Jordan's King Abdullah II told parliament in Amman on Monday that the kingdom would confront those behind last month's attack on a church in Karak governorate, according to Al Jazeera, The National and Arab News^1,2,3.

Opening a new parliamentary session, the king said the attack had sought to test the state's resilience and the public's resolve, Al Jazeera reported¹. Relatives of the victims attended, and he asked lawmakers to observe a minute of silence^1,2.

The National said gunmen killed nine Christians and wounded 34 during a funeral at St George's Greek Orthodox Church in the village of Hmoud, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Amman². Al Jazeera put the attack at about two weeks earlier and said dozens were wounded¹. Arab News dated the attack to October³.

The National said it was the deadliest attack on Jordan's Christian minority since the 1950s, that Christians number about 250,000 of 11 million people, and that all nine victims were men, several from the Halasah clan². Jordanian authorities arrested three men in connection with the attack, The National and Arab News reported; Arab News said they were identified as Islamic extremists^2,3.

Al Jazeera quoted the king as saying of the attackers, "They are not of us"¹. The National quoted him saying, "We will not allow the terrorist outlaws to undermine the security and unity of this nation"². Arab News quoted him saying, "There is no place for terrorists among us, neither today nor tomorrow"³.

Al Jazeera's correspondent in Amman said the king framed the response as national unity and public awareness, backed by the army and security services¹. The National said he also placed faith in Jordanians' awareness in uncertain times².

On regional policy, Al Jazeera and Arab News said the king called Israeli expansionist ambitions the greatest threat to the region's future and security^1,3. Al Jazeera reported he also referred to the humanitarian situation in Gaza and assaults in the West Bank and Jerusalem¹. Arab News said he tied lasting Middle East security to Palestinian rights³. The National's account did not include those regional remarks².

The king pledged to protect scarce water supplies, Al Jazeera and The National reported^1,2. Al Jazeera quoted him saying Jordanians' thirst would not be held hostage by any party, and its correspondent linked the remark to concerns about Israeli projects¹. The National said he ordered the government to continue water-security plans².

He urged the government to accelerate major economic projects, The National said, and Al Jazeera said he told lawmakers that differences of opinion were a strength if they served the national interest, while warning officials not to abuse their positions^1,2. The National noted official unemployment of about 16 percent². Jordan signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994 and is a U.S. ally, Al Jazeera reported¹.