by Samir Barhoum | Jul 21, 2013 |

RAMALLAH — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas lauded Jordanian support for the Palestinian people and emphasised that coordination between the two leaderships is at its highest levels.

Mahmoud Abbas with the King of Jordan

In an interview with The Jordan Times and Al Rai, Abbas said Jordan is fully aware of all developments on the Palestinian side and is continuously working to support endeavours to establish a Palestinian state on Palestinian national soil west of the Jordan River.

“These ties are based on brotherly ties and mutual respect. They respect our state and we respect theirs,” Abbas said.

In addition, Jordan is fully involved with all components of the multilateral peace negotiations and should be consulted when any of these issues is raised.

The Palestinian leader highlighted King Abdullah’s efforts in this regard, noting that His Majesty is supportive of the Palestinian people’s efforts to regain their rights, mainly the establishment of their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The state is to be established on the basis of the 1967 border with minor changes that are to be agreed upon with Israel in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, he noted.

The veteran Palestinian leader said the Palestinian people totally reject any talk of a substitute homeland in Jordan or a confederation with the Hashemite Kingdom.

“A confederation takes place between two independent states, and Palestine is yet to gain its independence. Once that takes place then the peoples of the two independent states have to agree on this confederation through plebiscites,” Abbas said.

“Any way, this issue is out of question. The relationship between the Palestinian and Jordanian people is much deeper than a federation or a confederation,” he said.

He also dismissed all talk of turning Jordan into a substitute homeland for the Palestinian people, emphasizing that the steadfastness of the Palestinians is stronger than anytime ever.

“There will be no repetitions of the waves of refugees witnessed in 1948 [when thousands of Palestinians were driven out of their land by the Israel’s creation] and 1967 [when Israel occupied the West Bank and the Gaza Strip driving more Palestinians out of their lands],” he said.

The Palestinian people are steadfast on their lands and will remain so, he continued.

Source: JORDAN TIMES

http://jordantimes.com/substitute-homeland-confederation-out-of-question