U.S. Hosts Jordan's Abdullah For Third Time, In Nod To King's Role In Region

Biden hosts Jordan’s Abdullah for third time, in nod to king’s role in region

Bharat Times

US President Joe Biden hosted Jordan’s King Abdullah in the Oval Office on Thursday, outlining Washington’s view of Amman as playing a key role in maintaining regional stability, especially with regard to Israeli-Palestinian relations. Used to be.

This was Abdullah’s third visit to the White House since Biden took office, making him Biden’s most frequent foreign guest. The king had earlier visited in July 2021 and May 2022.

During a private lunch, Biden thanked Abdullah for Jordan’s role “as a force for stability in the Middle East,” according to the US readout on the talks.

“The leaders discussed opportunities and mechanisms to reduce tensions, particularly in the West Bank,” the White House said.

Biden “affirmed his strong support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan as the custodian of Muslim holy places in Jerusalem, citing the critical need to maintain the historical status quo in the Haram”. Recognized important role Al-Sharif/Temple Mount,” the White House said.

Jordan’s Royal Court said in a statement that “Abdullah appreciated the United States’ significant efforts in restoring peace and creating a political horizon that maintains the prospects for a just and comprehensive peace based on a two-state solution.” “

The Temple Mount is the holiest site in Judaism, as the location of the two Biblical Temples. It is also the location of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest shrine in Islam. It has been a source of renewed tension between Israel, Jordan and the wider Muslim world since the return of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the premiership in late December.

Days after the new Israeli government was sworn in, far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir visited the Temple Mount, defying Jordanian warnings of diplomatic consequences. The visit drew widespread international condemnation and Amman summoned the Israeli ambassador for a reprimand.

Jordan strongly opposes any change to the status quo governing the holy site, under which non-Muslims can visit the compound but cannot pray there. Ben Gvir has long campaigned for the rules to be changed to allow Jewish prayer. Since entering government, he has shrugged off such calls, criticizing the policy as “racist”.

Jordan saw an improvement in its relations with Israel under the previous government after a rocky period over the past decade under Netanyahu. In a possible sign of the sides trying to patch things up, Abdullah hosted Netanyahu in Amman last week.

Israeli-Palestinian tensions escalated following an IDF raid in Jenin that killed nine Palestinian gunmen along with one civilian, followed by a terrorist attack in East Jerusalem that claimed the lives of seven Israeli civilians.

The Royal Court said, during the meeting, the Jordanian king “stressed the need to stop Israeli measures that undermine the two-state solution and push it forward.”

Besides Biden, Abdullah held meetings with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, new Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other congressional leaders.

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