Israel Criticizes Jordanian King's UN Speech on Gaza Policies
Jerusalem questions King Abdullah II's references to international law, citing past Jordanian actions regarding Palestinian citizenship.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry has criticized Jordanian King Abdullah II's recent speech at the United Nations General Assembly, in which he condemned Israel's policies in Gaza and the West Bank as violations of international law. The ministry, in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, questioned the Jordanian king's stance on international law.
"It is particularly amusing to hear King Abdullah II of Jordan speak so passionately about international law and the rights of Palestinians in Judea and Samaria," the ministry stated. It referenced actions taken by his father, King Hussein, in 1988, when Jordan revoked the citizenship of Palestinians residing in the West Bank. According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, these Palestinians lost the right to vote or run for the Jordanian parliament, work in the civil service, or receive funding from Jordan, and their passports were confiscated or not renewed, effectively classifying them as foreign nationals.
King Abdullah II addressed the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, dedicating a significant portion of his speech to criticize Israel's actions. He accused the Israeli government of pursuing an expansionist policy in Gaza, the West Bank, and Syria, suggesting it was testing the limits of its actions and that its "sense of impunity has reached terrifying levels."
He further characterized Israel's actions as a regional threat and urged the international community to utilize tools such as "sanctions, asset freezes, embargoes, [and] diplomatic isolation." King Abdullah also voiced concerns about threats to Jordan's northern border and water security, asserting that Israel's actions regarding water resources were creating "new facts on the ground."
Jordan and Israel signed a peace treaty in 1994, making Jordan the second Arab nation to normalize relations with Israel after Egypt. The treaty includes provisions for Israel to supply Jordan with water and assist with desalination technology, as well as agreements on water rights from the Yarmouk River.