Jordan’s King urges US to ‘rebuild trust’
Jordan’s king appealed on Sunday to US vice president Mike Pence to “rebuild trust and confidence” in the possibility of a two-state solution to the IsraeliPalestinian conflict, following fallout from the Trump administration’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Pence, in turn, tried to reassure the monarch that the Trump administration remains committed to restarting Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts and views Jordan as a central player.
He also said that “the United States of America remains committed, if the parties agree, to a two state solution.” Such a caveat deviates from long-standing US support for a two-state solution as the only possible outcome of any peace deal.
Trump’s pivot on Jerusalem last month infuriated the Palestinians, who seek the Israeli-annexed eastern sector of the city as a future capital. It set off protests and condemnation across Arab and Muslim countries.
It also posed a dilemma for Abdullah, who is a staunch US ally, but also derives his political legitimacy in large part from the
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Hashemite dynasty’s role as guardian of a key Muslim site in Jerusalem.
Pence told Jordan’s monarch on Sunday that Trump made it clear in his announcement on Jerusalem “that we are committed to continue to respect Jordan’s role as the custodian of holy sites, that we take no position on boundaries and final status.”
He said Jordan would continue to play a central role in any future peace efforts.
Pence also praised Jordan’s contribution to a US-led military campaign against Islamic State, which has been pushed back from large areas in Iraq and Syria, both neighbours of Jordan. AP