Jordan Condemns Israel's Actions On Occupied Palestinian Lands

Jordan condemns "the butchery staged by the Israeli army on the Palestinian lands", declared Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdul Ilah al-Khatib. He called Israel's actions "a perilous aggression, which is denounced by the entire international community" and demanded from the Israeli authorities immediately to withdraw all forces from the Palestinian lands. Israel's escalation of tension destabilises the situation in the entire region, he said. Abdul Ilah al-Khatib reported that King of Jordan Abdullah II maintains permanent contacts with Arab and European leaders in a bid to arrange help for the people of Palestine. Meanwhile, Secretary General Ahmed Abdel Rahman of the government of the Palestinian National Authority said that at least 23 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli army during recent-days operations on the Palestinian lands. "The tough actions of the Israeli army are an indication that the government of Israel rejects the peace process and is seeking to destroy the Palestinian National Authority", he noted. Ahmed Abdel Rahman also said that Palestinians will continue their struggle until an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital is established. He invited the international community to bring pressure to bear on Israel so as to make it end the "bloody crimes".