AMMAN: Jordan’s king has appealed to US Vice President Mike Pence to “rebuild trust and confidence” in the possibility of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The call follows the fallout from the Trump administration’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
The vice president also said that “the United States of America remains committed, if the parties agree, to a two state solution”. Such a caveat deviates from long-standing US support for a two-state solution as the only possible outcome of any peace deal.President Trump’s pivot on Jerusalem last month infuriated the Palestinians, who seek the Israeli-annexed eastern sector of the city as a future capital.
They accused the US of siding with Israel and said Washington can no longer serve as a mediator
Jerusalem is the emotional centrepiece of the long-running conflict, and President Trump’s policy shift set off protests and condemnation across Arab and Muslim countries. It posed a dilemma for King Abdullah, who is a staunch US ally, but also derives his political legitimacy in large part from the Hashemite dynasty’s role as guardian of a key Muslim site in Jerusalem. He vice president also praised Jordan’s contribution to a US-led military campaign against Islamic State extremists who in recent months were pushed back from large areas in Iraq and Syria, both neighbours of Jordan.
