By His Majesty the King
Egypt, France, Jordan: Ceasefire now in Gaza
The war in Gaza and the catastrophic humanitarian suffering it is causing must end now. Violence, terror and war cannot bring peace to the Middle East. The Two-States solution will. It is the only credible path to guaranteeing peace and security for all,
A two-state solution would be a victory for our common humanity
For more than a month now, the war in Gaza has been dividing the world, with the deepening split aggravated by intense emotions. Two narratives, Palestinian and Israeli, have pitted demonstrators, media outlets, religions, peoples and regions against each other. In the process, the moral clarity that we should and must share about basic human values has turned into moral confusion.
Jordan’s perspective: Forgotten refugee crisis demands renewed global attention
Over a year and a half into an unprecedented global pandemic and its ongoing wide scale repercussions, so many urgent challenges facing our world have unfortunately taken a backseat. One of these challenges, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic, is the global refugee crisis.
It’s time to return to globalization. But this time let’s do it right.
I can’t remember the precise context, but I was recently taken aback when an aide mentioned I had become the longest-serving Arab leader. The sheer pace and density of events in the past 21 years — wars, terrorist attacks, regional conflicts, waves of refugees, financial crises — had caused the years to blur together.
No time for geopolitical turf battles
Op-ed by His Majesty King Abdullah II, and presidents Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany, Halimah Yacob of Singapore, Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia and Lenín Moreno Garcés of Ecuador
"Social or antisocial media?"
Writing this article is a way for me to address all dear Jordanians and encourage a constructive discussion on our priorities and multiple key national issues, some of which I have highlighted during my various meetings and recently in the Speech from the Throne, covering political, economic, and social aspects. I will continue to shed light on such important national matters through various platforms. In this article, I have decided to focus on a crucial issue—that of disturbing trends on social media platforms.
"Investing in Hope"
The Syrian conflict is about to enter a sixth brutal year, with more than 250,000 Syrians dead and more than half the population displaced. By far the majority have clung to safety in neighbouring countries, especially Jordan, but increasing numbers are turning to Europe. This desperate situation has put enormous pressure on our global system. Community fears have collided with core social values, putting new strains on the principle of “united in diversity” – which is, after all, not just the EU motto but a basis for co-existence worldwide.
"We are all fighting the outlaws of Islam"
Events taking place in the Middle East today will shape the security and stability of Europe and the world for decades to come. This is why I call the war on terrorism a Third World War, by other means. It is also why it is imperative for all of us to be united in this existential war. This is not a war that should divide us, but a war that should unite us in shared interests, common principles and fundamental human values.
"Our Collective Challenge"
It has never been clearer that our Euro-Mediterranean neighbourhood shares deep common challenges and interests. Sickening atrocities, like those in Paris last week, or in Amman ten years ago, demonstrate clearly that terrorists target, not just innocent lives, but the mutual trust and co-existence that is part of our regions' strength and prosperity. This is a global war we should fight together as one.
Jordan’s Security Backbone: Pluralism and National Unity
Throughout the life of my country, the Middle East has been the front line of bitter conflicts and the crossroads of world economic forces. Jordan’s security in this tough neighborhood has not come from great power or vast resources. Our security comes from an inveterate national ethos that has kept our country resilient through decades of almost constant pressures and change.