Berlin, Nov. 25 (Petra) – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and Expatriate Affairs Ayman Safadi held extensive talks on Tuesday with German Foreign Minister Johann David Wadephul, focusing on ways to advance bilateral ties and on regional developments.

Safadi and Wadephul reviewed progress made since their talks in Amman last month on expanding cooperation across key sectors including water, investment, education, vocational training, tourism and defence.

Safadi praised the advanced level of relations between the two countries and Germany’s continued support for Jordan in development projects and in dealing with the consequences of regional crises.

The ministers also discussed regional developments and the latest situation in Gaza. Both stressed the need for concerted efforts to uphold the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, fully implement its provisions, ensure sufficient and immediate humanitarian access, and remove Israeli obstacles to aid entry, while linking stabilization efforts to a clear political horizon for a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution.

Safadi underscored the need to halt all illegal and unilateral Israeli measures that undermine prospects for a two-state solution and peace, particularly settlement construction and expansion, land confiscation, the strangling of the Palestinian economy, and attempts to alter the historical and legal status quo at Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

In a joint press conference with the German foreign minister, Safadi reaffirmed the strength of the 70-year friendship between Jordan and Germany, enhanced through multiple meetings between His Majesty King Abdullah II and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and the strategic partnership that has yielded extensive cooperation.

He noted that Germany is a key partner for Jordan, saying: "We highly appreciate Germany’s efforts to help Jordan shoulder the burden of regional crises, including those related to refugees and security," stressing that Germany’s support for Jordan’s development projects is of great value.

Safadi said Jordan looks forward to deeper cooperation that builds on these ties in ways that serve the interests of both countries and support shared objectives in achieving stability and peace in the region.

He added that Jordan supports Germany’s efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine "because peace in Ukraine means peace for Europe". He stressed that Jordan seeks a just peace in the Middle East, achievable only when the Palestinian people gain their freedom and their right to an independent, sovereign state on their national soil under the two-state solution supported by the vast majority of the world.

Safadi said the immediate priority is consolidating the ceasefire that was reached through significant efforts after U.S. President Donald Trump launched his plan, adding: "Implementing this plan and moving to the second phase of the peace agreement is essential, because time is not on anyone’s side." He stressed that stabilising the ceasefire and allowing the entry of humanitarian aid are top priorities. He said that despite slight improvement in aid access, the humanitarian catastrophe remains immense.

Safadi said Israel has recorded more than 500 violations of the ceasefire so far, and nearly 340 Palestinians have been killed since the agreement was signed. "This must stop, because consolidating the ceasefire is essential to moving to the next phase and setting us on a path toward peace and stability." He noted that more than 90 percent of Gaza’s population depends on aid, with most people receiving only one meal a day. He said that, according to the United Nations, only about 20 percent of Gaza’s needs are currently entering the Strip, stressing that Israel must lift all restrictions.

He said there is "no legal, humanitarian or moral justification" for keeping crossings closed to all forms of aid, including relief, shelter and medical supplies. Jordan, he said, has been a main hub for aid to Gaza and has worked jointly with Germany to deliver it, adding: "We can send around 250 trucks a day to Gaza once Israel lifts its restrictions." Safadi reiterated that the focus must remain on cementing the ceasefire. He expressed Jordan’s confidence in Germany’s role in ensuring adequate humanitarian access and, in parallel, dealing with security and governance issues to ensure stability and establish Gaza as part of the occupied Palestinian territory where the Palestinian state must be realised under the two-state solution.

He stressed that linking Gaza and the West Bank is essential and that there can be no separation between them. Jordan, he said, looks forward to working with its partners in the U.S., Europe and the region to maintain momentum towards stabilisation in Gaza and toward launching a genuine political horizon for peace.

He warned that preventing an explosion in the West Bank is just as crucial as stabilising Gaza, saying the dangerous escalation there threatens regional stability and undermines all efforts in Gaza.

Safadi highlighted settler violence in the West Bank, saying settlers carry out seven to eight attacks a day involving arson of homes and vehicles, destruction of olive trees and preventing Palestinians from harvesting this season’s crop. Despite Israeli statements condemning such acts, he said, no settlers have been held accountable.

He reiterated the need to halt settlement activity, land confiscation, and violations of worship rights at Islamic and Christian holy sites, and to end encroachments on the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem. He reaffirmed Jordan’s role in protecting the holy sites under the Hashemite Custodianship.

Safadi stressed the need to prevent deterioration in the West Bank, advance to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, and work towards a just and lasting peace.

Turning to Syria, Safadi said Jordan and Germany share aligned views. He said Syria’s new government has inherited a devastated situation and is working to rebuild on foundations that ensure its security, unity, stability, sovereignty and the rights of its people.

He said the expanded talks with Vadeful covered joint efforts to help Syria rebuild, noting that Syria’s stability and success are essential for the region.

On Lebanon, Safadi said its sovereignty must be respected and violations must stop, stressing the need to halt escalation and uphold the ceasefire. He emphasised that Israel must stop incursions into Lebanese territory and that support for the Lebanese state’s efforts to assert full sovereignty is crucial.

Minister Wadephul affirmed the strength of German–Jordanian relations and the commitment to cooperation and coordination on shared concerns. He praised Jordan’s major humanitarian role in Gaza and its central contribution to regional stability and peace, stressing the importance of the strategic partnership.

He also said the German government views Gaza as an integral part of the West Bank and a core component of the future independent Palestinian state under the two-state solution.

Safadi also met the chair and members of the Bundestag’s Foreign Affairs Committee, discussing the importance of maintaining strong bilateral ties and reviewing regional developments.

He took part in a panel titled "Conflict Zone" at the Berlin Foreign Policy Forum, where he said U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan achieved priorities centred on ending the war, preventing starvation in Gaza and blocking displacement.

Safadi said that any plan for Gaza must rest on ending the war, ensuring humanitarian aid and early recovery, reconstruction, security and governance, and establishing a clear political horizon for a just peace based on an independent Palestinian state on the pre-June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He said the starting point, in coordination with U.S. and European partners, is ending Palestinian killing and starvation, enabling aid access, and restoring hope.

Safadi said Jordan launched the "Restore Hope" initiative to support amputees in Gaza, and noted that most countries that have recognised the State of Palestine, including European states, agree the two-state solution is the only path to a just and lasting peace. He questioned alternatives, warning that a one-state reality would amount to apartheid.

He said UN Security Council Resolution 2803 established the framework for stabilising the ceasefire, enabling full and immediate humanitarian access, preventing displacement and ensuring security, while paving the way toward steps for a just peace embodied in a sovereign Palestinian state.

Safadi underscored the importance of work on details related to training and deploying Palestinian police responsible for Palestinian security, supported by an international stabilisation force whose main task would be preventing friction between Palestinians and Israelis. He reiterated that Israel must withdraw from Gaza or "the conflict will continue".

Safadi said Jordan will not deploy troops in Gaza but will continue its humanitarian role by sending aid with partner countries, training Palestinian police and supporting the Civil-Military Coordination Centre.

He reaffirmed that Gaza is part of the occupied Palestinian territory and linked to the West Bank, forming the land on which the Palestinian state must be established.

He highlighted dangerous escalation in the West Bank and welcomed President Trump’s announcement rejecting annexation of the West Bank, saying it reinforces efforts toward peace despite Israeli unilateral measures undermining the two-state solution.

Safadi also reaffirmed Jordan’s support for Syria’s reconstruction, stability and counterterrorism efforts, emphasising that Syria’s southern security is a national security issue for Jordan.

During his visit to Berlin, Safadi also met State Secretary at Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Niels Annen and took part in a Munich Security Conference session on Jordan’s geopolitical role in the Middle East.

//Petra// AF