عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Arab World Supports King Abdullah’s Efforts to Preserve Jordan’s Security

In this photo released by the Royal Hashemite Court, Jordan's King Abdullah II gives a speech during the inauguration of the 19th Parliament’s non-ordinary session, Amman, Jordan, Dec. 10, 2020. (AP)
In this photo released by the Royal Hashemite Court, Jordan's King Abdullah II gives a speech during the inauguration of the 19th Parliament’s non-ordinary session, Amman, Jordan, Dec. 10, 2020. (AP)
TT
20
TT

Arab World Supports King Abdullah’s Efforts to Preserve Jordan’s Security

In this photo released by the Royal Hashemite Court, Jordan's King Abdullah II gives a speech during the inauguration of the 19th Parliament’s non-ordinary session, Amman, Jordan, Dec. 10, 2020. (AP)
In this photo released by the Royal Hashemite Court, Jordan's King Abdullah II gives a speech during the inauguration of the 19th Parliament’s non-ordinary session, Amman, Jordan, Dec. 10, 2020. (AP)

The Arab world threw its support behind King Abdullah II and the measures taken to preserve Jordan’s security and stability.

King Abdullah’s half-brother and former Crown Prince Hamza bin Hussein was told to halt actions used to target the country’s “security and stability”, the military said on Saturday.

In a statement published by the state news agency, it said the action was part of a broader security investigation in which a former minister, a member of the royal family and some other unidentified individuals were detained.

Egypt voiced support for King Abdullah and his efforts “to maintain the security and stability of the kingdom against any attempts to undermine it,” its presidency spokesman wrote on Facebook.

Oman completely stands by Jordan under the leadership of King Abdullah and firmly supports anything that preserves Jordan's security, sovereignty and stability, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa affirmed full support to the decisions and measures taken by HM King Abdulla II Ibn Al Hussein of Jordan to maintain his country’s security and stability and defuse all disruptive attempts,” state news agency BNA said.

In a statement on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) website, Secretary-General Dr. Nayef al-Hajraf said the grouping “affirmed the full support of the Cooperation Council for all decisions and measures taken by His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein, to preserve the security and stability of brotherly Jordan, wishing brotherly Jordan continued security and stability under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II and His Highness, the faithful Crown Prince.”

“Jordan’s security and safety is a fundamental basis for the security and safety of the Arab world,” Lebanese Prime Minister designate Saad al-Hariri said on Twitter.

“All the solidarity with the Jordanian leadership and King Abdullah in defending the gains of the Jordanian people, protecting their stability, and refusing interference in their affairs.”

Kuwait’s foreign ministry expressed its “support to all the measures taken by Jordan’s King Abdullah and his Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, to maintain the security and stability of the kingdom”, adding “The security and stability of the kingdom are that of Kuwait”.

“The Iraqi government affirms that it stands with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, in any steps taken to preserve the security and stability of the country and take care of the interests of the brotherly people of Jordan, in a way that boosts their presence, by relying on measures that aim to extend the respect of the state,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

“Qatar expressed its full solidarity with the sisterly Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and its full support to the decisions and measures issued by His Majesty King Abdullah to preserve the security, stability, and boost the process of progress and prosperity in the country,” state news agency QNA said.

“Qatar affirmed that the security and stability of Jordan is an integral part of its security and stability, and stressed that the developed strategic relations between the two brotherly countries will remain an honest and strong guard against any attempts to undermine the security and stability in the two countries and the region.”

Yemen’s legitimate government “affirms its absolute support and its complete stand with all measures aimed at preserving Jordan’s security”, state news agency Saba said.

“Yemen affirms its absolute support and totally stands with all decisions and measures taken by His Majesty King Abdullah aimed at maintaining security and ending any attempts to destabilize the sisterly Kingdom of Jordan.”

“Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that we stand by the sisterly Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the king, the government, and the people,” official Palestinian news agency WAFA said in a statement.

“We support the decisions taken by King Abdullah II to preserve Jordan’s security and ensure its stability and unity.

“We support the steps taken by King Abdullah to maintain Jordanian national security, stressing that Jordan’s security and stability is a supreme Palestinian interest.”

Morocco's King Mohammed VI held a phone call with King Abdullah on Sunday to express solidarity and support for security measures taken by Jordanian's authorities, Morocco's royal palace said on Sunday.

“The secretary-general of the Arab League expressed full solidarity with the measures taken by the Jordanian leadership to maintain the security of the kingdom and maintain the stability,” the Arab League said in a statement on its Facebook page, citing Ahmed Aboul Gheit.

“He also stressed his confidence in the leadership’s wisdom and its keenness to secure the country’s stability in parallel with the respect for the constitution and the law.

“Ahmed Aboul Gheit added that King Abdullah II has a high and appreciated position, whether among the Jordanian people or on the Arab level in general, and that everyone knows his sincerity and his great role in serving Arab causes.”

Most Viewed

 
Arab World

Hezbollah’s Latest Threats Do Not Impede Calls for it to Disarm

Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem. (Reuters)
Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem. (Reuters)
TT
20
TT

Hezbollah’s Latest Threats Do Not Impede Calls for it to Disarm

Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem. (Reuters)
Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem. (Reuters)

The Lebanese presidency and premiership dismissed the latest Hezbollah threats related to its disarmament, saying they are forging ahead with the ceasefire and commitments they have made to the people.

Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem declared on Friday: “We will confront anyone working on disarming us the same way we confronted Israel.”

Sources from the premiership told Asharq Al-Awsat that the government is forging ahead in implementing its ministerial statement, which stipulated the need to limit the possession of arms in the country to the state.

President Joseph Aoun had made a similar pledge during his swearing in speech.

Commenting on Qassem’s statement, ministerial sources close to the presidency told Asharq Al-Awsat: “No one has threatened to remove the weapons by force.”

“Everything can be resolved through dialogue, which Qassem himself had expressed readiness to take part in,” they added.

They read Qassem’s escalatory tone as an attempt to reach out to Hezbollah’s support base during such a critical time for the Iran-backed party.

They noted that Qassem did not negatively address the dialogue that Aoun had called for. He also did not dismiss the army and its role. Rather, he rejected setting a timeframe for disarming Hezbollah.

“The president is the one who sets the mechanism for the dialogue and when it will start,” they stressed.

Moreover, the sources added that communication will continue “despite everything, given that Hezbollah – above anyone else – has an interest in maintaining calm” in Lebanon.

“Dialogue and diplomacy take time and Qassem has dismissed neither,” they went on to say.

The sources said that Qassem’s remarks may have been addressed to foreign actors, most notably amid the negotiations between the United States and Iran over the latter’s nuclear program.

Qassem is effectively telling Tehran that Hezbollah’s weapons are a card it can use in its negotiations with the Americans and that it rejects US pressure on it, explained the sources.

Wave of condemnation

Lebanese officials were quick to condemn Qassem’s remarks, saying the party has not changed its “arrogant” stances.

Even deputy US Middle East envoy Morgan Ortagus dismissed Qassem’s statement, replying simply with “Yawn” in a post on her X account.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, in his Easter message, demanded: “Enough war. Enough weapons.”

Former President Michel Suleiman responded directly to Hezbollah, saying: “We reject threats of violence and of a return to civil war.”

“We reject claims that the army is weak and statements that the weapons will be retained in the South, Mountain, Bekaa, North, and Beirut,” he added. He noted that as long as weapons remain outside state control “state institutions will not rise, the economy will not be revived and Lebanon will not regain its friends in the international community.”

Addressing the Hezbollah leadership, MP Ashraf Rifi said on X: “What is left of the leadership has not derived lessons from the catastrophe that their party has caused. Here they are recklessly clinging on to their weapons for the sake of Tehran that is negotiating with the Americans with the lives of the Lebanese people.”

It seems that the leadership “has lost the least bit of wisdom and the ability to use sound judgement,” he remarked.

“The Lebanese people will not allow you to forcibly lead them to another suicidal adventure,” he said. “The weapons will be handed over sooner or later. There can be no turning back the hands of time.”

Head of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea said of Qassem’s statements: “It appears that some are insisting on returning to the mentality of threats and severing hands” that come near the weapons.

“This is not the mentality of the state or democracy, rather one that undermines civil peace. Those adopting such mentalities must cease and see for themselves what their catastrophes have incurred on the nation,” he continued.

He called for allowing Lebanon’s new leaderships to help the country out of the calamities caused by Hezbollah.

‘Conspiracy’

Meanwhile, Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Mojtaba Amani dismissed as a “conspiracy” calls for stripping Hezbollah of its weapons.

In a post on X, he said that as the US continues to supply Israel with weapons and missiles, it prevents countries from arming and bolstering their militaries.

“Iran is aware of the dangerousness of this conspiracy and its threat to the security of the people of the region,” he added.

“We warn others of falling for the trap set up by the enemies. Maintaining the deterrence power is the first line of defense of sovereignty and independence,” he charged.