WASHINGTON — King Abdullah II of Jordan says Sunday that the United States remains essential to any hope of a peaceful solution between Israel and the Palestinians, despite widespread criticism of the new US stance on Jerusalem.
“We cannot have a peace process or a peace solution without the role of the United States,” the monarch tells CNN’s Fareed Zakaria.
US President Donald Trump (R) shakes hands with King Abdullah II of Jordan in the Oval Office at the White House as First Lady Melania Trump and Queen Rania look on. April 5, 2017. (AFP/Nicholas Kamm)
This was true even after US President Donald Trump decided to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv — where nearly every other country has its embassy — to Jerusalem, he says.
Abdullah notes on Sunday that Trump’s decision had “created a backlash” by leaving Palestinians feeling “that there isn’t an honest broker.”
But, he adds, “I’d like to reserve judgment, because we’re still waiting for the Americans to come out with their (peace) plan.”
“I think we have to give the Americans the benefit of the doubt and all work together” once the White House issues a peace plan, Abdullah says, while adding that “if it is not a good plan … I don’t think we’ve got a Plan B at this stage.”
— AFP
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