Jordan: Trump tries to force Riviera plan on King Abdallah II
In a visit in Washington, King of Jordan Abdallah II has accepted to take in and treat two thousand children from Gaza diagnosed with cancer but has refused to comment on Donald Trump’s “Riviera plan”.
According to Africa News on February 11th, the King of Jordan appeared uncomfortable when asked if Jordan would take in Palestinian alongside Egypt during the reconstruction plan vowed by President Trump.
In what many saw as a prudent declaration to not attract the wrath of the American President, he said Egypt was responsible to formulate a plan in response to Trump’s proposal on behalf of the Arab League.
During the meeting, he reaffirmed his duty to act in the “best interest” of Jordanians before posting later on X that Jordan was commited against the deportation of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
President Trump reaffirmed his outlandish project to empty Gaza of his residents and transform it in a touristic area, with no intention of relinquishing the land to Palestinians once it is rebuilt.
In the previous days, he has threatened to cut US aid to the two US-allied Arab state, were they to refuse to take in Palestinian refugees.
”We’re going to have it and we’re going to keep it. And we’re going to make sure that there’s going to be peace and there’s not going to be any problem and nobody’s going to question it, and we’re going to run it very properly ”, he said.
He also declared that the previous agreements and the ceasefire would be terminated, should the Hamas not release the hostages by Saturday.
Meanwhile, reports have emerged of the Egyptian president Al-Sisi refusing to travel to the White House if the displacement of the Palestinians is on the table, a possibility confirmed by Secretary State Marc Rubio according to Egyptian sources.
Jordan, alongside Egypt, has been one of the top recipient of US military aid. The country has also had a tense relationship with Palestinian militant factions to the point that they were expelled towards Lebanon in the 1970s.
While Trump is trying to leverage US financial aid to force its plan upon Jordan, recent reports have suggested that the expulsion of Palestinian towards its borders would be a red line for the monarchy.
Africa News, Le Monde.
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