Jordan’s King Abdullah asserted on Wednesday that peace in the Middle East would remain elusive without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. The recent outbreak of violence, initiated when Hamas militants launched an assault on Israel over the weekend, underscores that stability, security, and peace in the region hinge on the existence of a sovereign Palestinian state on the land captured by Israel during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.
In a speech delivered at the opening of a new parliamentary session, King Abdullah emphasized that a two-state solution is the only viable option. He stated, “Our region will never be secure nor stable without achieving just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution.”
The two-state solution has long been a foundational element of international peace efforts, but it has faced significant challenges and has made little progress in recent years. King Abdullah has actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the latest conflict, working with Western and regional leaders to address the situation.
Given that Palestinians make up a substantial portion of Jordan’s population, and the country shares a border with the West Bank, Jordan’s stance on the issue is sensitive. The king emphasized that a Palestinian state should establish itself on the June 4th, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in order to end the cycles of violence that disproportionately harm innocent civilians.
Jordan lost control of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, to Israel during the 1967 war. The peace treaty between Jordan and Israel is viewed unfavorably by many Jordanians who see it as compromising the rights of their Palestinian compatriots.
Protests against Israel
Protests against Israel and in support of Hamas have taken place in Jordan, and demonstrators have called for the closure of the Israeli embassy in Amman and the annulment of the peace treaty. The Israeli embassy in Amman has been a focal point for anti-Israel protests during times of turmoil in the Palestinian territories.
