AMMAN, Dec. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- The Jordanian government condemned Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's statements that Israel would keep large settlements in the occupied territories and block the return of Palestinian refugees to their homeland, the Jordan Times reported Sunday.

   Sharon's statements is "unacceptable, no party has the right to unilaterally decide on the Palestinian final status issues," Jordan's government spokeswoman Asma Khader was quoted as saying.

   "His remarks are provocative and do not create a positive atmosphere to help revive peace," Khader added.

   Sharon told the Herzliya annual policy conference last Thursday that he saw a unique chance for peace with new Palestinian leaders and was ready to coordinate his Gaza withdrawal plan with them.

   But he said he rejects Israel's withdrawal back to the 1967 borders, refuses to have east Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state and rejects the right of return for Palestinian refugees.

   The Jordanian spokeswoman said any future disengagement from Gaza should come in full coordination with the Palestinian leadership and as part of the internationally-backed roadmap plan.

   It should also be a step toward establishing a viable Palestinian state on the basis of the 1967 borders, she stressed.
   Mahmoud Abbas, Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) chairman and frontrunner in the presidential elections, said Friday Sharon'shope of annexing the settlements and keeping all of the occupied Jerusalem under a final peace deal is a disaster that could destroy efforts to restart peace talks.  Enditem