A Conversation with King Abdullah of Jordan

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A Talk With Jordan's King

6/20/08: Newsweek-Washington Post's Lally Weymouth interviews King Abdullah of Jordan about the Arab-Israeli peace process and how he views Iran.

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I remember a couple of years ago, you warned against the danger posed by Iran to moderate Arab regimes. Aren't Iran and Syria the big winners today in this region?

If we look at what happened in Lebanon [last month when Hezbollah routed government-backed forces in street fighting to win major political concessions], I think the perception here is that that round was won by Iran and her proxies. We just have to be careful as to what happens in round two. Again, this is why I am so concerned about the peace process.

Why didn't anyone help the government of Lebanon?

I'm just as shocked and surprised as you. The sad part is we have to be very careful. The lack of a peace process affects America's credibility in this part of the world. If we don't really show some wins on the ground, American influence and prestige will be dramatically diminished.

It's hard to see how you do move forward with Hamas firing rockets at Israel every day. It's hard to see how an agreement will come out with the West Bank and Gaza divided between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority.

. . . Hamas always comes up as an issue. But we are only looking at half the equation. Everyone is quick to talk about how to isolate Hamas, but there is not enough discussion as to how to support Fatah. If the policy of the West is to isolate and pressure Hamas but we're not doing anything to alleviate the roadblocks, to try to get the kids back to school, try to create jobs, then how can you expect Fatah and Abu Mazen to be strengthened? There's a mission to make Hamas more isolated, but no attempt from what I see to strengthen Abu Mazen or make Fatah the winner on the street.

Wasn't the recent international agreement on Lebanon reached at Doha a big sellout by the international community of the Lebanese government? Didn't it basically give Hezbollah a veto over all government decisions?

I think Doha probably defused the situation from getting any worse. Doha did not fully resolve the problem in Lebanon.