Jordan condemns Israeli decision to accelerate settlements

Jordan has strongly condemned the Israeli plans aiming to fast-track the construction of about 2000 settlement units and withhold millions in tax transfers to the Palestinian Authority. ''''Such steps would negatively affect daily life of Palestinians and constitute a "refused" response to Palestine membership in the UNESCO'''', according to spokesman of the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mohammed Al Kayed. Al-Kayed further said that the Israeli escalation is a new blow to the international efforts to achieve peace between Palestinians and Israelis and asked Israel to stop provocative and illegal procedures and to involve in true efforts to solve the conflict on the basis of the two-state solution, on the basis of the 1967 borders, Arab peace initiative and international resolutions.