Jordan Times
Monday, March 29, 2004
King deeply concerned for Palestinians' future
AMMAN (Petra) — His Majesty King Abdullah stressed his deep concern for the future of the Palestinian people, pointing to the dangers inherent in Israel's construction of its so-called “security wall.”
“Israel is proceeding with its political
escalation and its construction of the separation wall, giving us cause for deep
concern because once it is erected the wall will fragment Palestinian lands and
render life very difficult for the Palestinians,” the King told the London-based
Al Hayat newspaper.
The Monarch called on the Arabs to recognise the danger of the situation and
move quickly to deal with it. “We are exerting our utmost efforts to keep the
roadmap peace plan alive and to see to it that any Israeli withdrawal is part of
a comprehensive peace process according to that plan,” King Abdullah said in an
interview on Saturday with Al Hayat editor George Simaan before news of the
postponement of the Arab summit.
King Abdullah said he was shocked at Israel's assassination of Sheikh Ahmed
Yassin, describing the act as a crime by all standards and one that should urge
the world community to reexamine the situation and put an end to all of Israel's
arbitrary measures.
“This crime was very embarrassing to us because it occurred two days after I met
with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon,” the King said. He said the meeting
with Sharon left him with the impression that Sharon would cooperate in moving
ahead with the peace process. But Sharon carried out the attack, the King said,
adding that the decision won Sharon international condemnation.
Speaking about his planned visit to the US next month, King Abdullah said he is
seeking to determine “what we can do in support of the roadmap peace plan
despite the fact that the Americans will be occupied with the forthcoming
presidential elections.”
Referring to domestic affairs, King Abdullah said that Jordan is going ahead
with political and economic reforms and has achieved major strides in that
respect.
“We have drawn up a clear and comprehensive plan for reforms in which our people
in Jordan have faith and they are looking forward for its realisation, and we
are moving ahead with the reforms process and determined to accomplish the task
in which Jordan's future lies,” said the King.
However, he stressed that reforms are a domestic affair and any interference to
impose reforms or to submit recipes from outside the country will fail.
King Abdullah said he was confident that reforms are coming, adding that
“instead of having to see things imposed on us from outside, let us foresee the
future and start intrinsic and self-imposed reforms drawing up the headlines and
the reforms agenda that suit our faith and our Islamic heritage.”
In this respect, King Abdullah reiterated his satisfaction with the performance
of Prime Minister Faisal Fayez's government and its handling of affairs in
collaboration with Parliament and the country's civil society institutions.
Expressing concern over the escalation of acts of violence in Iraq, King
Abdullah said there are certain forces who do not want to see this country rise
again, adding that the Iraqi people proved to be united regardless of attempts
at sedition.
Asked if HRH Prince Hassan will play a role in Iraq, King Abdullah said: “Some
Iraqis keep coming here to talk to us about their views of restoring monarchy to
Iraq but this is purely an internal Iraqi affair. But the Iraqis are capable of
determining their own destiny and future.”