Response of the Senate to the Throne Speech at the Opening of the First Ordinary Session of the Eighteenth Parliament of Jordan
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful And blessings and peace be upon our noble Arab Hashemite Messenger, sent as a mercy to the worlds...
Your Majesty, King Abdullah II ibn Al-Hussein,
May Allah protect you and preserve your reign. Peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of Allah.
In the presence of our first Hashemite home—Raghadan, the blessed palace—where the foundation of the state began, the Senate stands before the leader of the nation to express our gratitude, love, and appreciation for the Throne Speech with which Your Majesty inaugurated the first ordinary session of the Eighteenth Parliament of Jordan. This speech outlined the landmarks of the next stage in our ongoing democratic journey, which has continued for nearly a full century. This has made our Jordanian Hashemite Kingdom an oasis of security, tranquility, and stability, and a model of a modern civil state, a steadfast fortress thanks to our wise and compassionate Hashemite leadership. We, with your guidance, have been able to confront all who wish us harm, from envious enemies of all kinds, especially the outlaws of our time, who have distorted the tolerance of Islam, the purity of Arabism, and the humanity of man. And who is more capable than the Dean of the Prophet's Household to confront this unjust assault on Islam, the religion of tolerance and mercy, until the gloom passes, and darkness is lifted from us and the nation, which Allah desired to be the best nation ever brought forth for mankind.
The Senate affirms what you have stated in your comprehensive speech: that no one shall be allowed to infringe upon the rights of the citizen or to undermine their dignity. All are equal in rights and duties, and no one is above the law. We will face the challenges of modernization, development, and progress with unwavering determination, awareness of the reality, and a confident vision inspired by your leadership and foresight, aiming to create the exemplary nation we can proudly present to all others.
Your Majesty...
The Senate blesses your tireless efforts and keen follow-up in defending the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and all Islamic and Christian holy sites. Your actions have resulted in UNESCO's fair declaration that the entire area of Al-Aqsa, above the ground, below it, and around it, is purely Islamic territory, which has always been, still is, and will remain under the Hashemite guardianship as a sacred trust until the occupied homeland is restored from its usurpers, and Al-Aqsa, the Church of the Nativity, the Ibrahimi Mosque, and all other holy sites are returned, God willing.
Your Majesty...
The Senate highly appreciates your concern for a fair and just judiciary—justice is the foundation of the rule. We value your commitment to developing, modernizing, and strengthening it to meet the demands of the era and to walk alongside other authorities. We are moving forward on this path under your wise leadership towards participation and integration, with a spirit of responsibility and service to the public good, which necessitates setting controls and principles that achieve the separation of powers and balance among them.
Your Majesty...
Your insistence on conducting parliamentary elections on schedule is a reinforcement of democracy and a manifestation of popular participation. Your directives to the government to hold decentralization and municipal elections reflect your noble desire to expand the base of popular participation and affirm the correct path in continuing the reform process in which we have led others.
The Senate, Your Majesty, will be as you wish it to be supportive and reinforcing to the government. It will aid and oversee and hold accountable when necessary. This is the democracy you have commanded us to fully engage in, and we shall not stray from this mission, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty...
With your guidance and leadership, we will strive to contribute to setting realistic policies, programs, and achievable goals to improve the reality of the national economy, achieve sustainable development, increase growth rates, and attract investments that create job opportunities for our youth and enable them to enjoy a dignified life. We will focus particularly on national programs for developing human resources in various educational, vocational, cultural, and economic aspects.
Your Majesty...
The Senate affirms that Jordan, under your Hashemite leadership, which carries religious, historical, and national legitimacy, will remain committed to the issues of our Arab and Islamic nation, foremost among them the right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and to protect the Islamic and Christian holy sites, which you have safeguarded since the time of Sharif Hussein bin Ali, who rests in its sacred soil, and whose pure spirit soars in its blessed sky.
Your Majesty...
The Senate expresses its pride and admiration for our armed forces—the Arab Army—and all our security agencies. Their knights deserve our utmost support and recognition, given the sacrifices they have made and continue to make without expecting anything in return. They are the children of the soldiers who have passed, and the parents of the soldiers yet to come, dedicated to the nation as their forefathers and ancestors were.
Your Majesty...
The Senate stands before you today in this blessed morning, addressing our people across the nation with a pledge and a promise to remain loyal to the revered Hashemite throne, to our precious Jordan, and to our people west of the river, Al-Aqsa, and all other holy sites, which we carry as a sacred trust, steadfast and patient, empowered by Allah. We shall spare no effort in defending them, just as our ancestors did, and as our children and grandchildren will do after us, until justice is restored to its rightful owners, and trust is returned to its rightful possessors. Praise be to Allah, before and after, for the blessing of security, safety, and stability bestowed upon us by the grace of the noble Hashemite family, our honorable army, our brave security agencies, and our generous and giving people.
And peace be upon our leader and commander, Abu Al-Hussein...
May Allah protect him and preserve him and guide him on the path of goodness.