King Leads Diplomatic Efforts to Bolster Recognition of Palestinian Statehood His Majesty King Abdullah II continues to spearhead vigorous diplomatic efforts to strengthen international recognition of the State of Palestine, amid rapidly evolving global dynamics concerning the Palestinian cause. اضافة اعلان According to political analysts, these efforts are rooted in the King's esteemed global stature and high credibility within European and international political circles—enabling Jordan to play a strategic and influential role in steering global policy toward supporting the two-state solution. Dr. Hassan Al-Momani, Director of the Center for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan, told Petra News Agency that His Majesty plays a central role in rallying international support for Palestinian statehood, leveraging Jordan's deep and longstanding relations with major European countries such as Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, in addition to its strong institutional ties with the European Union. These relationships, Al-Momani explained, are based on long-term strategic foundations that have allowed the King to use this diplomatic capital to defend the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them the right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state. He emphasized that the Palestinian cause has been a consistent priority during the King's international visits, particularly to influential countries like Italy, Germany, France, Belgium, and the UK, as well as his repeated visits to the United States and Canada. Al-Momani highlighted the King's address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg as a pivotal moment in shaping international political discourse, noting that it resonated strongly with European policymakers and contributed to growing public and political support for Palestinian statehood. The King's most recent visit, which culminated in a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin, was described as part of a carefully coordinated diplomatic campaign. It directly influenced several European countries to take steps toward formally recognizing the State of Palestine—a natural outcome of a long-term political track led by the King to convince the international community to revive the two-state solution as the only viable path to a just and lasting peace in the region. Al-Momani noted that the political messages conveyed by the King during his meetings with European leaders underscored the vital role Europe must play in ending the occupation and providing tangible support for Palestinian rights. These messages, he said, have been well-received due to the King's widely respected reputation as a wise statesman and a principled advocate for peace. On the recent European momentum toward recognizing Palestine, Al-Momani said it represents a significant political and legal shift that reflects a growing international consensus on affirming the Palestinians' right to establish their independent state. He stressed that this development strengthens the legal narrative underpinning Palestinian demands and lays the groundwork for renewed efforts at the United Nations to secure full membership for the State of Palestine. Key European countries such as France and the UK have begun reassessing their traditional positions, opening the door for further recognition in the near future. According to Al-Momani, this wave of recognition not only marks a shift in official policies but also reflects mounting public pressure within European societies that increasingly oppose the Israeli occupation and support Palestinian rights—particularly in light of Israel's ongoing policies of settlement expansion and the Judaization of Jerusalem. He concluded that international recognition of Palestine has moved beyond symbolic gestures and has become a compelling political and legal issue, prompting hesitant countries to reconsider their positions. Dr. Hassan Al-Dajajah, Professor of Strategic Studies at Al-Hussein Bin Talal University, added that King Abdullah's diplomatic efforts have been instrumental in creating a favorable political climate for this international shift. He noted that the King's meetings with global leaders were substantive and focused on ending the occupation and advocating the two-state solution as a just and sustainable option. Al-Dajajah stated that the European recognition of Palestine exerts increasing pressure on Israel, especially under a hardline government that rejects negotiations and seeks to impose a de facto reality through settlement expansion and the Judaization of Jerusalem. He emphasized that the recognition is grounded in clear international legal references, including UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, and UN General Assembly Resolution 67/19. This legal basis reinforces the legitimacy of the move and undermines Israel's long-held legal justifications for the occupation. Al-Dajajah expects the wave of recognition to grow in the coming months, with new countries from Europe, Asia, and Latin America joining in. Meanwhile, Dr. Khaled Khawileh, Professor of International Law, affirmed that Jordan's efforts—led by King Abdullah—are grounded in robust legal frameworks that complement the political process to enhance the legitimacy of Palestinian demands. He explained that international law grants the Palestinian people the right to self-determination, a right affirmed by major legal instruments such as the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as various UN resolutions and rulings from the International Court of Justice. He also cited the Fourth Geneva Convention, which explicitly prohibits the transfer of populations into occupied territories and defines Israeli settlements as a war crime. Jordan, he noted, has played a pivotal role in documenting these violations and presenting them to the International Criminal Court as part of a comprehensive legal effort to hold the occupation accountable and end the culture of impunity. Dr. Khawileh added that regional and international organizations—including the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the European Union—all support the two-state solution and the end of occupation. Jordan has consistently championed this stance in all international forums, driven by its national principles and commitment to international law. He pointed out that Jordan, through its Hashemite custodianship over Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and its political and legal role in the city's status, is a central pillar in defending Palestinian rights—an effort widely supported regionally and internationally. Jordan, he noted, was one of the first countries to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people during the Rabat Summit in 1974. The Kingdom also severed its legal and administrative ties with the West Bank in 1988, paving the way for the declaration of Palestinian independence and helping secure broad international recognition. Dr. Khawileh concluded by saying that the recent European decision to recognize Palestine is not isolated from the broader international context but rather a culmination of longstanding legal and political positions. It marks a turning point that should be seized to expand recognition and advance international accountability for the Israeli occupation. He stressed the importance of continuing diplomatic and legal efforts on the global stage and transforming political recognition into binding legal commitments that guarantee the Palestinian people their legitimate right to establish an independent state in accordance with international legitimacy. (Rana Al-Nimrat – Petra News Agency)
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