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Jordan condemns Israel's plans to annex West Bank sites

2010-02-23 09:26 BJT

AMMAN, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Jordan on Monday condemned Israel's plans to annex historical sites located in the West Bank to its heritage list, the state-run Petra news agency reported.

On Sunday, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhau announced that Israel would annex Al-Haram Al-Ibrahimi and Rachel's Tomb in Hebron in the West Bank.

Al Haram Al Ibrahimi is one of the holiest shrines in Islam and Rachel's Tomb is known to the Muslim world as Belal Mosque. The two sites are scared to both Jews and Muslims.

"Jordan rejects these unilateral Israeli measures. The Israeli policies that also seek to alter the historical and religious features on the ground in the occupied territories are rejected and are against international legitimacy principles," Minister of State for Media Affairs and Information Nabil Sharif was quoted by Petra as saying.

"These Israeli measures come at a time when efforts to restart peace talks are at their peak. These measures will obstruct and undermine efforts to realize peace and stability in the region and hinder the creation of an independent, viable Palestinian state within a comprehensive regional context for peace," the minister said.

Jordan and Israel signed a peace treaty in 1994 under which the latter acknowledges the Arab kingdom's right to watch over Islamic and Christian holy sites in territories under the administration of the Palestinians.

Editor: Jin Lin | Source: Xinhua