JPA backs King’s UN speech calling for sanctions on Israel, press freedom in conflict zones
22/09/2026 | 23:56:23
Amman, Sept. 22 (Petra) -- The Board of the Jordan Press Association (JPA) commended His Majesty King Abdullah II’s address to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday, emphasizing that the royal speech accurately diagnosed regional realities and placed the international community directly before its obligations to uphold international law and protect regional stability.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the JPA Council highlighted the king's firm declaration that Jordan’s national security, northern border integrity, and water security remain non-negotiable red lines. The council noted that treating ongoing regional escalation as temporary crises only compounds long-term risks to regional and global security.
The council stated that the speech delivered stern, unprecedented messages to Western nations and global powers, making clear that Jordan's commitment to peace and diplomacy does not mean accepting Israeli policies that threaten regional stability. The statement noted that the king used unequivocal language to describe Israeli actions as war crimes, rejecting the notion that Israel operates as a functional democracy while pursuing illegal settlement expansion and forced displacement across Gaza and the West Bank.
The JPA Board praised the king's explicit call for international sanctions against Israel, noting his warning that continued impunity and lack of accountability undermine the credibility of the entire global political and economic system. The council also underscored the king's focus on southern Syria, where Israeli attempts to impose new realities on the ground threaten broader regional security.
Significantly, the council highlighted the king's strong defense of journalist safety and press freedom in conflict zones. The king emphasized that reporters must be allowed to carry out their professional duties without targeting, intimidation, or restriction, reaffirming that protecting media professionals is fundamental to safeguarding the public's right to information.
The JPA renewed its full alignment with the monarch’s stances, reaffirming support for the Palestinian right to self-determination, the Hashemite Custodianship over Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, and the strategic necessity of transitioning from short-term crisis management to addressing the root causes of regional instability.
//Petra// AF