Jordan’s King Abdullah vows no place for Karak attackers as he warns Israeli expansionism is region’s greatest threat

Jordan’s King Abdullah II said Monday that extremists behind last month’s deadly church attack in Karak would not be allowed to threaten the country’s security or national unity, declaring that they had “betrayed” Jordan.

“We will not allow the terrorists, the khawarej, to undermine the security and unity of this nation,” Abdullah said in his Speech from the Throne opening the third ordinary session of Jordan’s 20th Parliament in Amman. “They have no place among us… not now, not ever.”

Nine people were killed and 34 wounded when gunmen attacked St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church in Hmoud village during a funeral on October 23. Jordanian security forces later arrested three suspects. Authorities have described the attack as extremist terrorism, but have not publicly established that the suspects belonged to a specific militant organization.

Turning to regional affairs, Abdullah described Israeli “expansionist ambitions” as the greatest threat to the region’s future and said there could be no lasting security without Palestinians obtaining their rights to their land.

“Whoever thinks tyranny grants legitimacy is deluded. Whoever thinks time erases the truth is deluded,” he said, adding that Jordanians would not retreat from their principles.

Abdullah also emphasized Jordan’s water security, repeating “water” three times and calling access to it a pillar of national sovereignty.

“Under no circumstances will we allow the Jordanian people’s unassailable right to access water to be held hostage,” he said. “On this matter, there is no room for compromise or appeasement.”

He directed the government to continue water-security projects and develop plans to protect the country’s resources and safeguard supplies for future generations.