King satisfied with country’s direction, optimistic about future

His Majesty King Abdullah speaks to ABC’s Christiane Amanpour during an interview that was broadcast on Sunday (Photo by Yousef Allan)

His Majesty King Abdullah said he is leading the national dialogue in the right direction, stressing that he has no worries about the future of Jordan.

In an interview with ABC television network that was broadcast Sunday, the King also said the Middle East was going through a defining moment, but warned that failure to find a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict can lead to an explosive situation.

While each country in the Middle East has its unique situation, the King said that various segments of society were brought together in Jordan to discuss means of reforming the political system.

“We brought all sectors of society together. We created what we called the national dialogue to all sit around the table and decide what it is that Jordanians want,” King Abdullah said, noting that the committee in charge of the dialogue tackles new elections and political parties laws that are essential for the future of the country.

“I have the responsibility to lead the debate in the right direction. And I think Jordan will move towards the light. I have no worries about Jordan,” His Majesty affirmed in the interview conducted by ABC’s Christiane Amanpour.

In reply to a question, the King said the US popularity in the region was affected by its failure to help find a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“Well, if you look at the past 10 years, every two to two-and-a-half years there is either the Intifada or a war or a conflict. So looking back over the past 12 years, my experience shows me that if we ignore the Israeli-Palestinian issue, something will burst,” the King said.

In reply to a question whether he believes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was an obstacle to peace, the King said meetings with Netanyahu make him optimistic about the prospects for peace in the region, but when it comes to reality, there is not much to hope for.

“I just have a feeling that we’re going to be living with the status quo for 2011. And as you well know, whenever we accept the status quo, we do so until there is another war. And so that is of tremendous concern to me.”

His Majesty said the region was in need of leaders with courage to take tough decisions.

Current Israeli leaders, he said, are always looking for excuses not to negotiate with the Palestinians, to avoid arriving at a peace agreement.

“The past couple of years, the Israelis were saying, ‘well, you know, [Palestinian President Mahmoud] Abbas is not a partner for peace because he doesn’t represent the Palestinian people, therefore, we’re not prepared to move forward’.”

To be able to represent the Palestinian people, Abbas reconciled with the Islamic movement in charge of Gaza, Hamas, which made Israel say it cannot deal with him because of Hamas, said the King.

“Abbas has made it very clear that Hamas would not be part of the government. They will not have any role in the security apparatus in the West Bank, which is important for the United States, it’s important for Jordan, because we have worked tirelessly together to train the Palestinian security forces,” His Majesty said.

“You know, Christiane, it’s always easy to find an excuse why not to do the right thing. And if we continue along those lines, then we will never solve this problem. And, at the end of the day, it’s going to be the Arabs and Israelis [who] are going to pay the ultimate price. You have seen our region. For how many decades have we suffered from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?” asked the King.

The King said economic frustration and a political awakening sparked the youth movement across the region, starting with Tunisia, to chart their own destiny.

“Which way the Middle East goes? I hope reaching out to the aspirations of the youth. This will be a good story when we look back on it years from now,” His Majesty said.

The King said he was in contact with Syrian President Bashar Assad to help bring stability and calm to Jordan’s northern neighbour, noting that the only way out for the country is to have the president reach out to the people and involve them in a national dialogue.

Affirming that Assad is in charge of the country and is still “calling the shots”, His Majesty reaffirmed that reaching out to the public was the only way to turn things around and bring calm and stability, dialogue and national reconciliation.

“I’ve learned from His late Majesty, King Hussein… to keep as close to the people as possible. And on a weekly basis, I go out and visit different sectors of society. I sit down with people from all walks of life. And we discuss all the issues that are relevant to them,” continued the King.

The King described criticism directed against Her Majesty Queen Rania and allegations that her family appropriate land as ludicrous. He paid tribute to the Queen’s role in the service of Jordanian women and children.

“Everything that I’ve heard is absolutely ludicrous and very sad when many, many Jordanians know what she has done for women, for children, not only in Jordan, but across the region and further afield. I think we’re in an atmosphere where anybody that wants to look at destabilising Jordan and having a go at me, looking at a weaker link. And having a go at Rania, I think, has been very, very sad for all of us, that people would stoop to that level.”

In reply to a question on whether the Queen has powers to pick certain ministers or civil servants, the King said that Her Majesty’s responsibilities are in the field of education.

“She has never ever gotten involved in the government. Her mandate, if there is any, has always been education, education, education.

“I’m hoping that our society will wake up to this and put a stop to this, because it’s become so destructive in Jordan, not just Rania, many, many people have been accused by people that just feel that they can get away with it,” His Majesty said.

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