AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi on Monday stressed the need for coordinated international efforts to support the Palestinian economy, warning that it is under mounting pressure due to an Israeli-imposed economic blockade.

 

Safadi said that the Israeli “illegal “measures include the confiscation of Palestinian Authority funds from customs and other revenues, adding that the withheld amounts exceed $4 billion, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

 

Speaking at a meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) in Brussels, chaired by Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide and hosted by the European Union, Safadi underscored that investing in the Palestinian economy is “an investment in peace which must be achieved by fulfilling the Palestinian people’s right to freedom and statehood.”

 

The meeting was attended by Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, and held under joint European and US auspices.

 

Safadi warned that economic support alone would not yield lasting results without genuine political progress towards a just peace based on the two-state solution.

 

He also called for an end to Israeli actions that undermine the two-state solution, including settlement expansion, land annexation, restrictions on freedom of worship, and violations of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

 

“We meet here as partners to achieve a just peace that guarantees the Palestinian people’s right to freedom and statehood on the basis of the two-state solution, allowing a Palestinian state to live in security and peace alongside Israel,” Safadi said.

 

Safadi noted that the AHLC meeting, which brought together representatives from 28 countries and international organisations, coincided with a separate expert-level meeting in Brussels of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.

 

He said that the timing highlighted the need to align economic assistance with concrete political steps.

 

He also stressed the urgency of ensuring adequate and sustained humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, which continues to face a severe humanitarian crisis.

 

Safadi also called for the full implementation of US President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza and UN Security Council Resolution 2803.

 

Jordan-EU ties

 

On the sidelines of the meetings, Safadi held separate talks with Kallas and European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica, focusing on the Jordan-EU cooperation and regional developments.

 

Discussions also covered preparations for the upcoming Jordan-EU Investment Conference, set to take place in the Kingdom later this year, as well as an Arab-European ministerial meeting scheduled to be hosted by Jordan in June.

 

Safadi reviewed ongoing cooperation programmes and EU financial support to Jordan under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement, including efforts to accelerate the Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) programme and funding aimed at enhancing defence and security capabilities through the European Peace Facility (EPF).

 

He expressed appreciation for EU support to Jordan’s development efforts and its assistance in mitigating the impact of regional crises.

 

Safadi, Kallas and Šuica reaffirmed the strength of Jordanian-European relations and their commitment to continued cooperation in promoting regional security and stability.

 

During his visit, Safadi also met with World Bank Managing Director of Operations Anna Bjerde to discuss bilateral cooperation programmes and underline the importance of the partnership.