In a speech at the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, His Majesty King Abdullah II said “Our countries must unite behind effective, collaborative action. The question now is will we have the vision and determination to get the job done?”

 

 

The King said that the Dead Sea, the Jordan River, and the Gulf of Aqaba are all threatened by climate change.

 

“Jordan has been building strong partnerships to manage and sustain vital water resources. And we see more opportunities to work with partners to preserve precious world heritage sites and natural wonders,” His Majesty continued.

 

The King also spoke about food security, stressing that it is “another global priority.”

 

“Hundreds of millions of people go to bed hungry, and the numbers are rising.”

 

His Majesty continued, “For countries to thrive, affordable food must get to every family's table. On a global level, this demands collective measures to ensure fair access to affordable food, and speed the movement of staples to countries in need.”

 

His Majesty stressed, “In my region, we are looking to build integrated partnerships that tap the capabilities and resources of each of our countries for the benefit of all.”

 

“Today, 10 years later, we host more than 1.3 million. Meeting the needs of these and other refugees is an international responsibility, and host countries look to the international community to honor its commitments.”

 

The King affirmed that Jordan is a bridge for regional partnerships and cooperation, international crisis response, and humanitarian action.

 

“Jordan has always been a source of regional stability, as well as a refuge for those in need.”

 

The King also spoke about the pressure on Jordan’s scarce resources.

 

“In 2012, I came before the 67th General Assembly, and spoke for the first time about the Syrian refugee flow and its pressure on Jordan's scarce resources At that point, 200,000 Syrians had sought refuge in our small country,” His Majesty said.

 

“For decades, the Middle East has been synonymous with conflict and crisis. But we are hopeful that a new-found spirit of collaboration can make our region an exemplar of resilience and integration.”

 

The King added, “Such efforts will be fruitless if they are exclusionary. Inclusion of the Palestinian people in regional economic projects should be an integral part of our efforts.”

 

“Though politics may sometimes fail our world, one absolute remains—always put people first. To keep hope alive for all peoples means rising above politics to ensure every individual’s prosperity.”

 

During his speech, His Majesty King Abdullah II said that in the “Palestinian-Israeli conflict, peace continues to be elusive. Neither war nor diplomacy has held the answer to this historic tragedy.”

 

“The General Assembly will vote on renewing UNRWA’s mandate. The international community should send a strong message of support for the rights of Palestinian refugees,” the King continued.

 

“A founding UN principle is the right to self-determination for all peoples. The Palestinian people, with their resilient national identity, cannot be denied this right. And the road forward is the two-state solution.”

 

His Majesty stressed that the future of Jerusalem is an urgent concern.

 

“The city is holy to billions of Muslims, Christians, and Jews around the world. Undermining Jerusalem’s legal and historical status quo triggers global tensions & deepens religious divides.”

 

The King added, “Today, Christianity in the Holy City is under fire. The rights of churches in Jerusalem are threatened. This cannot continue. Christianity is vital to the past and present of our region and the Holy Land. It must remain an integral part of our future.”

 

“As a Muslim leader, let me say clearly that we are committed to defending the rights, the precious heritage, and the historic identity of the Christian people of our region. Nowhere is this more important than in Jerusalem.”

 

His Majesty King Abdullah II added, “We can weather the most serious crises if we join together. Do let us, here in this General Assembly, honor our shared interest in a brighter future, a future of dignity and hope, that brings new opportunities for all our peoples.”