Sultan of Oman, Jordan King Discuss Joint Cooperation

Jordan's King Abdullah reviews an honor guard with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman upon his arrival at Marka military airport, in Amman, Jordan May 22, 2024. REUTERS/Jehad Shelbak
Jordan's King Abdullah reviews an honor guard with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman upon his arrival at Marka military airport, in Amman, Jordan May 22, 2024. REUTERS/Jehad Shelbak
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Sultan of Oman, Jordan King Discuss Joint Cooperation

Jordan's King Abdullah reviews an honor guard with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman upon his arrival at Marka military airport, in Amman, Jordan May 22, 2024. REUTERS/Jehad Shelbak
Jordan's King Abdullah reviews an honor guard with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman upon his arrival at Marka military airport, in Amman, Jordan May 22, 2024. REUTERS/Jehad Shelbak

The Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tarik and Jordan’s King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein held expanded talks on Wednesday in Amman and stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
The two monarchs met at the Basman Palace and exchanged views on issues of common concern on the Arab and international arenas, most notably the current situation in the Gaza Strip and in the occupied Palestinian territories.
They stressed the need to reach an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, protect civilians and intensify efforts to deliver sufficient humanitarian aid to all parts of the Gaza Strip.
They reviewed aspects of bilateral cooperation and means of promoting them at various levels to serve the joint interests and the fraternal ties between the two countries, the Oman News Agency said.
Prior to the session, the Sultan of Oman and the Jordanian King held a closed-door meeting.
On the Omani side, the meeting was attended by Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Affairs; Sayyid Bilarab bin Haitham Al Said, Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court Gen.; Sultan bin Mohammed Al Nuamani, Minister of the Royal Office; Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister; Dr. Hamad bin Said Al Aufi, Head of the Private Office; Abdussalam bin Mohammed Al Murshidi, Chairman of Oman Investment Authority; and Sheikh Fahd bin Abdulrahman Al Ojaili, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
From the Jordanian side the meeting was attended by Prince Faisal bin Al Hussein, Head of the Mission of Honour that accompanies His Majesty the Sultan; Dr. Bisher Khasawneh, Prime Minister of Jordan; Yousef Issawi, Chief of the Royal Court; Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates; Maj.Gen Ahmad Husni, Chief of the General Intelligence Department; Jaafar Hassan, Director of the King’s Office; Kholoud Saqqaf, Minister of Investment; Amjad Quhaiwi, Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the Sultanate of Oman and some senior Jordanian officials.
Sultan Haitham arrived in Jordan on Wednesday for a two-day visit.



GCC-US Support for the Establishment of an Independent Palestinian State

The Ministerial Meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the US was held in New York. SPA
The Ministerial Meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the US was held in New York. SPA
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GCC-US Support for the Establishment of an Independent Palestinian State

The Ministerial Meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the US was held in New York. SPA
The Ministerial Meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the US was held in New York. SPA

Foreign Ministers from the Gulf and the US have announced their support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders.

The Ministerial Meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the US was convened on September 25 in New York, co-chaired by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, who currently chairs the GCC Ministerial Council. The meeting was also attended by Foreign Ministers from GCC member states and Secretary General Jasem Albudaiwi.

A statement issued on Thursday said the ministers announced “their support for the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state living in peace and security alongside Israel along the 1967 borders, with mutually agreed land swaps, in accordance with internationally recognized parameters and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.”

The ministers stressed the need for all civilians displaced after October 7 to return to their homes and reaffirmed their belief that a durable peace is essential for a more integrated, stable, and prosperous region.

They also emphasized the need to strengthen the capacity, effectiveness, and transparency of the Palestinian Authority, advocating for unified Palestinian-led governance in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

The ministers committed to supporting Palestinian aspirations for self-determination, ensuring that Palestinians are central to post-conflict governance and security in Gaza. They expressed support for improving the quality of life for Palestinians through humanitarian assistance and efforts to accelerate economic growth.

The statement said they expressed deep concern over rising levels of settler and extremist violence against Palestinians in the West Bank and stressed the need for accountability for perpetrators. They called for a halt to unilateral actions, including settlement expansions, that hinder the prospects for peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians. They highlighted the importance of protecting all holy sites and places of worship while preserving the historic status quo in Jerusalem, recognizing Jordan’s special role.

On Gaza, the ministers committed to working towards an immediate and sustainable ceasefire and the release of hostages and detainees.

They called for an increase in the rapid and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid, including food, water, medical care, fuel, and shelter, and stressed the urgent need to restore basic services and ensure protection for humanitarian workers. They highlighted the necessity for stakeholders to facilitate humanitarian distribution networks across Gaza to alleviate suffering and reiterated that all parties must ensure the safety of aid workers.

The ministers also underscored their shared commitment to the strategic partnership between the GCC and the US, building on the achievements of previous ministerial meetings, including the most recent one in Riyadh on April 29. They emphasized the importance of strengthening consultation, coordination, and cooperation in all fields.