King returns to Jordan after addressing European Parliament

His Majesty King Abdullah II returned to Jordan on Tuesday following a working visit to Strasbourg, France, where he delivered a keynote address before the European Parliament.

In the address, His Majesty noted that with 'Israel' expanding its offensive to include Iran, it is now impossible to know where the boundaries of this battle will end, threatening people everywhere.

The King said that what is happening in Gaza is contrary to international law, moral standards and shared values, especially as violations continue in the West Bank, and the situation is worsening by the day.

His Majesty noted that Palestinians deserve the rights to freedom and sovereignty, and to establish their own independent state.

The King said the world is experiencing wave after wave of turmoil, becoming “untethered—like it has lost its moral gravity”, noting that these junctures of history are critical moments that require the world to cling to its values and not abandon them.

His Majesty added that true security lies not in the power of armies, but in the power of shared values, and peace imposed by force or fear will never last.

The King touched on the founding of the European Union, when Europe’s choices helped shape a more stable, principled world, highlighting that Jordan’s firm belief in the shared values of the three monotheistic religions is rooted in its history and heritage, which drives the Kingdom’s national principles of tolerance and mutual respect.

His Majesty added that these values are at the heart of the Hashemite Custodianship of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, whose historical and multi-religious identity Jordan has vowed to protect from any attack.