Last Update: 24/10/2004 21:07Israel: Ties with Jordan are vital, key to ending conflict By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service and AP Israel's relations with Jordan remain vital and the neighboring state is a cornerstone in the bid to end the lingering Arab-Israeli conflict, the Israeli Embassy in Amman said Sunday ahead of the 10th anniversary of the its peace treaty with Jordan. Jordan, where roughly half of the 5.1 million population are Palestinian or of Palestinian descent, signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994, becoming the second Arab state to do so after Egypt did likewise in 1979.
"Israel reaffirms that it sees strategic importance for the existence of relations with Jordan and for that reason it seeks to develop the relationship in all fields," the Israeli Embassy said its statement released ahead of the October 26 anniversary of the peace treaty signing. The statement added that "Israel considers Jordan as a significant cornerstone in the efforts to reach peace with its neighbors in the Middle East." Jordanian officials have not yet commented on the anniversary, which has been overshadowed here by an expected reshuffle of the government's ministerial Cabinet. Jordan and Israel signed their peace treaty months after the Palestinians reached a framework of a peace deal with Israel. Jordan then said much of the reasons of the conflict had diminished with that peace framework deal. Many Jordanians with family ties to West Bank Palestinians have, however, long been critical of the peace treaty and have been urging their government to abolish it. But the state says relations with its neighbor are necessary to explain Arab and Palestinian positions. Unionists, dominated by Muslim hard-liners and leftists opposed to the treaty, announced plans Sunday for an anti-Israel sit-in planned to coincide with the treaty's anniversary on Tuesday. The Islamic Action Front, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood Movement, Jordan's largest Muslim opposition group, condemned the treaty, saying in a statement Sunday that "it harmed the nation drastically." The Israeli Embassy statement said close Israeli-Jordanian ties have produced flourishing trade, with Jordanian exports to Israel jumping to $24 million in 2003 compared with $13 million when trade ties were established early in 1996. Jordanians, Israelis discuss border changes The statement came as a delegation of 20 Israeli and Jordanian officials met Sunday in Tel Aviv to discuss a change in the countries' southern border to facilitate a joint project, under which a revolutionary academic center would be constructed on ex-territorial land. During the meeting, the delegates were to discuss many aspects of the project, including security issues and legal and practical ramifications ahead of the construction of the Bridging the Rift academic center. The president and founder of the BTR foundation, Mati Kochavi, an Israeli businessman who resides in New York, said last week that the Jordanians are increasing their involvement in the project and that Jordanian scientists, political leaders and students are assisting the venture. Jordan's King Abdallah II is also involved in the planning for the center. The Bridging the Rift Center is the first institution of its kind in the Middle East. It was designed as an independent research and education facility for Israelis and Jordanians. Construction for the BTR center is set to begin in 2005 and the corner stone was already set in place in March 2004. Danny Arditi, head of the Israeli anti-terror task force, said on Friday, "next week we mark the tenth anniversary of the Jordanian-Israeli peace agreement, "BTR is a venture which faithfully represents the spirit of the peace agreement. The center will border on the Arava Desert [the southern-most region in Israel] and will develop the future of education and science to the benefit of residents on both sides of the border." Israel and Jordan accepted a proposal initiated by the international BTR foundation and both nations donated 300 kilometers of land for the project. The project was originally proposed by Jordanian, Israeli and American businessmen, who established the BTR foundation to fund the research center as well as scholarships for students. American, Jordanian and Israeli scientist will conduct studies at the center with the assistance of doctorate and post-doctorate students from all three nations. Officials from Cornell and Stanford universities, who are also among those heading the BTR foundation, will lead the academic programs and the research conducted at the center, which will revolve around life sciences and computer sciences. Source; http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/492811.html --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? vote.yahoo.com - Register online to vote today! [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/TySplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? 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