Jordanian Prime Minister warns of annexation of the Jordan Valley: "Any unilateral step will be dangerous"

On the sidelines of the economic conference in Davos, Omar a-Razaz warned against applying sovereignty in the Jordan Valley in the background of Gantz and Netanyahu statements. "Creating facts on the ground closes the prospect of lasting peace," Jordanian Prime Minister told Bloomberg. He added the source of all the problems is the lack of progress on the Israeli-Palestinian front

Jordanian Prime Minister warns of annexation of the Jordan Valley: "Any unilateral step will be dangerous"

(In video: Gantz announces his support for the Jordan Valley annex, yesterday)

In the background of the political battle over the annexation of the Jordan Valley and the pressure on the right to promote the law of Israeli sovereignty in the Valley even before the elections, Jordanian Prime Minister Omar a-Razaz warned Wednesday (Wednesday) against unilateral measures, saying that "any unilateral step will be very dangerous." In an interview with the Bloomberg Network, on the sidelines of the economic conference in Davos, a-Razaz was asked about King Abdullah's assertion that Israel-Jordan relations are at a low point, saying that "the king led the call to the world that the source of all the problems around is the lack of progress on the Israeli-Palestinian front. "Things will get worse and not get better. It is imperative to empower Palestinians' national aspirations and not be second-class citizens. We have to deal with this problem, and relations are indeed at an unprecedented level."

He added that "this year there were three election campaigns in Israel with no clear results. Both parties are addressing a right-wing audience that does not believe in a two-state solution. We are turning to never let this door to a lasting peace be closed. Unilateral action and fact-finding in the field closes this possibility ".

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King Abdullah of Jordan with Prime Minister Omar a-Razaz (Photo: Reuters)

Abdullah of Jordan and Prime Minister Omar a-Razaz at the Inauguration Ceremony at Amman Palace, June 14, 2018 (Photo: Reuters)

Asked what the prospect is for peace, he said, "We will have to wait to see the results of the elections and see a change in attitude, otherwise we will continue to see side wars and failed states and we must push for a peace settlement with a Palestinian state. Jordan is very concerned that we have authority over the holy places and we represent the world. Christian and Muslim, every single step there on the Israeli side will be very dangerous. "

A-Razaz's comments come after Gantz's statement about his support for applying sovereignty in the Jordan Valley, in coordination with the international community, which he announced during a tour of the Valley yesterday. "We see this region as an integral part of the Land of Israel," stated Gantz. In response, Netanyahu said: "Why wait after the elections if sovereignty can be applied to the Jordan Valley already broadly in the Knesset? Benny Gantz, I look forward to your response this evening, unless Ahmad Tibi puts you in veto."

Following the announcement of Gantz, pressure on the right began to increase, promoting the unilateral move of applying sovereignty even before the elections. The Prime Minister's Office is seriously considering proposing a unilateral annexation bill on Tuesday in parallel with the vote on the establishment of the Immunity Committee, which should be held in the Knesset committee, and contemplating only voting in the government without bringing the issue to the Knesset.

The opposite of leadership: Gantz managed to fall into the annex trap that Netanyahu has

His office is considering raising a vote for unilateral annexation of the Jordan Valley. Netanyahu (Photo: Reuven Castro)

PM Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the Likud Campaign Opening Event for the 2020 Elections, Nationals Building, Jerusalem, January 21, 2020 (Photo: Reuben Castro)

Even that evening, at the opening of the Likud campaign in the nation's buildings in Jerusalem, Netanyahu promised that he would apply Israeli law to all communities in Judea and Samaria without exception, saying "without delay and without veto of Ahmad Tibi." He attacked Blue and White and said that "Gantz finally said today that he supports my sovereignty initiative, I was glad, not for a few hours and he was able to get back. He probably got a phone call from Tibi or Yael German, or received a Mayor Torch phone."

This morning, Defense Minister Naftali Bennett called on Netanyahu to cast a government vote on the first day of an order to apply sovereignty in the Jordan Valley, and then to bring the order to Knesset approval Tuesday. "The talk of applying sovereignty in the Jordan Valley, Samaria and Judea is welcome. But, as mentioned, these are just talks. The only test is the deed. Only actual deeds will determine," Bennett tweeted on Twitter.

He stated that he would work for sovereignty in the Jordan Valley. Gantz (Photo: Elad Malka)

Benny Gantz and Moshe Boogie Ya'alon White Brush, Tour of the Scrolls in the Northern Dead Sea, January 21, 2020 (Photo: Elad Malka)