The king said that he was once hopeful about the possibility of peace, but now he is one of the most pessimistic people regarding peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
”I was extremely optimistic by the vision he [Netanyahu] had for peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians and the Israelis and the Arabs. However, I have to say that over the past 12 months, everything I’ve seen on the ground has made me extremely skeptical, and I’m probably one of the more optimistic people you will meet in this part of the world,” he said according to a transcript of the interview published by the official Jordanian news agency, Petra.
The king referred especially to Israel’s building in the eastern part of Jerusalem, considered by Israel as part of its capital, but by most countries as occupied territory. The king warned that Jerusalem is like a powder keg that can “ignite Muslim frustration and anger all over the world.”
The king called on the Israelis to embrace the peace process with the Arab world, warning of the possible alternatives to peace, among them international isolation, another round of violence, and destabilization.
“The Israelis have a major challenge on the future of their existence. Wouldn’t it be better today when you’re in a stronger position to make peace not only with your neighbors but with the whole Arab-Islamic world,” said the king.
The king also addressed Jordanian-Israeli relations saying they are at an all-time low. “The political trust is gone, there is no real economic relationship between Jordan and Israel,” he said.
