There was something painful about watching Jordanian King Abdullah II at the White House on Tuesday, February 11, his eyes nervously twitching as he tried not to upset his host, Donald Trump. Journalists asked him, several times over: Was his country, Jordan, ready to receive a part of the Gazan population on its soil, as the American president wants to remove them from Palestinian territory?
The king refused to answer. In his impeccable English, he cautiously took refuge behind Egypt’s broader international stature. Indeed, Egypt, which the White House also approached, was due to set out proposals in response to Trump’s idea, on behalf of the Arab League. These proposals, which are in line with the two-state solution, will shortly be discussed in Saudi Arabia.
Accompanied by his son, Crown Prince Hussein, King Abdullah II limited himself to saying that he had to look after his country’s “best interests.” It was not until mid-afternoon, in a message on X, that he reiterated the kingdom’s commitment “against the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.” “Rebuilding Gaza without displacing the Palestinians and addressing the dire humanitarian situation should be the priority for all,” added Abdullah II. Jordanian public opinion may, perhaps, condemn him for this missed opportunity to assert his independence while speaking to the American president. Instead, the sovereign preferred a diplomatic dodge. He offered Trump a humanitarian announcement that allowed him to feign delighted surprise. Jordan would take in some 2,000 sick Gazan children, victims of cancer, for treatment. “It’s so beautiful. It’s music to my ears,” Trump said gleefully.
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