Jordan: Arab states to propose Gaza rebuild without migration

Arab countries are formulating a plan to rehabilitate Gaza without displacing its population, Jordan’s foreign minister said on Friday, in remarks contrary to U.S. President Donald Trump’s call to relocate Gazans to other states in the region. Ayman Safadi said that his country “cannot afford” any more Palestinians as refugees already comprise 35% of its population, according to Reuters.

They don’t want to come to Jordan and we don’t want them to come to Jordan,” he stressed at the annual Munich Security Conference. “We are working on an Arab proposal that will show that we can rebuild Gaza without displacing its people, that we can have a plan that will guarantee security and governance,” Safadi said. “Israelis also have to think long-term,” he continued. “For it to live in peace and security, its neighbors need to live in peace and security.”

Last week, Jordan’s King Abdullah II traveled to Washington where he announced his country was willing to take in 2,000 severely ill Gazan children and their families. However, the king did not embrace Trump’s plan, saying that he and other Arab leaders would meet in Saudi Arabia soon to discuss an Egyptian counter-proposal to the Trump resettlement and redevelopment idea.   (Read More)