King Abdullah to the Knesset?
KING ABDULLAH II of Jordan last week held a series of meetings in London to discuss the future of the Middle East peace process, which could ultimately lead to the Jordanian monarch addressing the Knesset.
The JC understands the issue is under discussion with the Israeli ambassador to the UK, Daniel Taub.
According to sources at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), which organised a round-table during the visit, King Abdullah’s determination to play an active role in moves to reactivate negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians could result in a direct appeal to the Israeli parliament.
In advance of talks with Prime Minister David Cameron, King Abdullah held a meeting with representatives of the Jewish Leadership Council and the United Jewish Israel Appeal to encourage investment in co-operative projects across the region and in interfaith work.
During the visit the King re-emphasised his commitment to a two-state solution. Talks were held in Amman earlier this year between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators in an attempt to get talks back on track.
The King also raised the subject of Syria (120,000 Syrian refugees have fled to Jordan in recent months) and political reform in Jordan itself.
A RUSI paper on the future of the Arab Peace Initiative by the security think-tank’s vice-president, David Abrahams, has suggested that civil society, grassroots organisations and social networks could play an important role in forging peace in the region.
Mr Abrahams became RUSI’s first Jewish vice-president in 2011. His latest paper ends on a note of optimism: “The young Facebook generation in the Middle East and North Africa has utilised social media with startling success to pose a challenge to governments.
“Indeed, Israel itself has been the beneficiary of this process, reflected in the large-scale social protests that took place in the summer of 2011. Grassroots activists working for a revitalised Israeli-Palestinian negotiations process can be encouraged by this development.”
The paper proposes that RUSI convene an international conference of NGOs with an interest in peace in the Middle East.