Jordan says Israel settlement plan will "derail" peace

Sep 10, 2009, 12:12 GMT

Amman - Jordanian Prime Minister Nader Dahabi on Thursday rejected Israel's plan to build some 450 housing units in occupied Palestinian land, saying the scheme would 'derail' US President Barack Obama's efforts seeking resumption of peace negotiations with the Palestinians.

The remark came during a meeting with the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who arrived in Amman earlier Thursday for a one-day visit, a statement from the premier's office said.

On Monday Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak approved the construction of 455 new homes in settlements in the West Bank, even as negotiations with the US over a temporary building freeze continued.

'The prime minister asserted Jordan's rejection of Israel's latest decision for expansion of settlements, because such a step is set to derail the efforts of the US administration and the world community which aim at re-launching the final status talks between the Palestinian and Israeli sides,' the statement said.

Dahabi expressed Jordan's backing for Turkey's good offices aimed at 'containing the latest tension between Iraq and Syria'. 'We are sure that Turkey will be able to achieve positive results in this respect,' the prime minister said.

Iraq and Syria recalled their respective ambassadors earlier this week after Baghdad accused Damascus of providing shelter to supporters of the former Iraqi regime of President Saddam Hussein, who were allegedly involved in Baghdad bombings.

From his part, Davutoglu expressed satisfaction over the outcome of Wednesday's meeting in Cairo with the foreign ministers of Syria and Iraq and the Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa.

During the meeting, Baghdad and Damascus reportedly agreed to send back envoys and stop 'media campaigns' between the two countries.

The Turkish foreign minister also expressed his country's desire to sign a free trade agreement with Jordan, citing Ankara's keenness to forge 'integration' ties with the Arab world.