Brussels, 18/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - King Abdullah II of Jordan impressed that the EU is an unshakeable friend of those who labour for peace, in particular in the Middle East peace process. Highlighting the magnificent work carried out by European foreign services, the King told the European Parliament on Wednesday 18 April that the partnership with Europe is crucial, that the EU is hugely important as it has supported the two-state solution and stated that the settlements are a barrier to peace. He told MEPs that Europe understands the global risks of the continuing conflict and the benefits that peace can bring.
The Arab Spring, he said, is rooted in a deep desire for respect. What then is to be made of Israeli settlement, he asked. The more Palestinians suffer and the more settlement there is, the more frustration will grow, he argued. The only possible solution is the creation of two states living side by side within the 1967 borders in dignity and self-determination, a sovereign, independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, which could guarantee collective peace for Israel, he stated.
“We cannot afford one more generation kept waiting for a Palestinian state”, he said. If the Rubicon is crossed, he said, if the two-state solution is not possible, Israel's security will be damaged and it will take decades and generations before a new step is taken towards peace. Results are needed, he told MEPs, who applauded him several times in the course of his speech. (CG/transl.rt)