King calls on Arabs, Muslims to spearhead war on terror, radicalism

AMMAN  — His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday said the fight against radicalism and terrorism will be a long-term effort which should be spearheaded by Muslim and Arab countries and supported by the international community, describing this endeavour as a third world war by other means.

During a meeting with chief editors of daily newspapers, King Abdullah called on Arab and Muslim countries to come together and unify efforts to wage this war which he said in the short-run should focus in the military aspect, in the medium on security and in the long-term on the ideological effort.

This multi-pronged war has to be fought simultaneously on various fronts with the collaboration of all Arabs and Muslims as they are the first concerned with fighting those who misrepresent them and distort their religion and as the main targets and victims of radicalism and terrorism, the King said during the meeting at Al Husseiniya Palace attended by Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh, Director of the King’s Office Jafar Hassan, Director of the Royal Court’s Political Affairs Manar Dabbas and Royal Court Media and Communications Director Khalid Dalal.

The war against terrorism has to be waged militarily in the battlefield as well as ideologically at universities, schools, mosques and homes for the hearts and minds of the people, the King said, also highlighting the role of the media, scholars and religious leaders in fighting extremism, radicalism and terrorism.

“People have to know right from wrong,” stressed the King, who added that those who kill and terrorise others and cause destruction do not represent Islam at all.

The King said he took part in the Paris rally on January 11 to denounce terrorism and as an expression of solidarity with Jordan’s friends and with Muslims in France, Europe and elsewhere.

Turning to regional issues, the King paid tribute to the late Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz who passed away on Friday and voiced confidence in his successor, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz, and his ability to lead the country to further progress and prosperity.

Expressing optimism about Jordanian-Saudi ties, King Abdullah said the relationship between the two countries is strategic and historic with Amman and Riyadh seeing eye-to-eye on many regional and international issues and sharing the fight against common challenges and threats that include the threat posed by terrorism.

His Majesty described the situation in Syria as very complicated as there are two wars taking place in the country, one pitting the regime against the opposition, and one that the so-called Islamic State (IS) is waging against the Syrian people.

He said Jordan is concerned with supporting the Syrian people threatened by this terrorist group, as well as finding a political solution to the conflict between the Syrian regime and the opposition.

The King noted that Jordan was already paying a heavy price for the conflict, hosting an estimated 1.4 million Syrians.

His Majesty said Jordan was also helping the Iraqi people counter the IS terrorist group threat.

Regarding the situation in Yemen, the King indicated that Jordan supports the unity of the Yemeni people.

In addition, the King called for efforts to end strife in Libya and help the Libyan people reach consensus.

Ongoing conflicts in the Arab region highlight the need for enlightened religious establishments such as Egypt’s Al Azhar University, a leading and credible religious authority, in educating people on the true Islam and its principles, not just in Egypt but in various Muslim and non-Muslim countries, said the King.

His Majesty called on the world to understand the heavy economic burdens shouldered by Jordan, which continues to be an oasis of stability and security in a volatile region, and called for aiding it to continue to fight extremism and radicalism, helping others in need and planning for a better future for its people.

He said the focus remains on resolving the twin ills of poverty and unemployment and improving the lot of the people despite the challenges, mainly those related to hosting a large number of refugees.

“The international community is helping with the Syrian refugees but foreign assistance is meeting only 27 per cent of the costs of hosting them,” he said.

His Majesty said the political reform process remains on track and that the government and Parliament should work together to finalise political laws needed to push forward the country’s democratic march, including the Elections Law.

Responding to a question on the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, the King reiterated what he said in his Speech from the Throne opening Parliament, saying the government will stay in office as long as it enjoys the confidence of the Lower House, and the House will stay as long as it enjoys the confidence of the people over the full four-year parliamentary term. 

His Majesty said the case of Jordanian pilot Muath Kasasbeh, who is held hostage by IS ever since his capture on December 24, tops the country’s priorities, describing Kasasbeh as “the son of Jordan and its armed forces”.