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Amman, Jordan
CNN
—
The King of Jordan says he is ready for conflict if the status of the Holy Land in Jerusalem changes as Israel prepares to be sworn in to what is likely to be the most right-wing government in its history. says.
In an exclusive interview with CNN’s Becky Anderson earlier this month, King Abdullah II said he had “concerns” about the Israelis seeking to change control of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Israel-occupied East Jerusalem. and warned that: He has a “red line”.
“If people want to clash with us, we are ready,” he said. “Let’s see the glass half full. But we have certain red lines… and if people want to push those red lines, we’ll deal with To do.”
Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu’s next administration is expected to be the most right-wing in Israeli history and includes controversial figures once thought to be on the extreme edge of Israeli politics. This has raised concerns about the possible escalation of Israeli-Palestinian violence and the future of Israel’s relations with its Arab neighbors and Western allies.
This year has already been the deadliest year for Palestinians and Israelis in nearly two decades, sparking the specter of a new Palestinian uprising against Israel.
“What we have to worry about is next intifada (Insurrection),” said the King. “If that happens, it will be a complete collapse of law and order, and neither the Israelis nor the Palestinians will benefit. I think there’s a lot of concern from everyone to keep that from happening.”
Israel occupied East Jerusalem from Jordan in the 1967 war, Peace treaty signed in 1994 This formally recognized Amman’s special role in the city’s holy land. However, Jordan regularly accuses Israel of violating an agreement that controlled the ruins and prohibited non-Muslims from praying there, and the two have an uneasy relationship.
Jordan’s Hashemite monarchy has been the custodian of the Holy Land of Jerusalem since 1924 and considers itself the guarantor of the religious rights of Muslims and Christians in the city.
Tensions are highest at the site Muslims know as Haram al-Sharif, which Jews call the Temple Mount. The site includes the Al-Aqsa Mosque, his third holiest site in Islam. The area is also a holy site for Judaism. Right-wing Israeli politicians often argue that Jews should also have the right to pray there.
One of the most controversial figures in Israel’s incoming government is Itamar Ben-Gvir, who is set to become Minister of National Security and take over police control, including law enforcement, in the Holy Land of Jerusalem. Ben Gvir has a long history of inciting violence against Palestinians and Arabs. He has been convicted of inciting anti-Arab racism and supporting terrorism, and has openly called for a change in the status quo in the Holy Land.
“I don’t think those individuals are just under the Jordan microscope. They are under the international microscope,” said Wang in response to a question about Ben Gubir’s views. , we have to believe that there are many people who are as concerned as we are.”
He declined to comment on how Jordan would respond to the changing status of the Holy Land. We will work with anyone and everyone as long as we can,” he said.
More than half of Jordan’s population of approximately 10 million Palestinianincluding 2 million Palestinian refugees.
Jordan is the second Arab country, after Egypt, to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel. But after waiting decades, Israel scored a major diplomatic victory in 2020 by gaining recognition from four more Arab countries: the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan.
Relations with Israel have come under intense scrutiny domestically, and many oppose further strengthening ties because of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.
Israel’s integration into the region is “very important” but “will not happen unless the Palestinians have a future,” the king said, citing the overwhelm Arab football fans showed Palestinians at the Qatar FIFA World Cup. pointed out his support.
The king has recently doubled down on efforts to clarify the status of Christians in the Middle East, he declared at a conference in September. United Nations General Assembly In New York, the message that Jerusalem’s Christianity is ‘under fire’ has been announced with the Patriarch. head of the churches in Jerusalem Approved.
some churches in the holy land sound the alarm about the status of Christians there.In this week’s Christmas message, the head of the Church of Jerusalem, a group of Palestinian churches, issued a statement condemning the “attack” on the exercise of their religion and the “unreasonable restrictions” on worship.Palestine, July The High Presidential Commission on Church Affairs issued a statement condemn the attack By the “radical Israeli settlers” of the Church of the Holy Spirit and the Greek Gardens, accusing the Israeli government of complicity by “inaction” to hold the perpetrators accountable.
Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Lior Haiat told CNN that the church chiefs “have full access to all government authorities on any matter that concerns them,” adding that “violence against any community has been condemned by the government, It will be investigated with the utmost seriousness by the police,” he added. ”
“The State of Israel remains committed to safeguarding freedom of religion and worship for all, including the Christian community, in Jerusalem and other holy sites,” he said.
King Abdullah told CNN that the church in Jerusalem was facing challenges from “policies on the ground” and that the Christian community was under pressure.
“This is not a national policy, but clearly on the other side there are governments joining governments that have very radical views towards Muslims and Christians and we oppose it. I need it,” he said.
Middle Eastern Christians “must be part of our past, part of our present and part of our future,” he added.
Jordan has been a safe haven for Middle Eastern Christians for the past two decades. As neighboring countries became embroiled in conflict, some of the world’s oldest Christian communities fled their homelands.
In December, the monarch master plan Develop Bethany across the Jordan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where Christians believe Jesus was baptized. The plan aims to build accommodation, a museum and an amphitheater to accommodate 1.5 million visitors a year.
“I think one of the things people misunderstand about this place is how inclusive this place is. Nearly 15% of the visitors that come here are Muslim,” he told CNN. told to “So this is an opportunity to break down those barriers and show how proud we are not only of our historical Christian heritage here in Jordan, but of the relationship between Christianity and Islam.”
People in the Middle East “just want to get on with their lives,” the king said. “So 2022 is challenging and 2023 is dangerous, but we have the opportunity to go beyond it.”
He said that could be achieved through regional integration.
“I’ve moved away from the feeling that politics is going to solve our problems. It’s economic dependence,” he said. “Your success is my success, and when I invest in your success, it means we can move forward, after all.”
With additional reporting by Mike Schwartz of CNN in Jerusalem.
