Top Jordanian Diplomat Rejects Possibility of Arab Troop Presence in Gaza

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi rejected on Saturday the idea that Arab troops could enter the Gaza Strip to "clean up the mess" created by the Israeli invasion.

"Speaking on behalf of Jordan but having discussed this issue with almost all our brethren, there will be no Arab troops going to Gaza. None. We are not going to be seen as the enemy," Safadi said at a regional security forum underway in Bahrain.

Addressing the plenary of the IISS Manama Dialogue, the Jordanian diplomat stressed that the destruction of Gaza had to stop before the international community could discuss its future. 

"How can anyone talk about the future of Gaza when we do not known what kind of Gaza will be left once this aggression ends ... By entertaining that, we are telling the Israeli government: ‘Do whatever you want. Go destroy Gaza. No one is stopping you. And once you are done we will clean up your mess.’ No, we will not," Safadi said.

The minister argued that even countries that believed Israel was acting in self-defense were calling in vain for it to stay within the realm of international law.