JERUSALEM (JNS) — “The Jordanian-Israeli relationship is at an all-time low,” Jordan’s King Abdullah said on Thursday at an event in New York City hosted by The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
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The two countries recently marked the 25-year anniversary of their historic peace agreement, although their relations have recently become strained.
“Part of it is because of the Israeli domestic matters,” said Abdullah, in an apparent reference to the political gridlock in Israel which could see the country hold its third election in less than a year.
“The problems that we have had with Israel [are] bilateral … Now I hope, whatever happens in Israel over the next two or three months, we can get back to talking to each other on simple issues that we haven’t been able to talk about for the past two years,” said Abdullah.
In his remarks, Abdullah also discarded the notion that peace could be achieved between Israel and the Palestinians without the backing of the United States.
“Anybody who is in the international community who says that we can have peace between Israelis and Palestinians without the support of America doesn’t know our region and the role that America plays,” he said. “We all need America to bring both sides together.”
Jordan has long supported a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which would include the establishment of a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria, Gaza Strip and eastern Jerusalem.
In September, Abdullah said that if Israel goes ahead with the idea of annexing all the settlements in Judea and Samaria it would be a “disaster” for attempts to find any two-state solution.
Speaking after talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the time, Abdullah said he was “extremely concerned” about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s vow to annex parts of Judea and Samaria.
Abdullah on Thursday added that the peace process was currently stalled, suggesting it could not be revived until after a new Israeli government is formed.
“Unfortunately, we are in pause mode. As you well know, Israelis have gone through a series of elections. We may be seeing another three months of elections,” he said. “So as a result, we are all in pause mode and we haven’t been able to get people back around the table, talking to each other.”
The Jordanian king stressed that Israel’s full integration into the Middle East requires a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“Israel’s future is being a part of the Middle East, but the problem is that is never going to happen 100% unless we solve the Palestinian problem. There is a lot of people in our part of the world who can say behind closed doors: ‘Do whatever you want.’ But in reality it is a sensitive or an emotional issue. Unless we can solve the Israeli-Palestinian issue, we will never have the full integration that all of us deserve,” he remarked.
Maybe he liked the SIX DAY WAR in 1967? It can happen again.
What a mentsch and with strong foresight. Only one who doesn’t understand where he’s coming from could reject this. There is, in his support, one detail he overlooked that touches directly on the isrealestinian issue that serves as advantageous towards bringing about a long-term solution which has not been opened up on. As a hint to it I can say it’s not politically, but rather religiously and heritagely related to both sides, and will be introduced in time by a religious figure. It also relates as much to Arabs and Muslims in general as it does to “palis” in particular. And lastly ‘Amir Abdullah’ is already seen to be a strong supporter and even trailblazer, if only timidly so, in the coming awakening following the herein mentioned coming introduction to a new approach between Israeli-Arab/Muslim relations and vice versa, and the lack of a need for a ‘political’ “solution”, with or without U.S. involvement.
Thank The Merciful One many hearts on both sides and in all walks of their lives await the coming revelation(s) and the outpouring unions.
Note: A revelation that is already awoken in the subsphere by some on some level.
It has always been only a matter of time for what’s to come, and the table is set for it. As “King” Abdullah indicated, Israel is in the region for good, and also religiously, for good it will be.
A scholarly and true to The.. may very well have a better understanding of what’s to bring the coming togetherness better than one on our side, and respond more strongly positively initially certainly with more hope and interest.
It will be they who will act to settle matters towards the positive end…
That wss the singular VICTORY that redeemed Medinat Yisroel from 1,930 years of homelessness, derision and exile and put Israel in the ranks of the great military superpowers, defeating 5 surrounding enemies in 6 DAYS. Yeah, that one.
Another low point was when his father ignored Israel’s warnings and joined his Arab brethren in attacking Israel in June 1967. He makes noise every so often so that the other Arabs know he’s still there.
Ezer Weitzman referred to Abdullah’s Father, King Hussein, was a “jackal”. If Hussein had minded his own business, and not started shelling Jerusalem, including the Hadassah Medical Center, and allowing troops from other Arab countries to enter Jordan, and attack Israel, he never would have lost the West Bank. Instead, he made the fateful decision to join Egypt and Syria, and go to war, even when Prime Minister Levi Eshkol, implored him to stay out of it. Then, when he lost, he and his brethren for the last fifty two years have been pounding their chests, because of their own aggression.
In fairness to King Hussein, in 1970, he helped end the standoff against the PLO, when the latter group seized many Western hostages (including Americans), after hijacking and blowing up four international aircraft in the Jordanian desert. The hostages were freed after a week. Also, King Hussein signed a peace treaty with Israel, in 1994, fifteen years after Anwar Sadat of Egypt did so.