Dutch leader Geert Wilders elicited sharp reactions after he made a radical proposal on Saturday, suggesting that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could be resolved by relocating Palestinians to Jordan, denying their right to an independent sovereign state.
Wilders, who is trying to form a government after his party won the election last week, tweeted that “Jordan is Palestine”, causing a firestorm of criticism and condemnation from Arab states and the international community. Wilders, a staunch Israel supporter who once spent time on a kibbutz, is known as the “Dutch Trump” both for his extravagant dyed hair and firebrand right-wing rhetoric, including a suggestion to prohibit Muslim citizens in Holland unless they reject Sharia law.
Wilders suggestion is in stark contrast to longstanding international consensus and United Nations resolutions that advocate for a two-state solution with east Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state, although former US government of Donald Trump had rejected the possibility of a Palestinian presence in Jerusalem.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates swiftly responded with a statement strongly condemning Wilders’ remarks. “Geert Wilders’ comments are not only offensive but also dangerous. They deny the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and their own independent state,” said Ambassador Sufyan Qudah, the official spokesperson for the Ministry. He emphasized that Wilders’ statements held no value or impact beyond highlighting his racism and extremism, which they considered part of a culture of hatred that should be universally condemned.
The Palestinian Ministry further characterized Wilders’ remarks as “a call to escalate the aggression against our people and a blatant interference in their affairs and future.” They called upon the Dutch government to condemn and reject these statements in accordance with international law and United Nations resolutions.
Jordan also condemned Wilder’s proposal. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said that “Jordan rejects any proposal that undermines the rights of the Palestinian people or their quest for an independent state. We remain committed to a two-state solution with East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state, in accordance with international consensus.”
Wilders’ statement has also drawn criticism and condemnation from other Arab states in the region. Leaders and officials from countries such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia expressed their outrage over the Dutch parliamentarian’s remarks, emphasizing the need for a just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that respects the rights and aspirations of both parties.
2 comments:
A state for the palestinians? for the fact that no one wants to have them.
If the so-called Palestinians insists that the borders of 'Palestine" are based on the British Mandate borders, then 3/4 of "Palestine" is Jordan.
From the River to Iraq, Give Jordan Back!
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