Conference Presentation, Fireside Chat, Interview
A Conversation with Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan | Global Conference 2024
Milken InstituteQueen Rania Al Abdullah, Kevin Herglotz, Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah, Ali Velshi
- The United Nations projects nearly 300 million people globally will require humanitarian assistance due to conflicts, climate emergencies, natural disasters, and economic instability.
- Queen Rania al-Abdullah of Jordan anticipates the ongoing conflict has deepened societal fractures, creating binary thinking that views outgroups as enemies, while noting the "middle ground" has shrunk and Palestinians have been pushed to the periphery.
- Studies cited indicate humans possess "selective empathy," making them more attuned to the suffering of those similar to themselves, which results in overlooked humanitarian crises.
- The current status quo is deemed unsustainable for both Palestinians and Israelis, with Queen Rania asserting that peace cannot be achieved through violence or weapons but requires negotiations, political processes, and commitment.
- A ceasefire is viewed with cautious hope, noting Hamas has accepted terms while the Israeli prime minister remains undecided.
- An upcoming military operation in eastern Rafah involving 1.4 million Palestinians is expected to result in a high number of avoidable civilian deaths due to the threat of "extreme force."
- Without a two-state solution, any period of peace is predicted to be merely a "lull before the storm" leading to a cycle of endless occupation and further violence.
- Jordan rejects any population transfer, warning it would constitute a war crime, termed "ethnic cleansing," resulting in a new Nakba, as Palestinians do not seek to become part of Jordan.
- The United States is expected to utilize its leverage to hold Israel accountable, with predictions that short-term tactical gains against Hamas incur heavy long-term security costs, including reputational damage and distancing from allies.
- The United States faces a decision on whether to prioritize the political agenda of a specific leader described as "ideological, ultra-nationalist, religious far-right" or the long-term safety and security of the state of Israel.
- Regional security is predicted to be achievable only through a negotiated peace granting Palestinians actual statehood, self-determination, and autonomy, as Israel cannot be secure while a "grave injustice" exists on its border.
- Israel is observed to have faced a serious internal political problem for approximately one and a half to almost two years, during which the Palestinian Authority was undermined by a policy to "divide and conquer."
- The Palestinian Authority is expected to remain weak and unable to deliver services unless empowered, while Israel continues to view it as a "security enforcement arm."
- The international community is expected to commit to a comprehensive peace vision covering the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza.
- The narrative that Palestinians rejected peace is disputed; while Palestinians accepted Israel as a state and made concessions, settlement building continues, creating a "very warped reality."
- Settlement building is characterized as illegal and constituting a "two-tiered system" where Palestinians live under military law while settlers enjoy civil law, with grants and subsidies acting as the "ultimate human shield."
- The argument that Hamas uses civilians as human shields is considered unconvincing given Gaza's population density and the use of 2,000-pound unguided bombs.
- Casualty statistics are projected at 70% civilians in Gaza, including 14,500 children killed, with more doctors and aid workers dying in this conflict than any other.
- Veteran Israeli soldiers and an army lawyer are expected to state that current actions are wrong and have crossed the "criminal threshold."
- Attempts to conflate anti-Israel criticism with anti-Semitism are predicted as dangerous, while the presence of anti-Semites at pro-Palestinian rallies is noted as detrimental to dialogue.
- The situation is described as man-made and solvable if parties cease viewing the other side as enemies, requiring a "re-education" and "rehumanization" process between the peoples.
- The Israeli population is expected to remain afraid and traumatized due to leadership narratives depicting Palestinians as security threats rather than humans.
- Long-term security for Israel is predicted to depend entirely on the establishment of peace, with a two-state arrangement proposed as the only interim path for separateness and trust-building.