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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - King Abdullah II on Sunday highlighted the important domestic and regional challenges facing the kingdom, stressing that the compounding challenges require deeper cooperation among all state institutions and private and civil society sectors.

The King on Sunday patronized the graduation of the 26th batch of Mutah University's Military Wing students, and delivered a speech on the occasion in which he discussed core issues facing Jordan and Jordanians, including the alarming rise of violence, the need to strengthen parliamentary work and political life, and the regional challenges facing Jordan as the crisis in neighboring Syria escalates.

On the need to accomplish Jordan's political reform roadmap and the democratic milestones towards an advanced level of parliamentary government, the King emphasized the need for further political maturity, institutionalization of partisan work and parliamentary performance, noting that the role of the Monarchy will develop hand-in-hand with the realization of these reform milestones.

The King tackled in his speech the domestic challenges of recent cases of violence in society and in universities, stressing that such violence is "unacceptable, inexcusable, and alien to our values, customs and culture."

"We cannot accept that our youth's future be hostage to the phenomenon of violence because their future is Jordan's future."

He noted that the feeling of lack of justice and equal opportunities leads to frustration, a sense of injustice, and subsequently violence, yet stressed that laxity in enforcing the law and public order also leads to loss of confidence in state institutions and to resorting to violence.

"The solution lies in treating the phenomenon from its roots: ensuring a just distribution of development gains among all governorates, tackling issues of poverty and unemployment, consolidating good governance, developing economic and social policies in partnership with the grassroots, applying the law on all without complacency, hesitation, or favouritism," the King said.

The King stressed that the tribal culture and structure of Jordanian society is not the reason behind violence, stressing that tribes from various backgrounds and origins is the most important source of Jordan's strength, national unity, and society's security and stability.

"There was never a day when tribe and family were reason for chaos, violence or breaking the law, as some who have no knowledge of the true definition of tribe and nature of tribal society claim."

On regional challenges, the King highlighting the crisis in neighboring Syria, which imposed on Jordan "some harsh realities," yet emphasized that Jordan has a moral responsibility towards its Syrian brethren despite the great responsibilities and sacrifices that Jordan must bear.

The King reiterated Jordan's position towards favoring a political solution to the crisis in Syria in a manner that would preserve Syria's unity and stability.

Yet the King emphasized that in handling the Syrian crisis, "the first and ultimate goal has been to protect Jordan and Jordanian's' interests."

On the Palestinian issue, King Abdullah reiterated that the Palestinian cause remains at the top of Jordan's priorities in helping the Palestinians establish their independent state on Palestinian land, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The King noted that the talk of a confederation between Jordan and Palestine is "out of context and premature," stressing that the issue will not be considered until a fully independent Palestinian state is established.

"As for talk of “alternative homeland,” naturalisation and “Jordan option,” which we have addressed several times in the past, it is mere illusion. Under no circumstances will Jordan accept a solution to the Palestinian cause at its own expense. This is one of the constants of the Jordanian state that will never change. We need to put an end to those rumours, and God willing this is the last time we talk about this topic."

To face and overcome the challenges, King Abdullah called on all state institutions to cooperate among themselves, and in partnership with the private sector and civil society, to shoulder their responsibilities towards citizens.