Istanbul – The President of the Jordanian Senate, Faisal Al-Fayez, emphasized the need for a unified Arab-Islamic stance to resolve the Palestinian issue, particularly after the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States. He stressed that Israel will not enjoy peace without a fair solution to this issue.
Regarding Jordanian-Turkish relations, Al-Fayez said, “We are always striving to strengthen these relations politically, economically, and socially.”
Al-Fayez pointed out that Turkey is an important regional country that can play a significant role in ending the Arab-Israeli conflict, thanks to its membership in NATO and its strong relations with the European Union and the United States. He underscored the importance of leveraging these relationships to exert pressure on Israel.
He also noted that Turkey recently imposed economic sanctions on Israel, which represents an effective means of pressure.
With U.S. support, Israel has been committing genocide in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, resulting in over 146,000 Palestinian casualties, the majority of whom are women and children, with more than 10,000 missing. The devastation and famine have killed dozens of children and the elderly, in one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world.
In response to this genocide, the Turkish government has suspended all export and import operations with Israel since May of this year, until a permanent ceasefire is declared and humanitarian aid is allowed to flow uninterrupted into Gaza.
Regarding the joint efforts that Turkey and Jordan could make to resolve the Palestinian issue, Al-Fayez said, “There must be a unified Arab-Islamic position. The matter is not limited to Turkey and Jordan, but the efforts of all Arab and Islamic countries must come together, especially after Trump's election.”
He added, “Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states, Jordan, and all Arab countries can play a role in finding a solution to the Palestinian issue and the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.”
Al-Fayez affirmed that Israel “will not enjoy peace as long as it continues its aggression (against Gaza and other Arab countries) and as long as the peace process remains stagnant.”
He stressed the need to find a solution to the Palestinian issue, pointing out that this solution must be “just and comprehensive,” and should lead to “the establishment of a sovereign and viable Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders.”
Al-Fayez also discussed the situation in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which has seen an escalation of Israeli military and settler attacks since the beginning of the genocide in Gaza. These attacks have resulted in the martyrdom of 779 Palestinians and the injury of approximately 6,300 others, according to official Palestinian data.
He said, “Israel does not respect international resolutions issued by the United Nations, the International Court of Justice, and the International Criminal Court” regarding the cessation of attacks on Palestinians and settlement activities, noting that U.S. support emboldens Israel to disregard these resolutions.
He confirmed that if there were a unified Arab and Islamic stance, it could exert pressure on Israel to comply with international decisions.
Asked about current fears of the spread of wars in the region, Al-Fayez said, “No one wants to expand the conflict, but the reality points to its widening, with missile exchanges between Iran and Israel, and Israeli attacks on Lebanon and Syria.”
He warned that “this expansion of the conflict, if it spreads to other countries, could negatively affect oil supplies and the global economy, necessitating the collective efforts of the international community to find a solution.”
Amid Israel's expansion of its genocide against Gaza into Lebanon since September of last year, and its attacks on Iranian interests in Syria and even Tehran, according to accusations, Israel and Iran recently exchanged missile and airstrikes. This has led regional circles to warn of the potential for a wide-scale war in the region.
Al-Fayez concluded his interview by discussing his participation in the Bosphorus Summit held in Istanbul, explaining that the summit focused on peace, and the role of technology in sustainable development.
However, Al-Fayez expressed regret over the lack of justice in the world, where countries are divided between the “rich North” and the “poor South,” despite the vast resources available in Southern countries such as Africa, the Arab world, and the Gulf. He lamented that, unfortunately, there is no cooperation between these countries to achieve sustainable development.
He emphasized the importance of dialogue between the Global North and South, and among Southern countries themselves, to achieve sustainable development, which would contribute to improving citizens' lives and reducing poverty and unemployment.
It is worth noting that the International Cooperation Platform in Istanbul organized the 15th Bosphorus Summit under the theme “Building Bridges Toward the Future, Peace, Technology, and Sustainability,” with Arab and international representatives participating in multiple sessions to enhance cooperation between countries and organizations.