Jordan's foreign minister today said a group of Arab states has a plan for Gaza's future, as a counter to US President Donald Trump's ambition for a 'riviera' cleared of its Palestinian inhabitants.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Ayman Safadi said Jordan's King Abdullah had "a very frank and open discussion with President Trump" during a recent trip to Washington.
"President Trump said that he's driven by humanitarian concern, that he believes you cannot rebuild Gaza while the people of Gaza are there," Safadi said. "We have a plan that shows that we can do it, a plan that we're going to put on the table that can guarantee that Gaza is rebuilt while its people stay in Gaza."
Saudi Arabia will this month host a meeting with Egypt, Jordan and the UAE, to discuss the Arab-led plan for the reconstruction of Gaza and its governance model.
Arab countries were bewildered by suggestions Trump made to "clean out" Palestinians from Gaza and resettle most of them in Jordan and Egypt. Trump also threatened to cut billions of dollars in US aid to Egypt and Jordan unless they agree to his proposal.
The suggestion left Saudi Arabia extremely uncomfortable as it nixes the country's demand for a clear path to Palestinian statehood as a condition to normalise ties with Israel.
Former Jordanian foreign minister Marwan Muasher, who was part of the delegation to Washington, told Argus today that the king told Trump his suggestion "is a nonstarter," and made it clear he will only do what is in the interests of the people of Jordan.
"We don't believe that displacements would do that… 35pc of our population are refugees," Safadi said. "We cannot afford anymore. We cannot have Palestinians coming to Jordan."
