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
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
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Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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