Jordan's King Abdullah II criticizes Israel in parliament speech

King Abdullah II of Jordan delivered a speech to parliament criticizing Israeli policies, warning of regional consequences, and addressing the Karak attack, water crisis, and Palestinian issue as key threats.

King Abdullah II said today (Monday) that the threats to Jordan's national security are water security, the fight against terrorism, and a solution to the Palestinian issue. In his speech, the king stated that the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, the attacks in the 'West Bank' and 'occupied' Jerusalem, and 'Israeli ambitions' are the greatest threat to regional security. He warned against 'the illusion that tyranny grants legitimacy.' The article analyzes the gap between the shared security interests with Israel and the political and public discourse, noting the explicit absence of reference to Iran and the militias in Iraq as a rhetorical choice by the king. The formal peace from 1994 is maintained, but trust has eroded.