Senate president slams Israel plans to annex Jordan Valley

AMMAN — Senate President Faisal Fayez on Sunday slammed the announcement of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s intentions to impose Israeli authority over the Jordan Valley and the northern Dead Sea regions, and to annex Israeli settlements built illegally on occupied Palestinian lands.

During a meeting of the Senate's Palestine Committee, Fayez voiced the Upper House's utter rejection of these remarks, calling on the UN Security Council and international community to take swift action to confront the new aggressive stance, which would lead to more instability.  

His Majesty King Abdullah’s three noes: "No alternative homeland, no settlement and no meddling with the Hashemite Custodianship of Jerusalem", are clear, he added, reiterating Jordan's support of Palestinians' legitimate rights to freedom and to an independent state on the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, the Jordan News Agency, Petra reported.

Head of the panel Senator Haya Garalleh said that the developments in the Palestinian arena are trending towards more complication, especially in light of relocating the US embassy, cutting UNRWA's support, as well as recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the latter's occupation of the Golan Heights, calling for a "clear and decisive" Arab stance away from a denouncement that does not fulfill Palestinians' and Arabs' aspirations.

Netanyahu's announcement goes beyond electoral purposes, he said, emphasising that the remarks are an Israeli agenda set in violation of international legitimacy and law. 

Jordan believes in peace, he said, highlighting His Majesty’s efforts in defending the rights of the Palestinian people at all international forums, which are the key of regional security and stability, Petra added.