His Majesty King Abdullah II on Friday called on the United States to set the pace for Middle East peace, urging an effective plan for Palestinian-Israeli negotiations that can achieve results quickly and stop the drift towards confrontation.
“We do not have time to engage in yet another open-ended process,” King Abdullah said during an address to leading American policy makers, analysts and journalists at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in the American capital. “We have seen what comes of process without progress. Every missed opportunity has alienated more people on both sides. Such a course increases distrust and difficulties, and fuels those who seek to carry the parties down the path to destruction.”
The King delivered the speech on the last day of a several-day tour to the United States that included meetings with President Barack Obama, as well as several senior US administration officials and US congressional representatives, including the Friends of Jordan Caucus in the US House of Representatives and the Senate, which hosted a lunch in honour of King Abdullah and Her Majesty Queen Rania, who accompanied the King on the visit.
The King said the concern and engagement from the new US administration were heartening and appreciated in Jordan and throughout the region, but added that only sustained American focus and resolve would deliver results.
He said American leadership could be effective in several areas. The first and most vital, he said, is for the superpower to encourage its friends to think and act strategically by keeping their focus on where they want to be in two to three decades.
King Abdullah said the US can also encourage Israel to accept the opening to peace in the landmark Arab Peace Initiative.
“By its unanimous voice, by its serious approach, the Arab Peace Initiative is the most important proposal for peace in the history of this conflict,” the King told an audience of more than 150 people.
The King said it was imperative for the United States “to make it absolutely clear that it will not accept retrograde movement” in Palestinian-Israeli peace making.
“The elements of a settlement are known. There is an agreed agenda for negotiations; there is a clear objective: Two states, side by side; sovereign, respected and safe; with viable economies and institutions; and acceptance from neighbours and the world community.”
He also urged the American administration not to be tone-deaf to Palestinian suffering, saying that the US sends a powerful message to the people of the region by its response to Palestinian suffering.
“A signal is sent when the US ensures relief and rebuilding in Gaza and provides humanitarian aid in the West Bank,” he said. “But signals are also sent when [the US] acts or fails to act against the daily hardships of West Bank life, against illegal settlement building, against unilateral Israeli actions in Jerusalem … The US commitment to Palestinian statehood must be unambiguous in deeds as well as words.”
Following the speech, King Abdullah fielded several questions from the audience about Middle East affairs in general.
Addressing a question about Lebanon and the role of Iran and Hezbollah during the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for June, the King said that he expects Lebanon to "make great strides forward".
"I expect that there will be a common sense approach by everybody to make sure that elections happen in an atmosphere of a relaxed, stable environment," King Abdullah said, adding that all parties should work for the security and stability of Lebanon.
The King also explained in greater detail the Arab states' regional approach to peace-making.
"This is the opportunity for Israel to finally have peace with a third of the world that doesn't recognise it," the King said.
In response to a question from the audience about the prospects for Syrian-Israeli negotiations, King Abdullah said piecemeal approaches to peace were an opportunity for mischief.
"It also comes down to what clear commitments Israel is willing to give for those negotiations. What we don't want to find ourselves in is a position of both countries in dialogue that goes on open-ended," he said.
The session concluded with a question about the situation in Iraq, which the King described as "one of the few good stories we can see in our part of the world."
"It's a work in progress," he said, adding that it was essential for the international community, especially the Arab countries, to support Iraq in national reconciliation efforts.
"Prime Minister Maliki has come a long way in bringing his nation together, but he can't do it alone," the King said, adding the Arab states especially need to do more.
"As Iraq goes into transition, especially with coalition forces moving out, I do hope that we as Arab nations do step up to the plate and offer whatever support we can in the critical years ahead of Iraqi reconciliation and building," he said. "But I am optimistic about the future of Iraq and the Iraqi people.