AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah has warned that the Middle East is doomed unless there is a peace process leading to a Palestinian state.

 

Speaking in an exclusive interview for BBC Panorama, His Majesty said, “If we don't solve this problem, if we don't find a future for Israelis and Palestinians and a relationship between the Arab and Muslim worlds and Israel, we're doomed."

 

The King said the region had seen many failed attempts at peace and that the implementation of a two-state solution , the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, alongside Israel, was the only answer.

 

“I hope we can move things back, but with a political horizon, because if we don't solve this problem, we're going to be at it again," the King said.

 

Referring to the violence of the last two years, including Israel's war with Iran and the Israeli attack on Hamas leaders in Qatar last month, the King asked, “How close have we come to regional, if not a southern-northern divide conflict that would have encompassed the whole world?"

 

Regarding Hamas acceptance to hand over governance of Gaza to an independent Palestinian body under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, His Majesty said he had been assured by those "that are working extremely close to them, Qatar and Egypt, [who] feel very, very optimistic that they will abide by that."

 

The King said that once a ceasefire had been achieved in Gaza it was vital that the US President Donald Trump remained engaged with the process.

 

"In our discussions with President Trump, he knows that it's not just Gaza, it's not just a particular political horizon. I mean he's looking at bringing peace to the whole region. That doesn't happen unless the Palestinians have a future."

 

Asked if he believed he would see a final peace agreement including a Palestinian state the King said, “I have to, because the alternative would mean probably the end of the region. My father, I remember towards the end of his life, used to say, 'I want peace for my children and their children.' I have two grandchildren; they deserve that peace. How awful would it be for them to grow up to say the same thing that my father said years ago?"

 

“And I think that's what galvanises me and many of us in the region, that peace is the only option. Because if it doesn't come about, how often is the West, America in particular, dragged into this? It's been 80 years. And I think it's time for all of us to say enough is enough."