Jordan’s King Rejects Any Israeli Plan to Occupy Parts of Gaza

 A tank maneuvers, as seen from Southern Israel, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas, November 13, 2023. (Reuters)
A tank maneuvers, as seen from Southern Israel, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas, November 13, 2023. (Reuters)
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Jordan’s King Rejects Any Israeli Plan to Occupy Parts of Gaza

 A tank maneuvers, as seen from Southern Israel, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas, November 13, 2023. (Reuters)
A tank maneuvers, as seen from Southern Israel, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas, November 13, 2023. (Reuters)

Jordan's King Abdullah rejected any plans by Israel to occupy parts of Gaza or to create security zones within the enclave, saying the root cause of the crisis was Israel's denial of Palestinians' "legitimate rights", state media said on Monday.

In comments he made at the royal palace, the king was quoted as telling senior politicians that there could be "no military or security solution" to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

He said the war-ravaged enclave of Gaza should not be severed by Israel from the other Palestinian Territories.

The monarch told the politicians that the "root of the crisis was Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and its denial of Palestinians legitimate rights".

"The solution starts from there and any other path is doomed to failure and more of a cycle of violence and destruction," he said.

King Abdullah said he had long warned about Israeli violations in the West Bank, with which Jordan shares a border, and Jewish settler attacks on Palestinian civilians could "expand the conflict and push the region "to the abyss".

Jordan is home to a large population of Palestinian refugees and their descendants who fear that Israel could expel Palestinians en masse from the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where Israeli settler attacks on Palestinian inhabitants have surged since Hamas's Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel.

King Abdullah said this month the only path to permanent peace was revived negotiations on an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.

US-brokered negotiations towards a "two-state solution" of Palestinian independence in Israeli-occupied territories have been frozen for almost a decade.



Diplomatic Source: Germany Not Asked to Join Lebanon-Israel Monitoring Team

The German warship participating in UNIFIL fired missiles during exercises near Crete last month (dpa file photo)
The German warship participating in UNIFIL fired missiles during exercises near Crete last month (dpa file photo)
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Diplomatic Source: Germany Not Asked to Join Lebanon-Israel Monitoring Team

The German warship participating in UNIFIL fired missiles during exercises near Crete last month (dpa file photo)
The German warship participating in UNIFIL fired missiles during exercises near Crete last month (dpa file photo)

A Western diplomatic source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Germany has not been asked to join a proposed committee to monitor the implementation of UN Resolution 1701 if a ceasefire is reached between Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Israel.

This clarification removes a potential obstacle to the US-brokered proposal, which Washington discussed with Lebanese officials after receiving their feedback.

The proposal suggests replacing the current monitoring mechanism—a military committee led by UNIFIL and involving Lebanese and Israeli army representatives—with a five-member committee including the US, France, Britain, Germany, and an Arab state.

Hezbollah opposes the inclusion of Germany and Britain.

The source confirmed that the nature of the proposed committee—whether military or civilian—has not been decided and depends on ongoing negotiations.

They also noted that Germany has no direct contact with Hezbollah, which it considers a terrorist organization.

Lebanese negotiators proposed expanding the existing tripartite committee to include the US and France, inspired by the April 1996 Understanding.

While Hezbollah objects to Britain and Germany, it appears to accept US involvement, likely due to Washington's influence over Israel and its mediating role in the talks.

Four European countries play key roles in UNIFIL operations in Lebanon. Germany leads the naval task force, Spain oversees the eastern sector, Italy manages the western sector, and France handles patrols in the operational area.

Since 2006, Germany has led UNIFIL’s Maritime Task Force, tasked with protecting Lebanon’s waters, preventing arms smuggling, and training the Lebanese Navy. It often heads the force, which includes countries like Türkiye and Greece, thanks to its expertise and resources.