King Abdullah II of Jordan stated on Sunday, February 4, that despite widespread criticism of the United States' position on Jerusalem, U.S. involvement is essential for any hope of a peaceful solution between Israel and the Palestinians. In an interview with Fareed Zakaria on CNN's GPS program, he said, 'We cannot have a peace process or a solution for peace without U.S. involvement.' King Abdullah noted that this remains true even after President Donald Trump decided to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv, where all governments have their embassies, to Jerusalem. Jordan condemned Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital in December as a violation of international law and the UN Charter, and the king emphasized this concern during his meeting last month with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence. On Sunday, King Abdullah remarked that Trump's decision has sparked a strong reaction among Palestinians, who feel that 'he is not a sincere broker.' However, he added, 'I prefer to refrain from judgment because we are still waiting for the Americans to present their peace plan.' Trump's decision was warmly welcomed by Israel, but many countries protested it, leading to anger and protests among Muslims. Palestinians consider East Jerusalem as the potential capital of a future Palestinian state and had hoped that peace negotiations would one day lead to global recognition of this status. Jordan occupied East Jerusalem in 1948, but Israel took control of it in the Six-Day War of 1967, a situation that continues to this day. The United States has long viewed Jordan as a moderate country in the region.
Jordan's King: Peace in the Middle East is Impossible Without U.S. Involvement
King Abdullah II of Jordan emphasized the necessity of U.S. involvement for peace between Israel and Palestinians, despite criticism of U.S. policies. He highlighted the negative impact of Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital on Palestinian sentiments. This situation is crucial as it affects regional stability and U.S. relations in the Middle East.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
King Abdullah II of Jordan stated that U.S. involvement is crucial for achieving peace between Israel and the Palestinians, despite criticism of U.S. policies regarding Jerusalem. He expressed concern over the negative reactions among Palestinians following Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
- King Abdullah emphasized that peace cannot be achieved without U.S. involvement.
- Trump's recognition of Jerusalem has led to increased tensions and protests among Palestinians.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been a longstanding issue, with Jerusalem being a contentious point due to its significance to both Israelis and Palestinians. Jordan has historically played a mediating role in this conflict.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%