King chairs National Policies Council meeting

Amman — His Majesty King Abdullah, upon his return to Jordan on Thursday, chaired a National Policies Council (NPC) meeting at Al Husseiniya Palace.

“A staff member at the Israeli embassy in Amman has shot two of our sons. We will dedicate all the efforts and resources of the Jordanian state to ensure that justice takes its course,” King Abdullah said during the meeting, attended by Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Hussein and Prince Feisal, adviser to His Majesty and NPC chairman, as well as a number of senior officials and officers.

His Majesty affirmed: “The Israeli prime minister is required to honour his responsibilities and take the necessary legal measures to ensure that the killer is tried and justice is served, rather than exhibiting political showmanship in dealing with this crime to score personal political points. Such conduct is utterly rejected and provocative. It angers us all, threatens regional security, and fuels extremism. It is absolutely unacceptable.”

“I extend my condolences to the families of the victims, and pray that God have mercy on their souls and grant their families, and all Jordanians, patience and fortitude. I hereby affirm that we will not relinquish any of their rights or the rights of our citizens; and Israel’s handling of the case at the embassy, the killing of Judge Raed Zuaiter, and other cases will have a direct impact on our relations,” the King said.

During the meeting, His Majesty stressed that Jordan is a state that honours its international legal obligations, and respects international law and diplomatic norms, which guarantees our rights and the rights of our citizens.

With regards to the crisis at Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif, the King said: “We have managed the crisis at Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif after continuous efforts — throughout the period since its start on July 14 — to contain its ramifications and reopen the mosque in its entirety through our common stand with our Palestinian brethren. It is important to stress the need to ensure full respect of the historical and legal status quo at Al Haram Al Sharif to prevent the recurrence of such crises.”

Prime Minister Hani Mulki, Royal Hashemite Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh, General Intelligence Department Director Maj. Gen. Adnan Jundi, Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan, King’s Adviser for Tribal Affairs Sharif Fawwaz Zaben Abdullah, Adviser to His Majesty and National Policies Council Rapporteur Abdullah Wreikat, Interior Minister Ghaleb Zu’bi, Minister of State for Media Affairs Mohammad Momani, Public Security department Director Maj. Gen. Ahmad Sarhan Faqih, and General Directorate of Gendarmerie Director Maj. Gen. Hussein Hawatmeh attended the meeting.