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Jordan’s king vows to confront attackers after Karak church killings
King Abdullah II told parliament Monday Jordan will not let terrorists undermine national unity after last month’s church attack in Karak that killed nine, outlets reported.
King Abdullah II of Jordan told parliament in Amman on Monday that the kingdom would confront those behind last month’s attack on a church in Karak governorate and would not let them undermine national unity1,2,3.
The attack, about two weeks ago, killed nine people and wounded dozens; The National said gunmen opened fire during a funeral at St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church in the village of Hmoud, about 80 kilometers south of Amman, killing nine Christians and wounding 34 others1,2.
Jordanian authorities arrested three men on suspicion of carrying out the attack; Arab News said officials identified the suspects as Islamic extremists2,3.
The National described the killings as the deadliest attack against Jordan’s Christian minority since the 1950s and said Christians number about 250,000 of a population of about 11 million, with all nine victims men2.
Opening a new session of parliament, Abdullah asked lawmakers to stand for a minute of silence for the victims, whose relatives attended1,2.
“They are not of us,” he said of the attackers, according to Al Jazeera1.
The National quoted him saying, “We will not allow the terrorist outlaws to undermine the security and unity of this nation”2.
Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Amman said Abdullah pledged to confront terrorism and extremism first through national unity and public awareness, backed by the army and security services1.
Abdullah also addressed regional tensions, calling Israeli expansionist ambitions the greatest threat to the region’s future and security and pointing to conditions in Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem1,3.
Arab News quoted him saying, “There can be no security in the region without upholding the rights of the Palestinian people”3.
He said Jordan would not allow access to water to be held hostage by any party and told the government to accelerate major economic projects; The National noted official unemployment of about 16 percent1,2.
Jordan signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994 and is a close U.S. ally; millions of its citizens are of Palestinian origin1.
Sources
How it’s being reported
3 sources
Jordan’s King Abdullah promises to confront ‘terrorists’ after Karak attack
The king’s parliamentary speech tying the church attack to national unity, security services, Gaza and water.
Abdullah opened parliament by denouncing the Karak attackers and naming Israeli expansionism as the region’s greatest threat.
Leaves out The church’s name, victim identities and the number of arrests.
Jordan will not allow terrorists to undermine its security and unity, King Abdullah says
The scale of the October church attack and the king’s pledge that terrorists will not undermine unity.
The National details the Hmoud church attack, nine Christian victims, 34 wounded and three arrests.
Leaves out The king’s remarks on Israeli expansionism, Gaza and Palestinian rights.
Jordan’s king vows to confront terrorism, warns against threats to national unity
The king’s terrorism vow plus Palestinian rights as a condition for regional security.
Arab News reports the king’s terrorism warning and his statement that Israeli expansionism is the greatest regional threat.
Leaves out Details of the parliamentary minute of silence, water policy and unemployment.