EU's Mogherini meets Jordan minister Safadi

Jordan

Published: 2017-12-08 15:53

Last Updated: 2024-03-28 17:44


Press conference by Federica Mogherini and Ayman Safadi. (Youtube)
Press conference by Federica Mogherini and Ayman Safadi. (Youtube)

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi met with EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini met with on Friday, to discuss US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Mogherini on Thursday urged support for His Majesty King Abdullah as the custodian of Jerusalem’s holy places, describing him as a “very wise man”.

“Jordan has a very special role, when it comes to the holy places, His Majesty, the King of Jordan, is the custodian of the holy places and he is a very wise man. He deserves and needs all our support in this difficult time and I believe we should all listen to him very carefully,” Mogherini said at a press conference in Brussels, commenting on the US decision to recognise the holy city as Israel’s capital and move embassy there.

“What we truly need in this difficult time is wisdom and to listen to the wise voices calling for peace and for peaceful reactions.”

Mogherini is also due to meet with the Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Monday. She has called for calm between the two sides, stating that, "what we truly need in these difficult times is wisdom and to listen to the wise voices calling for peace and peaceful reactions".

Last week, Safadi warned of "grave consequences" if the US president was to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Speaking to US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Sunday, Safadi said such a decision would trigger anger across the Arab and Muslim worlds, fuel tension and jeopardize peace efforts between Israel and Palestine.

Safadi has also called for emergency meeting of the Arab League and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to discuss how they can deal with the US embassy move.

Trump’s Wednesday announcement recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel has provoked anger across Palestine and the Arab region, with widespread protests taking place in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan and multiple Muslim-majority countries.