Jordan condemns Israeli plan to build military academy in East Jerusalem

Jordan on Thursday voiced condemnation and rejection of Israel's plan to establish a military academy on Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem, Jordanian state-run Petra news agency reported. Mount of Olives "is part of the Palestinian lands occupied in 1967," Jordanian Information Minister and government spokesperson Samih Maayatah said, noting that these lands have been designated as occupied territory by the United Nations and the international law. "The unacceptable and rejected Israeli settlement activities might undermine the already-faltering peace as well as efforts to arrive at the two-state solution," he said, adding that the Israeli government is sending negative signals towards peace through resuming settlement activities and imposing a de facto status quo on the ground. Maayatah urged the international community to intervene and end all forms of Israeli settlement activities and unilateral measures. He also stressed the need for concerted efforts to revive peace negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis. These negotiations, he said, should lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital in line with international terms of reference as well as the Arab Peace Initiative.