Irbid, June 17 (Petra) – Jordanian political and official figures hailed His Majesty King Abdullah II’s address to the European Parliament on Tuesday as a defining moment for Arab political rhetoric, saying it reasserted global moral values undermined by double standards especially in the context of the Palestinian cause.

Speaking to the Jordan News Agency (Petra), the figures said the King’s speech spoke on behalf of all humanity, sending a clear and unequivocal message that ongoing silence over the war in Gaza and the erosion of prospects for a just peace threaten global security and damage the credibility of international law.

Former Minister of Public Works and Housing, Mohammad Taleb Obeidat, described the speech as a pivotal milestone in Jordanian diplomacy, especially amid rising regional tensions, including the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza and the dangerous escalation with Iran.

“The timing was critical,” he said. “The King carried the voice of Arab and global conscience to one of the world’s most prominent parliamentary platforms, delivering strategic messages on regional security, international legitimacy, and human rights.”

Obeidat noted the King’s firm warning against a broader regional war, asserting that such a path would bring further devastation. He praised the address as a courageous and dignified call for peace, emphasizing Jordan’s enduring role as a reliable strategic partner for Europe, particularly on refugees, security, water, and energy.

He added that the speech reinforced Jordan’s historic Hashemite custodianship of Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian holy sites and reiterated the centrality of the Palestinian cause, calling the address “more than words it was the voice of a brave leader appealing to the world’s conscience.”

Former Minister of Transport Anmar Khasawneh said the King’s message reflected Jordan’s diplomatic boldness in speaking the truth, conveying the sentiments of millions across the Arab and Islamic worlds amid the conflict in Gaza and the escalating Iran-Israel standoff.

Khasawneh said the speech served as a moral compass correction, confronting the international community’s failure to uphold justice and basic humanitarian values. “It was a speech rooted in reason, addressing the world’s conscience and demanding a return to core ethical standards.”

Ibrahim Shakhanbeh, Director of Al-Hassan Youth City, said the King linked the absence of legal justice to the persistence of violence and chaos, reaffirming Jordan’s position on the Hashemite custodianship and the call for an independent Palestinian state. “It was a timely stand against the moral hypocrisy shaping today’s global order,” he said.

Political and Social activist Ali Yousef Momani emphasized that the speech transcended official policy to reflect the collective voice of Arab and Muslim nations. “The King spoke with the language of human conscience, urging urgent moral action from the international community.”

Momani said the King’s words conveyed deep political and humanitarian dimensions, reiterating Jordan’s unwavering advocacy for just Arab causes and solidifying His Majesty’s role as “the clearest and most credible voice for justice in the international arena.”

Economist and political analyst Rakan Abu Zaid described the address as a strategic highlight for Jordan’s diplomatic presence, cementing the country’s image as a rational voice in a turbulent region.

Speaking for the sixth time before the European Parliament in more than two decades, Abu Zaid said the King delivered one of the most impactful speeches to date timely, principled, and aimed at both institutions and the wider Western public.

“The King reminded the world that what’s happening in Gaza is a test for humanity itself,” Abu Zaid said, “and that neutrality is no longer viable. Peace stems from courage, not weakness, and Jordan has been a model of stability for decades.”

He concluded by saying that the speech is among the most influential in shaping the peace narrative of the past decade distinguished by its honesty, clarity, and human depth.P

//Petra// AF
17/06/2025 21:18:39