Prince Hassan Wants Middle Eastern Union

3 months ago 10th Jul 14:00

Jordan's Prince Hassan has called for a European Union-style organisation in the Middle East.

The prince warned the region needs the body to deal with the scarcity of water, human rights and environmental issues before time runs out.

Speaking in London to an audience of diplomats and supporters of Neve Shalom Wahat al-Salam - a village in central Israel where Jews and Arabs live together in equality - Hassan said: "We are mutually dependent. Time is wasting and people are suffering simply because they lack the basic elements of good governance.

People have to be looked at as people

"People have to be looked at as people. Are we not drinking the same water and breathing the same air?

"It is time for real peace in which both the Jewish state of Israel and the Palestinians are part. The voices of the people of our region are seldom heard, and I believe that what is important is to reduce the space for the voices of extremism."

The prince suggested that Israel needs to set up an economic community with its Arab neighbours, with the main body of any organisation being based in Jerusalem.