Jordan’s King Tells Repubblica He’s Pessimistic on Middle East

By Flavia Krause-Jackson

Oct. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Jordan’s King Abdullah Bin Hussein II told Italian daily la Repubblica in an interview he’s pessimistic about the prospects for peace in the Middle East.

“If by 2010 Israel doesn’t believe in two states, the possibility of a Palestinian state will vanish,” Abdullah said on the eve of a visit to Italy. “The most often-repeated question in the Arab world today is, does Israel really want peace?”

Asked about efforts by U.S. President Barack Obama to carve out an agreement in the region, Abdullah said, “I will be honest, I was expecting more, and in less time.”