“During my recent visit to the United States, an Israeli intellectual told me that Israel stands to benefit from what is going on in Arab countries. I replied that the opposite is correct because Israel’s standing is becoming more difficult than before,” he added.

Abdallah made the remarks as he sought to dampen fears voiced by some Jordanians who warned that the adoption of political reforms in the country would enable Jordanians of Palestinian origin to obtain a majority in Parliament and, consequently, facilitate schemes by Israeli extremist politicians that see Jordan as “alternative homeland” for Palestinians.

Those Jordanians, who mainly belonged to East Bank tribal gatherings, also contended that the United States supported the Israeli machinations that envisage Jordan as homeland for Palestinians instead of the setting up of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

“During my US visits, I did not feel any pressure from any American official, be him Clinton, Bush or Obama, toward solving the Palestinian cause at Jordan’s expense,” he said.

“Jordan is Jordan and Palestine is Palestine and the alternative homeland concept should not be part of the discussion, because we are determined to protect the future of Palestine by backing the creation of an independent Palestinian state, and to defend Jerusalem and the right of return of Palestinian refugees.”

The monarch said “Jordan will not be a substitute homeland for anybody … we have an army and we are prepared to fight in defense of our country and the future of Jordan”.

Abdallah vowed to carry on with political reforms, saying Parliament would endorse the proposed constitutional amendments within two weeks.