Abdallah II Quotes

• I think this is really a defining moment for the Arab world. The problem is, it is all going to be about blood, sweat and tears. In certain countries it may be just sweat, and in some countries sweat and tears, and in some countries, as you can see, a lot of blood. I think initial instability is something that we are all extremely nervous of.

  Abdallah II

  Thinking  

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• Our response has been, "Well, let's then make an effort to get the Israelis and the Palestinians to sit around the table." That hasn't happened. So we only have ourselves to blame for this crisis.

  Abdallah II

  Interview with Steve Inskeep, www.npr.org. September 22, 2011.

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• When there's a status quo, usually what shakes everybody up is some sort of military confrontation, at which point we all come running and screaming to pick up the pieces.

  Abdallah II

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• I like to look at the glass half full.

  Abdallah II

  414

• Don't take 'no' for an answer.

  Abdallah II

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• There are so many different sub-societies inside of Syria.

  Abdallah II

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• When I talk to people in need, they tell me they want to hope; they are eager for opportunity; they are ready for better days. And I can tell you that every time their hopes are disappointed, all nations lose.

  Abdallah II

  People  

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• You're always going to have extremists in every religion.

  Abdallah II

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• Many occasions I've sat down with Israelis to say, where do you see your country in 10 years time, and work me back, so we can figure out the synergies and the connections between Israel and the rest of the Arab world. No Israeli has ever been able to answer that question.

  Abdallah II

  Israel  

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• The Middle East has the highest unemployment percentage of any region in the world we have the largest youth cohort of history coming into the market place that frustration does translate into the political sphere when people are hungry and without jobs.

  Abdallah II

  People  

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• Historic changes and challenges. Breakthroughs in human knowledge and opportunity. And yet, for vast numbers across the globe, the daily realities have not altered.

  Abdallah II

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• The incentive that you give to your youth is going to be the make-or-break future of the country.

  Abdallah II

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• In our view, successful reform is not an event. It is a sustainable process that will build on its own successes - a virtuous cycle of change.

  Abdallah II

  Views  

  1987

• Ten years ago I said, you know, my goal is to be able to get food on the table. What I'm trying to say by that is trying to create a vibrant, capable and effective middle class. The quicker and stronger that we can be able to do this, the easier it is for political reform to move forward.

  Abdallah II

  Class  

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• The Arab World is writing a new future; the pen is in our own hands.

  Abdallah II

  Hands  

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• My view is when you use violence on your people, that never ends well.

  Abdallah II

  Views   People  

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• Political development should start at the grassroots.

  Abdallah II

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• The monarchy that I hand over to my son is not going to be the same one that I have inherited.

  Abdallah II

  Hands  

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• Over the past few years, the road to confrontation has shown its consequences: loss of innocent lives, destruction and fear. Most costly, however, was the loss of hope. The most precious gift that you can present to your peoples over the coming weeks is renewed hope born out of tangible progress on the ground.

  Abdallah II

  Abdallah II's Speech at the Mideast summit in Aqaba, Jordan, edition.cnn.com. June 4, 2003.

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• We have peace with Israel. We're actually the last man standing. So there is going to be immense pressure and people asking, 'Why are we having this relationship when it's not benefiting anybody?' Obviously, my answer is you always benefit from peace.

  Abdallah II

  Israel  

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• We're never going to be able to get rid of terrorism, because there is always going to be evil in the world.

  Abdallah II

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• You're always going to have terrorism.

  Abdallah II

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• I'm easily entertained.

  Abdallah II

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• There is resistance to change. There's a resistance to ideas.

  Abdallah II

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• We have no right to dictate, through irresponsible action or narrow-mindedness, the future of our children, and our children's children. There has been enough destruction, enough death, enough waste.

  Abdallah II

  Children  

  1655

• Peace with Israel is a strategic imperative for Jordan.

  Abdallah II

  Israel   Jordan  

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• I personally believe that any country that has a nuclear program should conform to international regulations and should have international regulatory bodies that check to make sure that any nuclear program moves in the right direction.

  Abdallah II

  Moving  

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• When you get billions in aid and your weapons resupplied and your ammunition stock resupplied, you don't learn the lesson that war is bad and nobody wins.

  Abdallah II

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• I believe strongly in the rights of women... my mother is a woman, my sister is a woman, my daughter is a woman, my wife is a woman.

  Abdallah II

  "Transcript: Saudi King Abdullah Talks to Barbara Walters". abcnews.go.com. October 14, 2005.

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• Many will view the compromises that will be made during your negotiations as painful concessions. But why not view them as peace offerings, ones that will provide in return the priceless gifts of hope, security and freedom for our children and our children's?

  Abdallah II

  Children   Offering   Views  

  Abdallah II's Speech at the Mideast summit in Aqaba, Jordan, edition.cnn.com. June 4, 2003.

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