Jordan's King Abdullah II Criticizes Israeli Policies at UN

King Abdullah II of Jordan delivered a strong critique of Israeli policies concerning Gaza, the West Bank, and Syria during his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday. He accused the Israeli government of actively working to make a viable Palestinian state impossible.

Regarding Gaza, King Abdullah II criticized Israel for prolonging the conflict and undermining U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to end it. He stated that Israel had continuously changed its demands, refused to withdraw, and continued its attacks, leaving Palestinians confined to a fraction of their land. The King also condemned the escalating situation in the West Bank, citing settler violence, land confiscation, settlement expansion, and the forced displacement of Palestinians. He described the current reality as Gaza being reshaped through destruction and the West Bank through de facto annexation, with the ultimate goal of preventing a Palestinian state.

King Abdullah II also addressed the military presence and activities of the Israeli army in southern Syria, warning that it poses a regional threat and represents a "warning that the international community chooses not to see." He argued that the current conflict is also a result of decades where the international community opted to manage the Israeli-Palestinian dispute rather than resolve it.

Finally, the Jordanian monarch issued a stern warning that Jordan would respond decisively to any direct threat to its interests, including its northern borders or water security. "Any threat to our northern borders or our water security is a threat to our national security," he asserted, adding that "Jordan will not stand idly by." This statement comes as a water supply agreement with Israel, set to double Jordan's water allocation, is due to expire at the end of 2025 without renewal.