This describes the individual sometimes dubbed "rabbi to kings." Schneier's persona has been linked for years with Arab and Muslim state leaders worldwide, from Saudi Arabia's monarch to Azerbaijan's president, from Qatar's emir to the United Arab Emirates' ruler. In an exclusive Israel Hayom interview, Schneier discusses diplomacy and pragmatism through the lens of faith and stated that for him the real prize is not political, but spiritual.

"I'm the 18th generation rabbi in my family," he begins. "I've always wanted to be a rabbi – and to appreciate what it means to be a rabbi."
Schneier received ordination in 1983 by Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik, yet his calling extends beyond the synagogue and community he founded in the Hamptons, New York. "In my office… one wall has photos with kings and presidents, but the other side overlooks the synagogue. That's what gives me a sense of purpose and fulfillment."

"In my family, you have to make two contributions – both congregationally, spiritually, and also from the social-action point of view," he continues, and consequently, in 1989 he founded the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, to restore the historic alliance between African Americans and Jews forged during the civil rights movement in the United States. "Martin Luther King comprehended that whoever struggles for his own rights can only do so if he also battles for others' rights. King was a great champion of Israel… He had zero tolerance for antisemitism."

After two decades leading it, he decided to pursue a new direction, "I thought that the great challenge of my generation would be to find the path to narrow the divide between 16 million Jews and 1.8 billion Muslims. And that's what sent me off on my global journey."

Schneier recounts how Muslim world doors opened before him. "My great patron was the late King of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah… he introduced me to the King of Bahrain, who introduced me to the Emir of Qatar, who introduced me to the ruler of the UAE, who introduced me to [Azerbaijani leader] Aliyev — and then Kazakhstan… Even i24NEWS today said, 'this is the one who planted all the seeds for the Abraham Accords.'"

"I say everywhere – in Riyadh, Doha, Baku, Ankara – anti-Zionism is antisemitism. Israel is not some political 77-year-old aspiration; it's at the very core of our religion." He adds, "How can you be a Jew and not be a Zionist? Why would you bifurcate? … I am, in this work, a watchdog when it comes to Israel." The leaders, according to him, value his consistency.  "One of these leaders said to me, 'Presidents and heads of state, ambassadors — they come and go, and you're always there. We all need a rabbi.'"

Beyond his community position in the Hamptons, he was appointed special advisor by the King of Bahrain to the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence based in Manama, and in 2022 served as interfaith consultant to the World Cup organization in Qatar, whose reputation in Israel naturally transformed completely following the war.

"The Qataris always come through for me… I served as interfaith advisor to the World Cup. I had three conditions: 15,000 Israelis, direct flights between Doha and Tel Aviv, and kosher food," he states, "I brought two rabbis from Turkey...  check, check, check [referring to all three conditions being met]." Qatar itself naturally leveraged the treatment of Israelis to bolster its image, while preserving relations with Israel's adversaries in the Middle East.

He portrays his warm relationship with Aliyev, Azerbaijan's president, whom he calls "like family for me. There's nothing Aliyev wouldn't do for Israel." He recalled telling one Arab leader that if he wanted to normalize relations with Israel, he should simply follow what Azerbaijan does.

With Turkey, Schneier was involved in the thawing of relations between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Isaac Herzog in 2021. "The Turkish ambassador to Washington called Erdoğan from my office… I said it would be a wonderful opportunity for President Erdogan to call President Herzog – which he did. And by March 2022 we had the famous reconciliation meeting in Ankara." Schneier adds that "Erdogan was a big disappointment to me because of his absolute hatred for Netanyahu... Erdogan loves Herzog. Loves him."

He characterizes Hamas as "a perversion of Islam," saying that the war in Gaza "is a war against evil, not a war of religion." According to him, there are 12 Muslim countries that support or express sympathy for Israel. Muslim leaders support Israel's right to defend itself.

Schneier believes the agreement to release the hostages and ceasefire signals a regional transformation. "If Hamas doesn't behave... not only will they have to deal with the Israelis, they'll have to deal with the Americans — and good luck to them." He notes that is an unprecedented opportunity. If Gaza is demilitarized and administered by an Arab consortium and provided economic hope, everything can be transformed.

Regarding the Abraham Accords, Schneier enumerated Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan, Oman, Syria and Lebanon, as countries that may normalize relations with Israel in the near future. However, he indicated that "There's going to be very little movement in the Arab world until… Israelis recognize that everyone wants to see a Palestinian state – even if only symbolic."

Schneier participated in the "Peace to Prosperity" conference in Bahrain in 2019, and is convinced that Jared Kushner was correct, that money and hope can alter perception. He recalls Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's words, "MBS said to me, 'Rabbi, you probably think I want to normalize relations with Israel because of Iran. That's the second reason. The first is Vision 2030 – the economic transformation of the kingdom that I cannot accomplish without Israel.'"

Schneier divides the region into two blocs, "You have the Saudi bloc – Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE, even Qatar – and you have the Iranian bloc… Why doesn't anyone recognize that blessing?"

He expresses concern about the situation in New York and the weakening of Jewish influence in the city, and warns against Zohran Mamdani's rise, He [Mamdani] will finesse every issue – police, education, even prostitution – except one: Israel. He won't even recognize Israel as a democratic Jewish state."

At the conversation's conclusion, he sends a warm message to Israelis, "For American Jews, Israelis are a great source of inspiration. We enjoy the security and the strength we have in the Diaspora only because of the State of Israel… It has restored the honor and the dignity of the Jewish people… There's never been a better time to be Jewish than today."

The post In pursuit of normalization: How an American rabbi befriended Arab monarchs appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

The Israeli, US and Saudi Arabia governments sought to pressure King Abdullah II of Jordan into accepting the Trump administration's efforts for Middle East peace last year, The Washington Post reported Saturday.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

At least in part due to these efforts, Abdullah lost domestic standing, leading to the alleged plot against the king earlier this year, which resulted in several members of his family, including former crown prince Hamzah bin Al Hussein being arrested, the paper said.

Also arrested for their roles in the alleged plot were Sharif Hassan bin Zaid, a relative of the king and a powerful tribal leader, and Bassem Awadallah, a former Jordanian minister who had become a confidant of the Saudi crown prince.

Citing an American source familiar with the king, the newspaper's columnist David Ignatius wrote that Abdullah felt the US, Israel and Saudi Arabia attempted to sideline Jordan as custodian of Jerusalem's holy sites.

A Jordanian prosecutor referred charges against bin Zaid and Awadallah to the State Security Court on June 2, but the details weren't disclosed publicly. A Jordanian investigative report on the case, shared with Ignatius by a "knowledgeable former Western intelligence official," claimed that the alleged plotters' actions "do not amount to a coup in the legal and political sense, but they were an attempt to threaten Jordan's stability and incite sedition."

The Jordanian report continued: "Awadallah was working to promote the 'deal of the century' and weaken Jordan's position and the King's position on Palestine and the Hashemite Custodianship of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem."

The Washington Post report – based on around ten sources from the UK, US, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, and including intelligence sources – said Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and chief adviser on the negotiations, embraced Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman but grew increasingly antagonistic toward the Jordanian king.

"It became a belief of Trump that the king was a hindrance to the peace process," one former senior CIA official told the Washington Post.

While Trump, Netanyahu and Bin Salman don't appear to have been working to overthrow the king, their actions clearly weakened him and encouraged his enemies, the report said.

Israel controls east Jerusalem, its Old City and the Temple Mount, while Jordan retains a privileged position as custodian of the holy Muslim sites there, a hangover from when it controlled the territory pre-1967.

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

According to the Washington Post, Israel's intelligence services – the Mossad and Shin Bet – reached out to the Jordanian government following the exposure of the alleged plot to stress that they were not a part of it.

Ignatius, citing a former US intelligence official familiar with the correspondence, said the Israeli intelligence agencies stressed that "this is not us. It's coming from in front of us," which Ignatius said was understood to mean Netanyahu.

i24NEWS contributed to this report.

The post Report: Trump, Netanyahu, Saudi crown prince sought to 'marginalize' Jordan appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Jordan's Prince Hamza on Sunday made his first public appearance since he was placed under house arrest last week, attending a ceremony with King Abdullah II in what appeared to be an attempted show of unity on a major Jordanian holiday.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

But it remained unclear whether the king and his popular half-brother had put aside the differences that escalated last week into the most serious public rift in the ruling family in decades.

Hamza joined members of the Jordanian royal family marking the centenary of the establishment of the Emirate of Transjordan, a British protectorate that preceded the kingdom. The royal palace released a photo and video with Abdullah, Hamza, Crown Prince Hussein and other dignitaries at the grave of King Talal in Amman, Jordan's capital.

It was the first time that Hamza was seen in public since he was placed under a form of house arrest on April 3 following accusations that he was involved in a "malicious plot" to destabilize the kingdom. In statements leaked to the media, Hamza denied the accusations and accused the country's government of corruption and incompetence.

Abdullah subsequently said authorities had thwarted an attempt at sedition involving his half brother and some 18 suspects, while saying he was angry and in shock. Abdullah also suggested there was continued control over Hamza's movements, saying the prince was "with his family at his palace, under my care."

Authorities have imposed a sweeping gag order on any coverage of the royal dispute in a sign of how sensitive they are to how it is perceived. The gag order and the king's willingness to sanction his own brother also reaffirmed what Jordanians understand as their "red line" — an absolute ban on criticizing the monarch or the royal family.

The appearance by Hamza indicated that he was safe, but it remained unclear whether he had come voluntarily or truly been released from the restrictions on his movement. Hamza, wearing a suit, traditional headdress and blue surgical mask, joined his relatives in prayers but did not comment.

There also has been no sign that authorities have released up to 18 other detainees, including members of one of the powerful tribes on which the monarchy has historically relied.

Even before the palace drama, Jordan was grappling with an economic crisis exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, with one in four people out of work. Longstanding complaints about corruption and misrule have fueled scattered protests in recent months.

At the same time, the region's strategic landscape is shifting as powerful Gulf states pursue closer ties with Israel, potentially undermining Jordan's role in the Middle East peace process.

The United States, along with regional allies, have all rallied behind the king. Jordan has long been seen as a relatively stable western ally in the Middle East in a turbulent region. But the past year of the coronavirus has rocked the country's largely tourism-dependent economy.

Abdullah and Hamza are both sons of King Hussein, who ruled Jordan for nearly a half-century before his death in 1999. Abdullah had appointed Hamza as crown prince upon his succession but stripped him of the title in 2004 and gave his eldest son the title instead.

Jordan has a large Palestinian population, including more than 2 million refugees from past wars with Israel and their descendants. The monarchy has granted most of them full citizenship but has historically viewed them with suspicion. Its main base of support is powerful tribes from east of the Jordan River, who dominate the security forces.

For decades, the monarchy has cultivated close ties with the US and other Western nations, which it has used to press for the creation of a Palestinian state including the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

The post Jordanian king's half-brother makes first public appearance since arrest appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Jordan's estranged Prince Hamza, under house arrest for his supposed role in an alleged coup attempt, signed a letter of allegiance to his half-brother, King Abdullah II on Monday.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

"The national interest must remain above all else, and we must all stand behind His Majesty the King in his efforts to safeguard Jordan and its national interests, and ensure the best for the Jordanian people, in accordance with the Hashemite legacy of dedication to serving the nation and supporting the head of the family and the leader of the homeland, may God protect him.

"In light of the developments over the past two days, I put myself at the disposal of His Majesty the King, and I reaffirm that I will always remain committed to the covenant of the ancestors, loyal to their legacy, following in their footsteps, devoted to their path and mission, and to His Majesty the King; and committed to the Constitution of the dear Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. And I will always remain the supporter of His Majesty the King and his Crown Prince."

Prince Hamza, the former crown prince, signed the letter after he met with Prince Hassan, the king's uncle, and other princes on Monday, the royal court said.

Malik Dahlan, a professional mediator and friend of the royal family who is a confidant of Hamza, was also called in to help mediate between the sides.

"Mediation by [Prince Hassan], the Dean of the Hashemite Royal Family [on Monday] have been successful and I expect a resolution shortly," Dahlan said in a statement.

"This regrettable incident was the result of the clumsy actions of a senior security official and misrepresentation by a government official. It should have remained a family matter. The Royal Hashemite family has a long history and tradition of mediation, which is one of the many reasons for its formidable resilience and popularity.

"This moment can be seen as a pressure valve moment, and the King, in his wisdom, is using this opportunity to bring the family together, uphold the rule of law and resolve this matter with the dignity and the symbolism that it deserves. It is also a reminder for the international community to stand by the Hashemites and commend their honorable stance to address the dire economic situation of the Jordanian people and vulnerable refugee communities during these difficult circumstances.

"Prince Hamza has a lot to offer the Kingdom and the Arab World – and could play a positive role working in a space where his passion for climate action would bring about change," the statement concluded.

Earlier Monday, Prince Hamza said in a voice recording that he would disobey orders by the army not to communicate with the outside world after he was put under house arrest and accused of trying to destabilize the country.

"For sure I won't obey when they tell you that you cannot go out or tweet or reach out to people but are only allowed to see the family. I expect this talk is not acceptable in any way," he said in the recording circulated to friends and contacts.

King Abdullah removed Prince Hamza from his position as heir to the throne in 2004.

In a video passed to the BBC by Prince Hamza's lawyer on Saturday, the prince accused Jordan's leaders of corruption, apparently hoping to tap into the public's frustrations.

Prince Hamza is not seen as a threat to the monarchy, which enjoys the support of the army and security services, but has gained sympathy among Jordanians skeptical of the government's accusations about his foreign links, saying it was a campaign to defame him.

Prince Hamza is the oldest son of the late King Hussein and his wife Noor, who had groomed him as a future monarch. He has served in the Jordanian armed forces.

 Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

The post Prince Hamza signs letter of allegiance to King Abdullah after alleged coup appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

"The situation is under control," senior Jordanian military officials told their Israeli counterparts in a message Saturday night after an apparent coup attempt against King Abdullah II and a subsequent wave of arrests in the kingdom.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

The Washington Post said Jordanian authorities detained the former crown prince and arrested nearly 20 other people after what officials called a "threat to the country's stability."

A senior Jordanian intelligence official told Israel Hayom: "Friendly countries warned us about an attempt by Jordanian elements to harm the kingdom's security and stability of the monarchy. An intelligence investigation revealed grave and disconcerting findings about a plot to seize control of the government in Jordan by individuals within the royal family who were run and supported by external agents and elements. The arrests will continue until we apprehend the last of the plotters."

A former US official with knowledge of events in Jordan said the plot, which he described as credible and broad-based but not imminent, did not involve a "physical coup." Rather, he said, those involved were planning to push for protests that would appear to be a "popular uprising with masses on the street" with tribal support.

The half-brother of Abdullah said Saturday he has been placed under house arrest and accused the country's "ruling system" of incompetence and corruption, exposing a  rift within the ruling monarchy of the close Western ally.

Prince Hamzah's videotaped statement came after the country's official news agency reported that two former senior officials and other suspects had been arrested for "security reasons," even as authorities denied that Hamzah had been detained or placed under house arrest.

In a video leaked to the British Broadcasting Corp., Hamzah – a former crown prince stripped of his title in 2004 – said he was visited early Saturday by the country's military chief and told he was not allowed to go out, communicate with people or meet with them.

He said his security detail was removed, and his phone and Internet service had been cut. He said he was speaking over satellite Internet and expected that service to be cut as well. The BBC said it received the statement from Hamzah's lawyer.

Hamzah said he had been informed he was being punished for taking part in meetings in which the king had been criticized, though he said he was not accused of joining in the criticism.

He then lashed out at the "ruling system" without mentioning the king by name, saying it had decided "that its personal interests, that its financial interests, that its corruption is more important than the lives and dignity and futures of the 10 million people that live here."

"I'm not part of any conspiracy or nefarious organization or foreign-backed group, as is always the claim here for anyone who speaks out," he said. "There are members of this family who still love this country, who care for [its people] and will put them above all else."

"Apparently, that is a crime worthy of isolation, threats and now being cut off," he added.

It is rare for a senior member of the ruling family to express such harsh criticism of the government, and any sign of instability in Jordan is likely to raise concerns among the country's Western allies.

Hamzah is a popular figure in Jordan. He is seen as religious and modest, in touch with the common people and similar to his beloved father, the late King Hussein. He has criticized the government in the past, accusing officials of "failed management" after they approved an income tax law in 2018.

The country's top general had earlier denied that Hamzah was detained or under house arrest. Hamzah was asked to "stop some movements and activities that are being used to target Jordan's security and stability," Gen. Yousef Huneiti was quoted as saying by the official Petra news agency.

He said an investigation was ongoing and its results would be made public "in a transparent and clear form."

"No one is above the law, and Jordan's security and stability are above all," he added.

Petra had earlier reported that Sharif Hassan bin Zaid, a member of the royal family, and Bassem Ibrahim Awadallah, a former head of the royal court, were detained. Awadallah also previously served as planning minister and finance minister and has private business interests throughout the Gulf region.

The agency did not provide further details or name the others who were arrested.

Abdullah has ruled Jordan since the 1999 death of his father, King Hussein, who ruled the country for close to a half-century. Abdullah has cultivated close relations with US and other Western leaders over the years, and Jordan was a key ally in the war against the Islamic State group. The country borders Israel, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

"We are closely following the reports and in touch with Jordanian officials," US State Department spokesman Ned Price said. "King Abdullah is a key partner of the United States, and he has our full support."

Saudi Arabia's official news agency said the kingdom "confirmed its full support to Jordan and its king and crown prince in all decisions and procedures to maintain security and stability and defuse any attempt to affect them."

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said the PA was standing by the "sisterly Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the king, the government, and the people."

"We support the steps taken by King Abdullah to maintain Jordanian national security, stressing that Jordan's security and stability is a supreme Palestinian interest," said Abbas.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit expressed "full solidarity with the measures taken by the Jordanian leadership to maintain the security of the kingdom and maintain the stability," the Arab League said in a statement on its Facebook page.

The UAE, along with Egypt, Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq and others also "affirmed their support for the Hashemite Kingdom and King Abdullah.

Jordan's economy has been battered by the coronavirus pandemic. The country, with a population of around 10 million, also hosts more than 600,000 Syrian refugees.

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

Jordan made peace with Israel in 1994. The countries maintain close security ties, but relations have otherwise been tense in recent years, largely due to differences linked to Israel's conflict with the Palestinians. Jordan is home to more than 2 million Palestinians, most of whom have Jordanian citizenship.

Abdullah stripped his half-brother Hamzah of his title as crown prince in 2004, saying he had decided to "free" him from the "constraints of the position" in order to allow him to take on other responsibilities. The move was seen at the time as part of Abdullah's consolidation of power five years after the succession.

The current crown prince is Abdullah's oldest son, Hussein, who is 26.

Jordan's ruling family traces its lineage back to Islam's Prophet Muhammad. Abdullah had chosen Hamzah as his crown prince hours after their father died of cancer in February 1999. The designation was out of respect for King Hussein, who was known to have favored Hamzah the most among his 11 children from four marriages.

Until now, Abdullah and Hamzah have not displayed any open rivalry. In the videotaped statement, a portrait of King Hussein could be seen on the wall behind the prince.

The post 'Situation is under control,' Jordan tells Israel after alleged coup attempt appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Senior Arab diplomatic officials, along with senior defense and intelligence officials in Egypt and Jordan, confirmed to Israel Hayom on Monday that over the past several weeks – ahead of the planned implementation of Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria and Jordan Valley – intensive diplomatic activity was taking place between Israel and moderate Arab countries. The purpose of these diplomatic efforts was to reach an agreement on the nature and scope of the response from Sunni Arab countries, chief among them Egypt and Jordan, which have peace treaties with Israel – if and when Israel applies sovereignty.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

According to those Arab officials, senior intelligence and defense officials were engaging in the talks under a heavy veil of secrecy.

One senior Arab diplomat said Mossad chief Yossi Cohen and the head of Egypt's General Intelligence Service Abbas Kamal were spearheading the talks, and that in recent meetings agreed that Israel would implement its sovereignty plan while Arab countries would voice their formal objections to the initiative – without significantly damaging diplomatic relations between the countries.

A senior Egyptian official told Israel Hayom this week that Palestinian concerns about the nature of Cairo's response to Israel's sovereignty bid were justified because Cohen and Kamal have already agreed in principle over the scope and tone of Egypt's response. Egyptian defense officials have even been able to persuade their Jordanian counterparts to recommend to Jordanian King Abdullah II to suffice with declarative condemnation of the Israeli initiative and eschew operative steps that would harm the peace accord with Israel.

Another senior Egyptian official told Israel Hayom: "Egyptian involvement in Libya, amid the security developments there, is a much greater priority than the Palestinian issue and the interests of [Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas], who hastily turned to Turkey, which is scheming against us in Libya, and asked it to spearhead a comprehensive Arab struggle against the Israeli sovereignty plan. Abbas' request to [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan sparked anger not only in Egypt but in Jordan as well."

This statement reflects the depth of Egyptian-Jordanian cooperation and coordination, not just in Libya but also on the Palestinian issue.

"There is complete synchronicity between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and King Abdullah. The national and security interests of Egypt and Jordan are the top priority for both leaders, even at the expense of Palestinian interests," said the Egyptian official.

A senior Jordanian official confirmed that assessment, also telling Israel Hayom that King Abdullah has told Abbas via his foreign minister that a recent report in Hezbollah-affiliated Al Mayadeen TV – whereby Israeli application of sovereignty would make it hard for Jordan to uphold the peace treaty with Israel – was inaccurate.

"The message delivered to Abbas was about [Jordan's] security coordination and diplomatic cooperation with Egypt on all matters pertaining to the Palestinians, and the possibility that Jordan, similar to Egypt, would solely suffice with a declarative denunciation of the Israeli annexation plan and certainly wouldn't harm the peace treaty with Israel and the special security ties between the countries," said the official.

He added: "Turkish intervention in Libya isn't only a threat to Egypt but to Jordanian interests as well. It proves just how far the Palestinians are willing to go in pursuit of their own interests, even if these run counter to the general Arab interests."

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

The post 'Jordan, Egypt will make only symbolic condemnation of sovereignty' appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

The sources emphasized that Israeli and American officials in Jerusalem and Washington have made up their minds to implement sovereignty between July and September. A senior official in Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' bureau also confirmed the details, saying the messages were delivered to Abbas and his advisers via senior officials from moderate Arab countries at the request of Israel and the American administration.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

According to one senior Arab official, Abbas and his senior advisers were told that Israeli sovereignty in parts of Judea and Samaria was a "foregone conclusion, but that due to appeals by moderate Arab leaders, chief among them Jordan's King Abdullah, to soften the manner in which sovereignty is applied, it was decided in Jerusalem and Washington to implement the initiative gradually pursuant to a more flexible timetable."

The official added that Israeli sovereignty would initially be applied in "large swathes of the Jordan Valley, where the population is almost exclusively Jewish." The purpose of this measure, the official said, was to prevent Palestinians from relocating to the annexed areas of the Jordan Valley in an attempt to gain Israeli citizenship.

A senior official in Abbas' bureau, who also confirmed the details, told Israel Hayom: "The reports that Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have tacitly agreed to the Israeli annexation plan, and the Palestinian criticism of these countries, have been a source of discomfort for the Arab leaders who don't want internal unrest in their countries over [Israel's] implementation of sovereignty. Due to the fact that the plan has garnered criticism in Israel from the left, and mainly from the right, a proposal was raised to implement the plan on a limited basis according to a flexible timetable, rather than all at once. The proposal received the support of Jerusalem and Washington, and in recent talks between senior Americans and senior officials in moderate Arab countries, the Americans requested to deliver the aforementioned messages to the Palestinians."

The senior Palestinian official added that according to the messages, the application of sovereignty in the large settlement blocs will be carried out at later stages, not this July, and will initially include Maale Adumim and large portions of Gush Etzion.

"Israel is trying to prevent strife in the PA-controlled areas and among Arab populations, and with the support of the US and moderate Arab countries it will implement the sovereignty plan in phases," the official said.

On Friday, meanwhile, the UAE's ambassador to the US warned Israel against the sovereignty bid, saying the move would "upend" Israel's efforts to improve ties with Arab countries.

UAE envoy Yousef al-Otaiba was among three Arab ambassadors who attended US President Donald Trump's January unveiling of his Mideast plan, which allows Israel to annex around 30% of Judea and Samaria and was immediately rejected by the Palestinians.

In an editorial published by Yediot Ahronoth, al-Otaiba warned that Israel's planned sovereignty would "ignite violence and rouse extremists."

"It will send shock waves around the region, especially in Jordan whose stability – often taken for granted – benefits the entire region, particularly Israel," al-Otaiba wrote.

The UAE, a close and influential US military ally, has been a major focus of Israel's efforts in recent years to improve ties with Gulf Arab countries that share its concerns about Iran.

The two countries have no formal diplomatic ties, but the Emirates have allowed Israeli officials to visit, and the Israeli national anthem was played after an athlete won gold in an Abu Dhabi judo tournament. Israel also has a small mission representing its interests at the International Renewable Energy Agency in Abu Dhabi.

Al-Otaiba warned that sovereignty would be a major setback.

"Annexation will certainly and immediately upend Israeli aspirations for improved security, economic and cultural ties with the Arab world and with UAE," he wrote.

The UAE Foreign Ministry later tweeted about the article in Hebrew.

Lior Haiat, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, retweeted the post, saying it was a "nice surprise" to read the tweet in Hebrew. He said peace was an opportunity for the whole region, and that the US plan is a "starting point to realize this vision."

"In the UAE and across much of the Arab world, we would like to believe Israel is an opportunity, not an enemy. We face too many common dangers and see the great potential of warmer ties," al-Otaiba wrote.

"Israel's decision on annexation will be an unmistakable signal of whether it sees it the same way."

European leaders have also come out against annexation. Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn told Germany's Der Spiegel that sovereignty would be a "gross violation" of international law and that European countries must try to prevent it.

Many Israeli leaders have argued that Israel must maintain full control of the Jordan Valley to meet its security needs. Israeli leaders have long expressed fears that withdrawing from the valley could open them up to a future Arab invasion from the east.

But in an interview with an Arab-language media outlet, former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert dismissed those concerns as "nonsense."

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

"We can defend our border without the Jordan Valley, and anyone who says it is important for security is lying to the people," he said in an interview with Elaph, a private Saudi-owned media outlet based in the UK.

Olmert told Elaph he had reached an agreement with King Abdullah of Jordan to deploy NATO peacekeepers along the border after an Israeli withdrawal.

Olmert is a harsh critic of Netanyahu, who succeeded him.

The post 'Israel, US are adamant to implement sovereignty by September' appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Speaking during a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Abdullah said a war in the region would have serious economic consequences and could also cause a resurgence of terrorism.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

Referring to tensions between the United States and Iran, he asked: "What if, next time, neither side steps away from the brink, dragging us all towards untold chaos?"

On January 3, a US drone strike in Iraq killed prominent Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, responsible for building up Iran's network of regional proxy armies in Iraq and beyond, and Tehran responded with missile strikes on US targets in Iraq, which had no casualties.

Abdullah also said that if Israel succeeds in imposing "an unthinkable solution" by annexing parts of Judea and Samaria, hopes for a two-state solution and a Palestinian state would quickly come to an end.

He added that Israel's construction of Jewish communities in Palestinian territory and "disregard of international law" could be summed up as "one state turning its back on its neighborhood, perpetuating divisions among peoples and faiths worldwide."

The king also touched on the growing crisis in Libya, urging the European Parliament to facilitate a peaceful resolution with the aim of avoiding "all-out war."

Libya, mired in turmoil since the toppling of strongman Muammar Gaddafi, has had two rival governments since 2014.

Led by commander Khalifa Haftar, the eastern-based Libyan National Army has received backing from the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Egypt, and from Russian military contractors. Turkey backs the internationally recognized Government of National Accord and voted this month to allow a troop deployment to Libya.

On Sunday, Germany will host a summit on Libya involving the rival camps, their main foreign backers and representatives from the United Nations, the United States, Russia, Britain, France, China, Turkey and Italy.

The post US-Iran war could lead to 'untold chaos,' Jordanian king warns appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

It is a fitting reflection of the Israeli-Jordanian relationship – one that began with great promise, but which has been plagued by mistrust, disappointment and missed opportunities. While the peace agreement remains intact, there is a sense on both sides that it should have delivered much bigger dividends.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

"I am not certain that we gave it our full attention," said retired Supreme Court Justice Elyakim Rubinstein, who was Israel's chief negotiator for the peace deal.

Speaking on Israeli public radio, Rubinstein said there were things Israel could do "to lend a better atmosphere" and suggested Israel show more "respect" for its eastern neighbor. He declined to elaborate.

It is a far cry from the heady times of the peace agreement, signed at an emotional ceremony on Oct. 26, 1994, attended by Israel's then-prime minister, Yitzhak Rabin, the late King Hussein and then-US President Bill Clinton.

Following up on a historic interim peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians a year earlier, all three leaders delivered moving speeches promising warm relations and a better future.

"This is our gift to our peoples and the generations to come," said Hussein, who died in 1999. "It will not be simply a piece of paper ratified by those responsible, blessed by the world. It will be real, as we open our hearts and minds to each other."

Twenty-five years later, the peace agreement remains a vital strategic asset for both countries.

The deal has brought Israel much-needed quiet and a valuable partner along its longest border, while buttressing Jordan's position as a crucial ally of the West in one of the world's most volatile areas.

The two countries maintain close, covert security relations. Israel, a world leader in desalination, provides large quantities of water to Jordan, one of the driest countries on earth, and has agreed to sell natural gas to Jordan as well.

But the warm relations envisioned at that signing ceremony remain elusive, and in Jordan there is little public support for the agreement.

Jordan has a long list of complaints – beginning with the deep freeze in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

A majority of Jordan's population has Palestinian roots, and Jordan's King Abdullah II is a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause. Without progress on the Palestinian front, Abdullah is unable – and unwilling – to warmly embrace Israel.

Jordan also remains bitter over a 2017 incident in which an Israeli guard at the Israeli Embassy in Amman shot and killed two Jordanians, saying one had tried to attack him with a screwdriver.

Diplomatic relations were repaired only months later after Israel expressed "deep regret" and replaced its ambassador.

More recently, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu angered Jordan by vowing to annex the Jordan Valley – a strategic area of the West Bank along the Jordanian border.

"There is no real social and popular peace between Jordan and Israel," said Amer Sabaileh, an independent Jordanian analyst.

He said Jordan needs "more understanding from the Israeli side" and that Israel's approach to various issues has "put Jordan in a very difficult situation."

Speaking at a Tel Aviv conference last month, Israel's ambassador to Jordan, Amir Weissbrod, acknowledged that relations aren't perfect.

But he listed a long line of successes, including the water and energy cooperation, Jordan's use of Israel's Haifa port and an expanding program that allows hundreds of Jordanians to enter Israeli border towns to work.

Describing Jordan as a "strategic partner" and gateway to the broader Arab world, Weissbrod said: "We must try to make the utmost effort to ensure the stability and success of Jordan."

Yet he also said there is more that Jordanian leaders could do, particularly in terms of building support among the Jordanian public.

"They can't hide the degree of the relationship, and there are achievements to talk about," he said.

Jordanian officials did not respond to a request for comment.

Against this backdrop, Jordan last year announced that it was ending a special lease agreement under the 1994 treaty that returned two farming areas – Naharayim and Tzofar – to Jordanian sovereignty while allowing Israel continued use of the lands. Without Jordanian objections, the leases for the areas, known in Arabic as Baqura and Ghamr, would have automatically renewed.

Naharayim, located along the Jordan River in northern Israel, has become a popular tourist site. It includes a small park and picnic area, the ruins of a historic power station and the "Island of Peace," where Israelis can briefly enter Jordanian territory without having to show their passports.

"We regard this place as part of a normalization and relationship with our neighbors from the other side of the border," said Idan Grinbaum, head of the local regional council. He said he has sent a letter to Abdullah asking the king to reconsider but has not heard back.

The site has a painful history. In 1997, a Jordanian soldier opened fire at an Israeli crowd, murdering seven schoolgirls on a class trip.

After the shooting, King Hussein travelled to Israel to ask forgiveness from the girls' families. Twenty years after his death, Hussein remains a relatively beloved figure in Israel for what was seen as a courageous act.

With the site set to revert to full Jordanian control in early November, Grinbaum said he still hopes that leaders can find a way to preserve Naharayim as a symbol of peace.

"We still think that joint projects can happen here for both countries, for the benefit of citizens in both countries," he said. "Unfortunately, in reality things are not that simple."

The post Israel, Jordan mark 25 years of imperfect peace appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Adding insult to injury, Netanyahu reportedly seethed after Abdullah refused even the prospect of a phone conversation despite being just one of two Arab countries alongside Egypt that have official diplomatic relations with the Jewish state.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

An official Jordanian source quoted in the paper confirmed that "Israeli-Jordanian relations are very difficult," in light of the do-over Israeli election and a lack of progress with regard to US President Donald Trump's so-called "deal of the century" for Israeli-Palestinian peace.

Abdullah recently met with Jared Kushner while the White House senior was in the Middle East this week to shore up support for the long-awaited peace plan.

Abdullah reportedly rejected the details of the secretive plan and the prospect of participating in a conference of Arab leaders at Camp David "just for the sake of photos, as was the case at the Bahrain economic workshop."

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the initiative to convene the Arab leaders, saying that "the purpose of the conference is to strengthen Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the elections, establish the normalization of Israeli-Arab relations – and push aside the Arab peace initiative."

Ramallah further noted that holding the conference shows that the US does not see the Palestinian leadership as a peace partner and is simply interested in reaching an agreement without the Palestinians, thereby eliminating the prospect of a two-state solution.

The Jordanian leader reiterated that there was no significance to an agreement that does not include the establishment of a fully sovereign Palestinian state with its capital in east Jerusalem.

At the same time, he stressed that he would reconsider should Trump be prepared to engage in genuine discourse on the matter.

In another hiccup in the allies' relations, Jordan announced Friday the closure of Aaron's Tomb to visitors in the area of Petra, after a group of Israelis prayed there without having receiving permission from the Jordanian Waqf, the authority charged with overseeing the country's holy sites.

This article was originally published by i24NEWS.

The post Report: Jordanian king declines Netanyahu's request for meeting appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.