Amman — The Royal Speech delivered by His Majesty King Abdullah II yesterday at the opening of the third ordinary session of the 20th Parliament was not merely a presentation of national priorities or a reaffirmation of Jordan’s positions on regional issues. Rather, it amounted to a comprehensive political review of the concept of state strength, the conditions required for its resilience, and the responsibilities that come with possessing the elements of power.
اضافة اعلان
The speech brought the repercussions of the recent Karak security incident to the forefront, while linking the protection of sovereignty with defending the Palestinian cause. It also highlighted water, development, justice and the rule of law, presenting Jordan’s security, stability and ability to confront crises as the product not only of military strength or social cohesion, but of an integrated system of institutions, rights, responsibilities and the capacity to deliver results.
Perhaps the most significant aspect of the Royal Speech is that it does not merely reaffirm Jordan’s sources of strength, but links them to direct responsibilities borne by the government, Parliament and state institutions. It places citizens’ interests at the heart of the security and development equation, while reaffirming that state strength is incomplete unless Jordanians can feel its impact in their daily lives.
From the Karak Incident to National Security
The speech opened its political and security messages by recalling the recent Karak incident and stressing that terrorism will not be able to undermine Jordan’s security and unity, and that the blood of the martyrs will remain a solemn commitment for Jordanians. This was not simply an expression of solidarity with the victims, but also conveyed the challenge facing the state and the way it should respond.
When Jordanian society is subjected to terrorist attacks, the security objective is not limited to pursuing those responsible. It also extends to preventing the incident from becoming a source of fear, division or a loss of confidence in state institutions.
Against this backdrop, the King’s emphasis on protecting the country’s security and unity places the security response within a broader framework than simply dealing with a crime. It is about protecting society from the repercussions that extremist groups may seek to create through violence.
At the same time, however, this message raises an institutional responsibility no less important than the security response: reviewing vulnerabilities that allow attacks to occur, strengthening coordination among relevant agencies, and developing monitoring and preventive capabilities to ensure that difficult security experiences are transformed into practical lessons that improve preparedness.
The success of the state in confronting terrorism should not be measured solely by the speed of its response to an incident or its ability to pursue those involved. It should also be measured by its ability to reduce the likelihood of such incidents recurring, protect society from their consequences, and strengthen citizens’ confidence in the effectiveness of the institutions responsible for their security.
This highlights the importance of the connection established in the Royal Speech between the resilience of the state and the determination of its people. Security is not the sole responsibility of the military and security agencies; it is an integrated system in which institutional efficiency works alongside public awareness and social cohesion within a framework that safeguards the law and rights and prevents fear from becoming a tool for undermining national unity.
Army and People: Two Pillars of Jordanian Strength
When the Royal Speech states that Jordan is protected by its Arab Army and security services, and then emphasizes that Jordan’s strength lies in its people, it presents an integrated concept of national security that does not separate military capabilities from the social environment on which the state depends.
The army serves as the shield protecting sovereignty and borders and gives the state the ability to confront external threats, while the people constitute its national depth and a source of strength in confronting pressures and crises.
This equation is particularly important given the wars, conflicts and rapid changes taking place across the region. Security threats are no longer confined to conventional military confrontations, but have expanded to include infiltration attempts, smuggling, terrorism, and economic and humanitarian pressures.
In such an environment, military readiness is a strategic necessity, but it is not sufficient on its own to guarantee the stability of the state. Armed strength requires a cohesive society, capable civilian institutions, and economic and social policies that protect citizens from the effects of crises.
Therefore, relying on the Jordanian people is inseparable from the need to invest in people, improve their living standards, expand opportunities and strengthen their participation in public life. Society is not merely a support base for national security; it is a partner in creating and sustaining it.
National Constants: A Clear Position in a Troubled Region
The Royal Speech reaffirmed that Jordan will remain committed to its Arab identity and to defending the causes of the Arab world, stressing that security and stability in the region cannot be achieved without fulfilling the Palestinian people’s right to their land.
The importance of Jordan’s position stems not only from political solidarity, but also from strategic considerations directly affecting national security, foremost among them rejecting displacement, protecting Palestinian rights, and preserving the Hashemite custodianship over Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
Developments related to the Palestinian cause do not lie outside Jordan’s calculations. They are directly connected to the future and stability of the region and to the consequences that attempts to eliminate the Palestinian cause or alter demographic and geographic realities could have for Jordan.
Jordan’s commitment to Palestinian rights therefore forms part of its vision for protecting its national interests, while also reaffirming its historic and Arab commitment to the Palestinian people.
The Royal Speech goes further by linking the absence of justice to the continuation of instability, noting that the belief that legitimacy can be imposed through force or that truth can be erased with the passage of time is an illusion.
This message carries a political implication: managing conflict cannot be based on ignoring rights or imposing realities through force, and any settlement that fails to address the roots of the crisis will remain incapable of producing lasting peace.
At the same time, the consistency of Jordan’s position does not mean rigidity in its foreign-policy tools. Rather, it reflects the ability to pursue diplomatic action, expand relations and alliances, and preserve national interests and principles that are not subject to compromise.
Parliament and Government: From Political Speech to Accountability
The Royal Speech offers an important reading of the role of Parliament, emphasizing that it is a cornerstone of political life, that the nation is the source of authority and its strength, and that Parliament should be the voice of the nation, guardian of the public interest and monitor of government performance.
The significance of these messages goes beyond reaffirming Parliament’s constitutional role. They are connected to the need to move from parliamentary work as a legislative activity toward making it an effective tool for accountability and oversight of government performance.
Parliament does not derive its legitimacy solely from the number of laws it passes, but from its ability to ensure legislative quality, monitor the implementation of public policies, hold officials accountable for their results, and protect the public interest from violations or failures.
The King’s emphasis in his speech indicates that Jordanians judge Parliament not only by the laws it produces, but also by its conduct and public discourse.
Against this backdrop, the call to regard differences of opinion as a source of strength, so long as Jordan’s interests remain the ultimate objective, carries a message about the need to establish a political culture based on pluralism, dialogue and responsible competition.
At the same time, the Royal Speech’s call for the government to accelerate the completion of major projects, while stressing that citizens’ interests must be at the heart of every decision, places executive performance under a clear responsibility that goes beyond announcing plans to actually delivering results.
Real Development: When Citizens’ Interests Become the Measure
Perhaps the clearest message in the Royal Speech was the emphasis that genuine development is development whose impact citizens can feel in their livelihoods, opportunities, education, healthcare and the future of their children.
This represents an important shift in the way public policies are evaluated, moving from a focus on the size of projects or the value of investments to measuring their direct impact on people’s lives.
Major projects derive their importance from their ability to strengthen the national economy, improve its competitiveness, create jobs and enhance services, rather than from their size or cost alone.
Therefore, the government’s call to accelerate major projects should be accompanied by a commitment to timelines, high-quality implementation, the greatest possible economic and social returns, and greater transparency in monitoring progress.
Economic modernization also depends not only on launching strategic projects, but on creating an economic environment capable of empowering the private sector, expanding investment opportunities, improving labor-market efficiency and providing young people with fairer opportunities.
This highlights the importance of linking major projects to development that citizens can actually experience. A project that does not translate into employment opportunities, better services or stronger economic growth will have a limited impact, regardless of its strategic importance.
Thus, the speech does not merely affirm the need for development; it establishes a clear standard for evaluating its success: the extent to which it produces tangible improvements in the lives of Jordanians.
Yet this principle cannot be fulfilled simply by announcing it. It requires clear institutional measures that guarantee integrity and transparency, strengthen the independence of oversight bodies, protect citizens’ right to information, and ensure that officials are held accountable for violations and failures.
A Speech That Puts Strength to the Test of Delivery
The Royal Speech presents an integrated equation for Jordan’s strength, based on protecting sovereignty, strengthening national cohesion, upholding national principles, activating Parliament’s role, improving government performance, reinforcing the rule of law and protecting national resources.
The deeper value of the speech, however, lies in the fact that it does not treat these priorities as separate files. Instead, it connects them all to citizens’ interests and the state’s ability to confront crises and prepare for the future.
A strong army needs a cohesive society. A cohesive society needs fair and efficient institutions. National principles require policies capable of protecting them. Development requires an honest and effective public administration, while national security requires a resilient economy and sustainable resources.
This is the central message of the Royal Speech: Jordan possesses deeply rooted sources of strength, but preserving and strengthening them requires continuous institutional work that links security with development, sovereignty with justice, and state strength with the dignity of its citizens.
Source: Al-Ghad
