Al-Safadi Affirms the Importance of International Efforts to Support the Palestinian Economy

SadaNews - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan Ayman al-Safadi emphasized today the importance of the international community's efforts to support the Palestinian economy, which is facing increasing pressures due to an economic blockade imposed by Israel through illegal measures, including the confiscation of funds belonging to the Palestinian Authority arising from customs revenues and other incomes, which have exceeded 4 billion dollars.

Al-Safadi stressed, during an intervention at the meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) dedicated to coordinating international aid for the Palestinian people in Brussels, chaired by Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide and hosted by the European Union, that investing in the Palestinian economy is an investment in peace that must be achieved by meeting the Palestinian people's right to freedom and statehood.

During the meeting, which was attended by Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, and was held under European and American auspices, al-Safadi stated that the results of economic support would fade if they were not accompanied by real movement to find a political horizon for achieving a just peace based on the two-state solution.

Al-Safadi emphasized the necessity of halting the illegal Israeli measures that undermine the two-state solution, including settlement expansion, land annexation, assaults on freedom of worship, and violations of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

Al-Safadi added: "We gather here as partners to achieve the just peace that meets the Palestinian people's right to freedom and statehood based on the two-state solution, allowing the Palestinian state to live in security and peace alongside Israel."

Al-Safadi highlighted the importance of the meeting to support the Palestinian economy, which was attended by representatives from 28 countries and international organizations, just hours after the International Alliance meeting to implement the two-state solution at the expert level in Brussels, affirming the need for economic support to be consistent with real action to implement the two-state solution as the only path to achieving just peace.

Al-Safadi stressed the need to ensure adequate and sustainable humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, which continues to suffer from a humanitarian disaster affecting its residents, and emphasized the need to implement all provisions of U.S. President Donald Trump's plan regarding the sector and UN Security Council Resolution 2803.

Strong Jordanian-European Relations and Ongoing Cooperation

Additionally, al-Safadi held talks with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and the European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Dubravka Šuica in separate meetings that focused on enhancing cooperation between the Kingdom and the European Union and discussed conditions in the region.

The discussions addressed developments regarding the Jordanian-European Investment Conference, slated to be held in Jordan before the end of this year, as well as preparations for holding the Arab-European Ministerial Meeting, which will be hosted by the Kingdom in June.
 
The talks also included discussions with Kallas and Šuica about cooperation programs and economic support provided to the Kingdom by the European Commission, in light of the strategic and comprehensive partnership agreement, including accelerating the implementation of the Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) program for Jordan, as well as the assistance allocated to the Kingdom to enhance defense and security fields within the framework of the European Peace Facility (EPF).

Al-Safadi valued the support provided by the European Union to Jordan in promoting the developmental process and assisting it in facing the repercussions of regional crises.

Al-Safadi, Kallas, and Šuica reaffirmed the robustness of the Jordanian-European partnership and the continued cooperation to bolster it, as well as their efforts to achieve security and stability in the region.

During his visit to Brussels, al-Safadi also met with Anna Bird, the World Bank's Director of Operations, to discuss cooperation programs between Jordan and the bank, highlighting the importance of the partnership between both sides.