Jordan Times
Friday, May 25, 2007
King pledges support for
Palestinian state
His Majesty urges citizens to take part in municipal, legislative
polls
By Mohammad Ghazal
AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday
pledged Jordan’s continued support for the Palestinian people and their efforts
to establish an independent Palestinian state on their national soil.
“Jordan will continue to defend Arab rights in Palestine, until the day the
Palestinian people regain their rights in full and establish their independent
state on their soil and enjoy, in that state, freedom, independence and a decent
life,” the King said in an address to the nation marking the Kingdom’s 61st
anniversary of independence.
He added that Jordan will continue to pursue every angle of diplomacy to call
for a permanent and comprehensive peace that guarantees the rights and dignity
of the Palestinian people.
“When we talk about the Palestinian issue, and call on the world to commit
itself to ending the injustice which the Palestinian people suffer… we are not
speaking on the Palestinians’ behalf,” he said, while calling on the
international community to rally behind the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, which
was reaffirmed at an Arab summit in March.
The initiative offers full peace with all Arab states in return for a withdrawal
to pre-1967 borders and “an agreed solution to the refugee problem.”
The King also called for international pressure on Israel to accept the
initiative, warning that time is running out to reach a just solution to the
issue.
“This initiative is based on international resolutions and does not forfeit a
single Arab right… It offers a real opportunity to regain Palestinian and Arab
rights, and to establish an independent Palestinian state,” he said.
“Support for the Arab Peace Initiative must be capitalised upon before it is too
late and we lose this historic opportunity, as we have lost other opportunities
before,” the King added in the address delivered at a celebration attended by
Her Majesty Queen Rania, members of the Royal family, government officials,
members of the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament, religious scholars and
representatives of the country’s professional associations.
The King also vowed to confront sectarian strife, which he said is turning the
region into a struggle between regional and international powers.
“We have worked, and continue to work to enhance and entrench the principles of
moderation, tolerance, understanding and coexistence. These are the principles
that befit a nation that is best among others and represent Islam’s tolerant
message.
“We will continue to confront sectarian strife, fanaticism and extremism, so
that we will not give the nation’s enemies the chance to distort its doctrine,
culture, history and future.”
His Majesty also called on Jordanians to take part in upcoming municipal and
parliamentary elections and to support the candidates that best represent the
entire country, and “not to be deceived by flashy slogans, nor by endless
promises.”
“The duty of deputies is to monitor and legislate. Every deputy represents the
entire homeland, not just a single neighbourhood, or tribe or party. An
intrinsic part of every deputy’s role as a monitor is to fight favouritism, and
nepotism, not to practise or turn a blind eye to them.”