01/18/2014
A Likud parliamentarian considered a close ally and confidante of
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that Israel’s
insistence on maintaining a military presence in the Jordan Valley as
part of any final status agreement with the Palestinians is supported by
Jordan.
MK Ofir Akunis told a town hall gathering in Tel Aviv on Saturday
that Israeli officials have received feedback from their Jordanian
counterparts who are alarmed at the prospect of an Israeli withdrawal
from the boundary that separates the West Bank from the Hashemite
kingdom.
“The Jordanians are opposed to an Israeli withdrawal from the Jordan
Valley out of fear that if a Palestinian state arises and is taken over
by extremist elements like Hamas and Al-Qaida, this would endanger the
king’s rule, not just Tel Aviv,” Akunis said.
Netanyahu met last week with Jordan’s King Abdullah in Amman for what was described as a “surprise” visit.
The meeting focused on the current Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
In a statement released upon Netanyahu's return to Israel, he
stressed the important role played by Jordan, under King Abdullah's
leadership, in the efforts to bring about an agreement. He also
emphasized that Israel places a premium on security arrangements,
including Jordan's interests, in any future agreement that will take
into consideration the peace treaty between Jordan and Israel, signed 20
years ago.
Jordanian Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said earlier this month that
the Israeli annexation of the Jordan Valley would be contrary to the
peace agreement signed between the two countries in 1994.
Speaking to a gathering of parliament members, he said that Jordan
“categorically rejects any Israeli intention in this regard and will not
stand idly by, but will act diplomatically,” according to a report on
Thursday in the London-based daily Al-Hayat.
Akunis went on to attack the Palestinians, whom he deemed “an obstacle to peace.”
“Their insistence not to recognize the State of Israel as the
nation-state of the Jewish people proves that the conflict isn’t just
territorial, but it is one that is being waged for our existence,” he
said. “I believe that we should have negotiations with the Palestinians,
but we need to understand that a Palestinian state could endanger most
Israeli cities.”
“My vision, and that of Likud, says that we have no interest in
controlling the Palestinians,” Akunis said. “I am in favor of maximum
Palestinian self-rule and deep economic cooperation between our peoples,
but I am not ready to have a Palestinian state be born on the ruins of
my country.”
Link: http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Netanyahu-confidante-Jordan-wants-Israel-to-keep-presence-along-West-Bank-boundary-338574.
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