Palestinian cause serves as extremist ‘rallying cry’: King Abdullah

STRASBOURG // King Abdullah II of Jordan warned on Tuesday that an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal was essential for combating extremism, saying the conflict served as a rallying cry for militants.

Addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg, King Abdullah said that the battle against ISIL in Iraq and Syria was “first and foremost” a fight for Muslim nations to carry out, but also called on Europeans to fight hostility towards Islam that he said was fuelling extremism among Muslims.

He praised Europe’s “unbeatable courage” in responding to attacks, such as those in Paris in January, and likened ISIL to Nazism – “an expansionist ideology based on hatred”.

But in calling for cooperation to combat extremist violence, the king – who attended commemorations for the slain French satirists of Charlie Hebdo but criticised the paper’s use of cartoons of the Prophet Mohmmed – said that European governments must promote “mutual respect” and an “inclusive society”.

“Insulting other peoples and their faiths and their convictions is no way forward,” he told the chamber that includes dozens of far-right members critical of Muslim immigration.

“Europe is an important partner in this effort, especially in helping to stop the global rise in Islamophobia.”

Jordan has stepped up its role in the US-led coalition against ISIL since the group burned to death a captured Jordanian military pilot in a grisly video released last month.

Introducing the king to European politicians, the parliament’s president, Martin Schulz, offered his sympathies over ISIL’s murder of the pilot.

“It’s hard to imagine people could commit such gruesome acts,” he said.

But King Abdullah told the parliament that the root problem was the world’s failure to “defend Palestinian rights”.

“This failure sends a dangerous message and has given the extremists a powerful rallying cry,” he said.

“They exploit the injustices and the lingering conflict to build legitimacy and recruit foreign fighters across Europe and the world.”

“How can we fight the ideological battle if we do not chart the way forward towards Palestinian-Israeli peace?” he added.

As a country that has made peace with Israel, Jordan has played a mediating role in the peace process.

About 20,000 foreign fighters are believed to have left their homelands to join extremist groups in the past few years – including an estimated 4,000 since 2012 from western Europe.

However, King Abdullah said that Muslim countries had to lead the fight against ISIL and other extremists.

“This is a fight that has to be carried out by Muslim nations first and foremost. A fight within Islam,” he said.

* Agence France Presse and Reuters