Israel disavows MK's proposal to turn West Bank over to Jordan

[IndianaGreen]

Last update - 23:21 26/05/2009

Israel disavows MK's proposal to turn West Bank over to Jordan

By Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent

The Foreign Ministry on Tuesday distanced itself from a contentious proposal made by a right-wing lawmaker, who suggested Israel to turn Palestinian population centers in the West Bank to Jordanian jurisdiction.

The proposal, raised last week by National Union MK Aryeh Eldad, was brought to the table on Tuesday at a Knesset conference organized by Likud MK Tzipi Hotovely on alternatives to the two-state solution.

Eldad told lawmakers during a Knesset plenum last week that Palestinians must be given Jordanian citizenship, claiming that Jordan is essentially the Palestinian state.

The idea is a nonstarter with Israel's Arab neighbor and conflicts with U.S. President Barack Obama's support for a Palestinian state.

Jordan lodged a strongly-worded protest with Israel on Tuesday over the proposal.

Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh summoned the Israeli ambassador in Amman, Yaakov Rosen, and handed him a protest that "categorically rejects the ongoing discussion at the Israeli Knesset on a proposal by one of its members entitled 'two states for two peoples on the two banks of River Jordan'," a statement carried by the official Petra news agency said.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1088343.html

Tic-toc-tic-toc. How long will Bibi's government last? Remember that Sharon left Likud because it got too crazy even for him.

Ironically, Ariel Sharon may have been the only one left that could have made peace.

[rateyes]

1. I hope not very long. nt