King warns of ‘conspiracy' against Palestinian rights

06 January 2009
Amman , Jordan

His Majesty King Abdullah warned on Tuesday that there is a conspiracy being concocted against the Palestinian people, their future and right to establish their independent state.

He said he is mostly wary of what will happen in the aftermath of an ongoing Israeli aggression against Gaza.

In an interview with Al Jazeera satellite channel following a meeting with a delegation from the International Association of Muslim Scholars (IAMS), King Abdullah said: “We should be aware of the conspiracy and, God willing, we will as soon as possible stop the Israeli agenda with the spirit of one team as Arab countries.”

King Abdullah said he was working with Arab and foreign parties to immediately stop the Israeli aggression, adding that Arab countries, in cooperation with foreign states, are doing their utmost and placing pressure on Israel to end its onslaught.

Meanwhile, Jordan and the EU agreed on Tuesday to work out a joint mechanism to send humanitarian aid, food and medical supplies to the Gaza Strip which is going through a humanitarian crisis due to the Israeli military campaign.

The agreement was reached during a meeting between King Abdullah and the European Troika delegation that arrived in Jordan as part of a regional tour seeking to reach a ceasefire.

Along with his meetings with the IAMS and Troika, the King discussed the situation in Gaza separately with representatives from the Arab Interim Parliament and the Lutheran World Federation.

In his meeting with the Troika delegation, King Abdullah underlined the need for the international community to take immediate action to stop the Israeli offensive.

The aggression, the King reiterated, threatens efforts to reach a peaceful solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution that ensures the creation of an independent Palestinian state.

His Majesty stressed the necessity to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza caused by Israel's belligerence and demanded the opening of the crossing points to allow entry of medical and humanitarian assistance to the battered Gaza Strip.

King Abdullah said it is important that the international community take action immediately after the attacks are ceased to forge a peaceful solution to the conflict through serious negotiations that lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and bring about security and stability in the region.

King Abdullah also met with Mideast Quartet Representative Tony Blair and reiterated Jordan's stand on Gaza and call on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities towards the Palestinians.

At his meeting with the IAMS delegation, headed by renowned cleric Yousef Qardawi, King Abdullah reviewed Arab and international efforts to bring an end to the Israeli attacks and the ensuing humanitarian crisis.

King Abdullah said he highly valued the delegation's efforts to unify the Arabs, emphasizing the need to join efforts to protect the Palestinians from the aggression and the conspiracy that targets their future and their right to their own state.

His Majesty stressed Jordan's support for the mission of the delegation, which stopped in Jordan as part of a regional tour that started in Qatar and includes Saudi Arabia, Syria and Turkey.

He also said it was important that the Palestinians unify and achieve national reconciliation to preempt the consequences of the aggression and serve Palestinian national interests.

At his meeting with the Interim President of the Arab Parliament and Chairman of Kuwaiti Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee Mohammad Jassem Al Saqr, the King emphasised that Jordan is continuing its intensive efforts to end the Israeli aggression, whose ramifications have reached a very serious level over which the world should not remain silent.

King Abdullah said Jordan is deploying all its capabilities to help the Palestinians and extend all types of support to them.

King Abdullah underlined the significance of the Arab Parliament's role in unifying stands and activating joint Arab action at this critical stage to support the Palestinians and end their suffering.

Also on Tuesday, King Abdullah received Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and president of the Lutheran World Federation and the accompanying delegation. He warned against the serious condition in Gaza due to the continued Israeli onslaught on Gazans.

King Abdullah underlined the important role religious leaders can play in supporting all efforts to stop the aggression and support the Palestinians in their pursuit of their legitimate rights.

King Abdullah pointed out Jordan's historic responsibility in preserving the holy sites in Jerusalem and supporting Arab Christians in the sacred city.