The Arab Consensus for Peace

This process of democratization permitted all of our people to participate, through their representatives in the Jordanian Chamber of Deputies, in taking many vital decisions. The most important of these decisions was the our choice to pursue peace within the Arab consensus, and through the peace process that was launched in Madrid. In doing so we were at peace with ourselves, and in harmony with the consensus of the entire Arab nation that opted for peace.

Address to the Meeting of Arab Political Parties
Amman
December 16, 1996

Jordan joined the peace process which began with the Madrid Peace Conference, and there we provided an umbrella which allowed our Palestinian brothers to speak for themselves and negotiate their future. After Madrid, we all began to move towards peace on our different tracks, with the common goal of reaching a just, comprehensive and durable peace for all the peoples of our region. Delegations from Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinians met with their Israeli counterparts in Washington over a period of two years. Then, in Oslo, the Palestinians moved on their own to secure their rights on their legitimate soil with our full support. Only then did we commence working directly at the highest levels toward a treaty of peace between Jordan and Israel. It was first suggested that we should ratify a peace treaty and then discuss the details. But we continued to insist that we should make the treaty the crowning achievement of both sides working sincerely and diligently to achieve an honorable peace. And this is what happened.

Interview with World Statesman magazine
November 4, 1996

Also, the Palestinian cause has been the core and essence of the Arab-Israeli conflict from the beginning. As for the present, at this critical juncture in terms of the facts on the ground, its implications and expected results, since the Palestinian leadership representing its people has chosen the path of direct dialogue with Israel to deal with the Palestinian cause in all its aspects aiming at the restoration of Palestinian rights on Palestinian national soil in delineated phases based on Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, we approve of their decision and do not diminish today our commitment of yesterday to support it and the Palestinians and their rights which are not amenable to any disposition but by themselves.

Address to the Nation
Amman
October 12, 1993

The Arab states have unanimously called for peace and have accepted the settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict and the Palestinian issue by peaceful means. The evolution of this position was gradual, beginning with the acceptance of United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 of 1967 by both Jordan and Egypt, and ending with the 1988 Palestinian peace initiative, which gained Arab and international support, and was followed by an official dialogue between the United States of America and the PLO in Tunisia.

Address to the Jordanian National Congress
Amman
October 12, 1991

Since 1967, the Arab parties have been ready for a comprehensive and just settlement. They have been ready for the establishment of a just peace, where all can live within secure borders after a complete Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories and the exercise by the Palestinian people of their right to self-determination and sovereignty in their national homeland. But in spite of this declared Arab position, all international efforts to achieve a complete and just solution have met with failure. This was so because while the Arab parties accepted peace Israel has stated a claim to Arab territories over and above peace. In place of security and coexistence, Israel has insisted that the Palestinian people should suffer continued dislocation outside their homeland or submit to a life of captivity under occupation.

Address to the United Nations General Assembly
New York
September 25, 1979