’s popular and official position is based on holding the Israelis accountable for the current developments, Tarawneh said, blaming Israel’s provocations for the “dangerous escalation” of events in the occupied territories, where “the occupier has embodied the most heinous human rights violations.”

A continuation of these violations, he warned, portends the eruption of a religious war that “leaves nothing in its wake”.

The House speaker stressed that Jordan is fighting a war on terror out of a belief that “sowing the seeds of hatred today” would lead to the marginalisation of “the other”, depriving future generations of their right to live in peace.

Israel must realise, he said, that it is the “other face” of terror organisations, pushing young people towards extremism.

Jordan’s realistic views on the reasons behind regional unrest, Tarawneh added, emanate from its proximity to conflict areas, reiterating that depriving Palestinians of their legitimate rights will continue to be the main cause of all crises in the region.

He called for a united Arab front to defend the Palestinian cause and halt Israeli violations.