Interview with His Majesty King Abdullah II

"King Abdullah: 'There must be a Palestinian state within three years'

In an exclusive interview, conducted on the occasion of his recent visit in France, the initial leg of a European tour, the Hashemite king spoke to L'Express about his hopes, as well as his fears concerning the situation in the Middle East.

L'Express: Despite the deterioration in the Israeli-Palestinian situation, do you think that a Near East conference will be held before the end of the year?

King Abdullah: Certainly the situation on the ground between Israelis and Palestinians continues to be of great concern. There was some improvement after the Israeli army's incursions, two months ago, but we still have to consider the injured and the dead on both sides. Most observers do not attach much hope on a political solution. However, I am optimistic and this is because of the pressures exercised by the international community, the UN, the US, Russia, Europe and numerous countries that have agreed that there is a need for a global short-term solution. Also, I hope that a ministerial-level conference will be held before the end of the year. The United States made a mistake in appreciating that a tour by its secretary of state of the Middle East and the (occupied) territories would be sufficient and would calm down the situation. That means forgetting that the anger and frustration are still there. This is what I strongly told the president of the United States: the anger has not subsided. I stressed that if the confrontation between the Israeli army and the Palestinians is allowed to continue, the situation in the Middle East will worsen. I explained to all the countries that are our friends that the worst is yet to come. The worst could be over only if it will be possible to bring together at the same table the representatives of both camps, starting this summer. The contacts I had with the American administration gave me hope to believe that the United States is still in favour of a ministerial-level conference. It is not possible, at the beginning, to bring the heads of states together. There should be an intermediary stage in order to define the principles, timetable and parameters for the establishment of a state.

L'Express: Do you believe there is an evolution in the American position?

King Abdullah: Yes. When I met President Bush, I expressed my belief in the need to define a viable Palestinian state based on UN Resolutions 242 and 338. This is our sole chance to get the Palestinians and the Arabs to accept going in the right direction. At the same time, the Arabs will give Israel the security guarantees, which the Israelis have demanded for the last thirty or forty years. People have to be told what the price of peace is. Nobody understands very well what exactly 242 or 338 are, and that is why there is a need for a concrete explanation of what an accord constitutes. If we don't have a Palestinian state within three or four years, we will enter a new cycle of violence. Therefore let's give Israel what it wants -- and the Arabs are ready to do that -- and let's give the Arabs and the Palestinians what they want, that is a state, and let's do it as soon as possible, within two, three or four years. Above all, let's not wait for another generation!

L'Express: Do you believe that Ariel Sharon is capable of following this road to peace?

King Abdullah: This question concerns the leaders of each camp. Left to themselves, I believe they won't be capable to follow this road to peace. There is a need for the whole international community, the United States, Europe, the UN, Russia, in short for the whole world, to get involved and lead the two sides along this road. For a long time, the Israelis and the Palestinians have been left to face each other, and each side has found a pretext for not advancing. The problem is that we will pay the price for as long as this crisis between the Israelis and the Palestinians, between Israelis and Arabs, lasts. Nobody will escape facing the consequences, be they economic or security; there is also the risk of mounting extremism and terrorism. It is true for France as it is for the United States. No American president can ignore that. Eight American presidents have been confronted by the Middle East problem. If finding a solution to this crisis is not put on top of priorities, it will sooner or later impose itself as a priority.

L'Express: Is the emergence, in the Arab world, of a generation of young monarchs or heads of state to the advantage of peace?

King Abdullah: It certainly is an advantage. With my very good friend, the king of Morocco, with the Syrian president, the emir of Bahrain and his son, the crown prince, we effectively constitute a generation of young rulers. Because we belong to this young generation, we understand perhaps better what our peoples want. Thus, we have started economic and social reforms. Also, most of us have studied abroad and have travelled much more than the rulers of the generations preceding ours. These common points facilitate our dialogue. Together, we ask ourselves questions regarding the reforms that we should make in our education, or in our banking system, etc. And this is equally useful for us in our endeavour to modernise the Middle East. But we should also admit that, unfortunately, our young generation faces a political problem inherited from the past.

L'Express: Is there an alternative to Yasser Arafat?

King Abdullah: You see, this kind of alternative, whether we talk about Arafat or Sharon, must be determined by the Palestinians or the Israelis. One can complain as much as one wants about this or that leader, but it is the people who decide whether they want change.

L'Express: Do you believe that Arafat is capable and desiring of stopping the anti-Israeli attacks?

King Abdullah: What I can say is that, these last years, I always thought that Arafat is capable of controlling the Palestinian street and extremism. I don't believe it is the case today. I believe that his capacity to control Hamas, Islamic Jihad and even Fatah has decreased considerably, while the extremists have multiplied their attacks. The problem is that when anger is there, it is difficult to control anything.

L'Express: What will be your reaction if President Bush attacks Iraq?

King Abdullah: I made it clear to the United States what I thought about such an eventuality. And I believe that President Chirac and our friends in Germany, England, Russia or Egypt are on the same wavelength.

L'Express: Including Great Britain?

King Abdullah: Yes, including Great Britain. The whole world believes that attacking Iraq in the context of the crisis between the Israelis and the Palestinians would have devastating effects on the Middle East.

L'Express: And do you believe that you were heard in Washington?

King Abdullah: Yes, I do. You see, in Washington as everywhere else, in the entire administration, there are different currents. The US president will assume his responsibility after having heard this and that party, after having studied the impact such an attack will have not only on Iraq but on the whole Middle Eastern region. I am certain that before acting he will consult his Middle East partners.

L'Express: The Hashemite Kingdom is the custodian of the Islamic Holy Places in Jerusalem. What status do you envisage for this city, which is holy to the three religions?

King Abdullah: As Custodians of the Holy Places, we believe that Jerusalem should be a city open to the three religions. Specifically, we believe that the solution lies in a partition of Jerusalem between Israelis and Palestinians. We desire that the Old City, the Holy Places, the compound of mosques continue as one entity. It is a strong symbol, it is the cradle of our civilisations.

L'Express: Do you foresee legislative elections in Jordan soon?

King Abdullah: I will take a decision on this issue in the following months, taking into consideration the situation. In principle, these elections should be held within the year. We have these elections due but we also have a terrible Israeli-Palestinian crisis. If we have a sound economy, we can act more efficiently. That is why I asked President Chirac to ease our debt. I told the president of the French Republic: "Please, help me at the economy level as I know you are going to ask much more of me at the political level." Nobody, even in his or her worst nightmares, would have thought that Sept. 11 would happen. In order to better contribute to peace, Jordan needs to be stronger economically, more efficient socially. But our debt weakens us. Therefore, we need help that would enable us to help the rest of the world.