The London Times headline: King Abdullah of Jordan’s ultimatum: peace now or it’s war next year
America is putting the final touches to a hugely ambitious peace plan for the Middle East, aimed at ending more than 60 years of conflict between Israel and the Arabs, according to Jordan’s King Abdullah, who is helping to bring the parties together.
The Obama Administration is pushing for a comprehensive peace agreement that would include settling Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians and its territorial disputes with Syria and Lebanon, King Abdullah II told The Times. Failure to reach agreement at this critical juncture would draw the world into a new Middle East war next year. “If we delay our peace negotiations, then there is going to be another conflict between Arabs or Muslims and Israel in the next 12-18 months,” the King said.
Long-time readers of this blog may recall Abdullah was essentially saying the same thing at Princeton U in February 2008, when he specifically asked for a homeland for the Palestinians. Back in February 2008 he was saying
“2008 is a critical year for the solution of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict,”
and that
“we need the USA completely involved to ensure a final agreement by end of 2008.”
I guess he moved up his schedule.
One thing about his request for a Palestinian homeland: As Israel Matzav points out,
I want to make sure you understand the total lack of logic here. Jordan may be the last party with an interest in a ‘Palestinian state’ because the royal family fears that it would lead their own 70% ‘Palestinian’ population to revolt. The ‘Palestinians’ ultimate ambition is to take over the entire original ‘Palestine mandate,’ which includes both Israel and Jordan. Is Abdullah saying this for show?
And the Iranians care not a whit whether or not there is a ‘Palestinian’ state. They want to destroy Israel regardless.
In the meantime, this “process” is following the usual schedule, pressuring Israel to make even more concessions.
This is the same mulberry bush the Arabs have been dancing around for several decades now. Land for peace–Israel gives up land and the Arabs promise, but do not deliver, peace. And they retain the right to hold out for Jerusalem and the “right of return,” which is to say, the end of Israel. One of King Abdullah’s observations is all too true: Netanyahu does indeed have a lot on his shoulders as he heads for Washington.
More at Yid with lid.
