‘War crime’: Jordan’s king slams Israeli West Bank expansion
News Source
•Tue, 22 Sep 2026 16:35:14 +0000
📰 What Happened
Jordan's King Abdullah II criticised Israeli settler moves in the occupied West Bank. He said the push to expand settlements amounts to forced displacement of Palestinians, and that this should be treated as a war crime. His comments came as leaders gathered in New York for the UN General Assembly. Jordan is one of the few Arab states with a peace treaty with Israel.
🔍 The Backstory
Israel has expanded settlements in the West Bank for decades, and most countries consider them illegal under international law. Violence by settlers against Palestinians has risen in recent years. Jordan has a peace treaty with Israel and oversees a key religious site in Jerusalem, so its views carry weight in the region.
🎯 Why It Matters
West Bank violence affects millions of Palestinians and can spread unrest across the Middle East. Jordan is a close US ally, so its criticism adds pressure on Israel.
Jordan's King Abdullah II criticised Israeli settler moves in the occupied West Bank. He said the push to expand settlements amounts to forced displacement of Palestinians, and that this should be treated as a war crime. His comments came as leaders gathered in New York for the UN General Assembly. Jordan is one of the few Arab states with a peace treaty with Israel.
Israel has expanded settlements in the West Bank for decades, and most countries consider them illegal under international law. Violence by settlers against Palestinians has risen in recent years. Jordan has a peace treaty with Israel and oversees a key religious site in Jerusalem, so its views carry weight in the region.
West Bank violence affects millions of Palestinians and can spread unrest across the Middle East. Jordan is a close US ally, so its criticism adds pressure on Israel.