The United States remains an important part of any hope for a peaceful solution between Israel and the Palestinians despite the Trump government’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, said King Abdullah II of Jordan.
"We cannot have a peace process or a peace solution without the role of the United States," he said in an interview aired on CNN on Sunday. The interview was recorded at the recent economic summit in Davos, Switzerland.
King Abdullah said that President Donald Trump's announcement on Jerusalem in December had "created a backlash" by leaving Palestinians feeling "that there isn't an honest broker".
____________
Read more
Palestinian Authority to withdraw its recognition of Israel
Palestinian triplets named in anti-Trump Jerusalem protest
____________
Mr Trump had also said he would work to move the US embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.
"I'd like to reserve judgment, because we're still waiting for the Americans to come out with their [peace] plan,” said King Abdullah.
"I think we have to give the Americans the benefit of the doubt and all work together.
“If it is not a good plan … I don't think we've got a plan 'B' at this stage.”
King Abdullah said that the issue of Jerusalem could either create tremendous problems or serve as an "umbrella" of hope.
"It could be a tremendous city that brings us together or it could create aggression and violence that we've never seen before,” he said.
Mr Trump's decision sparked outrage and protests from Arabs and Muslims around the world.
Palestinians say East Jerusalem should be the capital of an eventual Palestinian state and had hoped that peace talks might someday bring international recognition of that status.
