Speeches at international forums are not measured by their length, but by their ability to name things by their names in a moment when there is much hesitation. By this standard, His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein's speech before the United Nations General Assembly was historic in its content and timing, and came during a session titled "Restoring Trust," making it the most truthful and daring translation of this title: he did not treat trust as a slogan, but asked about the reasons for its loss and the way to restore it. His Majesty stood as a leader of a country engaged in the issues of its region, not an observer; a country known for its moderation, which signed a peace treaty and enjoys the trust of major capitals. And when a country like this says that what is happening is unacceptable, its words are given a thousand considerations.
An early warning from Gaza and the West Bank to the world
His Majesty placed his speech within the framework of an early warning, as Jordan has repeatedly warned that marginalizing the Palestinian issue will not create stability, and events have proven the correctness of his warnings. He affirmed that what is happening in Gaza and the West Bank cannot be accepted, and that Israeli policies have not only affected Palestinians but have also extended their effects to the region and the world. By this framing, he addressed the interests of countries before their emotions, and removed the excuse for those who treat the issue as a local matter that can be postponed.
Settler attacks are no longer isolated incidents, but a systematic pattern of burning homes, uprooting olive trees, attacking farmers, and displacing entire communities. The most dangerous thing is that it is happening in the presence of the Israeli army, which is legally responsible as an occupying force to protect civilians, and UN and human rights reports have documented cases in which soldiers participated in the attacks or provided protection to the attackers. When the boundaries between the settler and the soldier disappear, we are facing an official policy whose goal is to impose facts and undermine any horizon for a Palestinian state. The speech reached its peak when it addressed international law, which turns into ink on paper when it comes to Israel. The law that is exempt from one party loses its meaning for everyone, and gives the excuse to everyone who wants to break the rules, and weakens the argument of the major countries themselves in other crises. Thus, the King confronted the world with its declared principles, and put it in front of the contradiction between what it says and what it does.
Restoring trust... where to start?
Here the speech meets the title of the session. Trust was not lost due to weak statements, but due to the gap between principles and actions. When the youth in our region lose faith in the ability of international law to do them justice, the door is opened to despair and extremism, and when countries lose trust in the international system, they resort to the logic of force. Restoring trust begins, as His Majesty pointed out, by applying the law to everyone without exception, stopping what is happening in Gaza and the West Bank, holding violators accountable, and reviving a real political horizon for the Palestinian people. Trust is restored by actions, not statements.
A government that threatens the region... and a conflict that is not religious
His Majesty accurately distinguished between the course of the conflict and the behavior of the current Israeli government, which goes further to threaten the region itself, in an implicit message to its supporters that unconditional support does not serve anyone's security. He affirmed that Jordan protects Christians while defending Islam and its true image, refuting the portrayal of the conflict as a religious and existential conflict, which serves extremists and eliminates the political and legal dimension of the issue. When he says this, the custodian of the Hashemite custodianship of the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and the messenger of Amman, he speaks from a position that no one disputes. And when he spoke about southern Syria, his language was calm and firm: if our northern borders or interests are threatened, we are capable of defending our country. A message that reassures the domestic audience, warns those who think of testing Jordan's patience, and reminds that the country that extends its hand to peace is not imposed upon by facts.
Leadership the size of the challenge
His Majesty addressed in one speech the international community, the Israeli government, the Arab and Islamic worlds, and the Jordanian street, with justice and boldness. A leader who carries the burden of Palestine as if it were a Jordanian concern, protects diversity, confronts the world with facts, and preserves the borders of his country with confidence. It is the Hashemite legacy in its clearest form: courage in position, wisdom in speech, and steadfastness in principle.
Jordan has spoken at a session titled Restoring Trust, and trust will not be restored as long as the law is applied by two standards. Will the world listen this time, before the early warning turns into a reality that cannot be remedied?
