Our Last Best Chance
Encyclopedia
Our Last Best Chance: The Pursuit of Peace in a Time of Peril (Arabic
: فرصتنا الأخيرة: السعي نحو السلام في وقت الخطر ) is a book written by King Abdullah II of Jordan
and published by Viking Press
in New York City
. The book is available in eight languages, highlights King Abdullah's vision towards resolving the Arab–Israeli conflict
, as well as the challenges facing the Middle East
.
In “Our Last Best Chance”, King Abdullah writes as both a monarch bestowing wisdom from above and as a man whose life has been intertwined with war and making the case for peace
.
The memoir opens during the 1967 war
, when the King, then a toddler, is dared by his brother to race across the lawn in the middle of an Israeli
air raid. An explosion reverberates in the distance and the then-crown prince runs back into the house without having reached the other side. The incident serves as a potent symbol: Unsolved, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict looms over the region, threatening to disrupt daily life at a moment’s notice.
The King goes on to detail his formative years, from staring down anti-Arab stereotypes at a US boarding school to his military career in Zarqa
and proposing to Rania Yassin on Tal Rumman.
In the first two parts of the memoir, which covers the King’s childhood up to his ascension to the Throne
, King Hussein
looms large, offering his son lessons in honour and diplomacy
while steering Jordan through uncertain waters.
When King Hussein falls ill, and the line of succession unexpectedly falls to the author, King Abdullah provides an intimate account of how he faced the sudden responsibility of becoming King while coming to terms with his father’s death. Upon ascending to the Throne, overhauling the country’s economy was a top priority, the King writes, listing Jordan’s membership in the World Trade Organisation and the US Free Trade Agreement among his top achievements in his first years.
King Abdullah goes on to highlight Jordanian success stories, including Maktoob.com, Rubicon, the King’s Academy, the King Abdullah Design Bureau, the domestic film industry and the peaceful nuclear
programme, taking clear pride in each as a success for the country, each innovation as a step forward in the Kingdom’s development process. But, as the King notes, governance is not as orderly as the army
. Directives go unheeded, deadlines are missed and rather than bullets or mortars, progress is threatened by excuses and delays.
Despite the initial progress on the economic front, king Abdullah candidly admits that political development in the Kingdom over the past decade has at times been “two steps forward, one step back”.
“Some have resisted change out of fear of losing privileges they have long enjoyed, while others simply lacked imagination,” King Abdullah writes.
“Some officials did not have the courage to push forward with difficult changes.”
The Monarch goes on to note a “dysfunctional” relationship between executive
and legislative
authorities, “hindering efforts to address broader social and economic issues”. He notes that such tensions and the public’s loss of faith in the 15th Parliament in 2009 led to its dissolution.
While delving into affairs at home, the memoir also sheds light on life as the head of state in a dangerous neighbourhood. The country is tested by the fallout of the US invasion of Iraq
, followed by the Lebanon-Israeli conflict and the war on Gaza.
The King notes that in each conflict, Jordan played a role larger than its size, sending medical aid
and field hospitals
, organising aid convoys, repairing airports and hosting thousands of refugees
.
“Our Last Best Chance” goes on to highlight Jordan’s role in combating takfiri
ideology and clarifying the true nature of Islam
through the Amman Message
.
In the closing chapters, the King focuses on the peace process
: warning that the negotiations launched by the Obama administration
in late 2009 may be the last call for a region that has been disappointed time and time again by diplomatic failures, Israeli intransigence and violent provocations.
The King details the hurdles facing the launch of negotiations, including pressure from Arab states
to revoke the Arab Peace Initiative
over the Gaza war and the unsure partner in peace in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
.
The King warns that at the time of printing, hopes for a breakthrough were fading and negotiations were “on the verge of collapse”. Indeed, talks have since derailed, and the forecasts for a return to the negotiating table have been less than promising.
Reflecting on King Hussein’s four decades and his own 11-year pursuit of peace, the Monarch voices hope that Crown Prince Hussein will not have to face the lingering effects of a conflict whose resolution has eluded generations.
In order to end the impasse, the Monarch touts the “57-state solution”, or the Arab Peace Initiative, whereby Arab and Muslim states agree to normalise relations with Israel in return for occupied lands and a Palestinian state on 1967 borders.
The King remains blunt about the current situation: “I fear that we are slipping into the darkness.”
Despite the talk of benchmarks and roadmaps
, the King argues that leaders and politicians must bear the responsibility of making the “much eroded dream” of peace come true.
In the book, the King uses plain language to explain the complex past, present and future of the region, choosing the steady tone of a commander rather than the prose of a politician.
While largely steering away from the sentimental, the Monarch does offer some intimate accounts of larger-than-life figures; dynamite fishing
with Uday
and Qusay
Hussein, disagreements with former US President George Bush
and Yasser Arafat’s
escape from Jordan in the guise of a woman.
The King also delves into his relationship with family members, telling of parachuting with Princess Aisha
and the tensions raised by the question of the line of succession.
Despite the insightful asides, the memoir’s lasting impressions are lessons from a man and a country who although have been blessed to live in peace and security are touched by the conflicts of its neighbours.
More than a personal history, the King’s first book serves as a message for Washington policy makers, Israeli politicians and Arab leaders to sit up, take notice and not miss “our last, best chance”.
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
: فرصتنا الأخيرة: السعي نحو السلام في وقت الخطر ) is a book written by King Abdullah II of Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
and published by Viking Press
Viking Press
Viking Press is an American publishing company owned by the Penguin Group, which has owned the company since 1975. It was founded in New York City on March 1, 1925, by Harold K. Guinzburg and George S. Oppenheim...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The book is available in eight languages, highlights King Abdullah's vision towards resolving the Arab–Israeli conflict
Arab–Israeli conflict
The Arab–Israeli conflict refers to political tensions and open hostilities between the Arab peoples and the Jewish community of the Middle East. The modern Arab-Israeli conflict began with the rise of Zionism and Arab Nationalism towards the end of the nineteenth century, and intensified with the...
, as well as the challenges facing the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
In “Our Last Best Chance”, King Abdullah writes as both a monarch bestowing wisdom from above and as a man whose life has been intertwined with war and making the case for peace
Peace
Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
.
The memoir opens during the 1967 war
Six-Day War
The Six-Day War , also known as the June War, 1967 Arab-Israeli War, or Third Arab-Israeli War, was fought between June 5 and 10, 1967, by Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt , Jordan, and Syria...
, when the King, then a toddler, is dared by his brother to race across the lawn in the middle of an Israeli
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
air raid. An explosion reverberates in the distance and the then-crown prince runs back into the house without having reached the other side. The incident serves as a potent symbol: Unsolved, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict looms over the region, threatening to disrupt daily life at a moment’s notice.
The King goes on to detail his formative years, from staring down anti-Arab stereotypes at a US boarding school to his military career in Zarqa
Zarqa
Az-Zarqāʔ is a city in Jordan located to the northeast of Amman. With a population of more than one million 1000,000. It is the country's second largest city after Amman. Zarqa is the capital of Zarqa Governorate . Its name means "the blue one".- Overview :Zarqa is Jordan's industrial centre, home...
and proposing to Rania Yassin on Tal Rumman.
In the first two parts of the memoir, which covers the King’s childhood up to his ascension to the Throne
Throne
A throne is the official chair or seat upon which a monarch is seated on state or ceremonial occasions. "Throne" in an abstract sense can also refer to the monarchy or the Crown itself, an instance of metonymy, and is also used in many expressions such as "the power behind the...
, King Hussein
Hussein of Jordan
Hussein bin Talal was the third King of Jordan from the abdication of his father, King Talal, in 1952, until his death. Hussein's rule extended through the Cold War and four decades of Arab-Israeli conflict...
looms large, offering his son lessons in honour and diplomacy
Diplomacy
Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states...
while steering Jordan through uncertain waters.
When King Hussein falls ill, and the line of succession unexpectedly falls to the author, King Abdullah provides an intimate account of how he faced the sudden responsibility of becoming King while coming to terms with his father’s death. Upon ascending to the Throne, overhauling the country’s economy was a top priority, the King writes, listing Jordan’s membership in the World Trade Organisation and the US Free Trade Agreement among his top achievements in his first years.
King Abdullah goes on to highlight Jordanian success stories, including Maktoob.com, Rubicon, the King’s Academy, the King Abdullah Design Bureau, the domestic film industry and the peaceful nuclear
Nuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
programme, taking clear pride in each as a success for the country, each innovation as a step forward in the Kingdom’s development process. But, as the King notes, governance is not as orderly as the army
Royal Jordanian Land Force
The Royal Jordanian Land Force is part of the Jordanian Armed Forces . It draws its origins from units first formed in the British Mandate of Transjordan in the 1920s. It has seen combat against Israel in 1948, 1956, 1967, and 1973...
. Directives go unheeded, deadlines are missed and rather than bullets or mortars, progress is threatened by excuses and delays.
Despite the initial progress on the economic front, king Abdullah candidly admits that political development in the Kingdom over the past decade has at times been “two steps forward, one step back”.
“Some have resisted change out of fear of losing privileges they have long enjoyed, while others simply lacked imagination,” King Abdullah writes.
“Some officials did not have the courage to push forward with difficult changes.”
The Monarch goes on to note a “dysfunctional” relationship between executive
Executive (government)
Executive branch of Government is the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the idea of the separation of powers.In many countries, the term...
and legislative
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
authorities, “hindering efforts to address broader social and economic issues”. He notes that such tensions and the public’s loss of faith in the 15th Parliament in 2009 led to its dissolution.
While delving into affairs at home, the memoir also sheds light on life as the head of state in a dangerous neighbourhood. The country is tested by the fallout of the US invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
, followed by the Lebanon-Israeli conflict and the war on Gaza.
The King notes that in each conflict, Jordan played a role larger than its size, sending medical aid
Medical Aid for Palestinians
Medical Aid for Palestinians is a British charity that offers medical services in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Lebanon and, advocates for the universal right to health.-Aim and history:...
and field hospitals
Field hospital
A field hospital is a large mobile medical unit that temporarily takes care of casualties on-site before they can be safely transported to more permanent hospital facilities...
, organising aid convoys, repairing airports and hosting thousands of refugees
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
.
“Our Last Best Chance” goes on to highlight Jordan’s role in combating takfiri
Takfiri
A Takfiri is a Muslim who practices Takfir, which is to accuse other Muslims of apostasy. The term Takfir derives from the word kafir and is described as when "...one who is, or claims to be, a Muslim is declared impure." Those to whom Takfir is applied are considered excommunicated in the eyes...
ideology and clarifying the true nature of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
through the Amman Message
Amman Message
The Amman Message is a statement which was issued on 9 November 2004 by King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan, calling for tolerance and unity in the Muslim world...
.
In the closing chapters, the King focuses on the peace process
Peace process
Peace process may refer to:* in general:** Peacebuilding** Conflict resolution* specifically:** Northern Ireland peace process, efforts from c.1993 to end "the Troubles"...
: warning that the negotiations launched by the Obama administration
Presidency of Barack Obama
The Presidency of Barack Obama began at noon EST on January 20, 2009 when he became the 44th President of the United States. Obama was a United States Senator from Illinois at the time of his victory over Arizona Senator John McCain in the 2008 presidential election...
in late 2009 may be the last call for a region that has been disappointed time and time again by diplomatic failures, Israeli intransigence and violent provocations.
The King details the hurdles facing the launch of negotiations, including pressure from Arab states
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
to revoke the Arab Peace Initiative
Arab Peace Initiative
The Beirut Summit was a meeting of the Arab League in Beirut, Lebanon in March 2002 to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The meeting became especially noteworthy for the adoption, by the Arab states attending, of a proposal offering a comprehensive peace between the Arab countries and...
over the Gaza war and the unsure partner in peace in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu is the current Prime Minister of Israel. He serves also as the Chairman of the Likud Party, as a Knesset member, as the Health Minister of Israel, as the Pensioner Affairs Minister of Israel and as the Economic Strategy Minister of Israel.Netanyahu is the first and, to...
.
The King warns that at the time of printing, hopes for a breakthrough were fading and negotiations were “on the verge of collapse”. Indeed, talks have since derailed, and the forecasts for a return to the negotiating table have been less than promising.
Reflecting on King Hussein’s four decades and his own 11-year pursuit of peace, the Monarch voices hope that Crown Prince Hussein will not have to face the lingering effects of a conflict whose resolution has eluded generations.
In order to end the impasse, the Monarch touts the “57-state solution”, or the Arab Peace Initiative, whereby Arab and Muslim states agree to normalise relations with Israel in return for occupied lands and a Palestinian state on 1967 borders.
The King remains blunt about the current situation: “I fear that we are slipping into the darkness.”
Despite the talk of benchmarks and roadmaps
Road map for peace
The roadmap for peace or "road map" for peace is a plan to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict proposed by a "quartet" of international entities: the United States, the European Union, Russia, and the United Nations. The principles of the plan, originally drafted by U.S. Foreign Service...
, the King argues that leaders and politicians must bear the responsibility of making the “much eroded dream” of peace come true.
In the book, the King uses plain language to explain the complex past, present and future of the region, choosing the steady tone of a commander rather than the prose of a politician.
While largely steering away from the sentimental, the Monarch does offer some intimate accounts of larger-than-life figures; dynamite fishing
Blast fishing
Blast fishing or dynamite fishing is the practice of using explosives to stun or kill schools of fish for easy collection. This often illegal practice can be extremely destructive to the surrounding ecosystem, as the explosion often destroys the underlying habitat that supports the fish...
with Uday
Uday Hussein
Uday Saddam Hussein al-Tikriti , was the eldest son of Saddam Hussein from his first wife, Sajida Talfah. He was the brother of Qusay Hussein. Uday was for several years seen as the heir apparent of his father; however, Uday lost his place in the line of succession due to his erratic behavior and...
and Qusay
Qusay Hussein
Qusay Saddam Hussein al-Tikriti was the second son of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. He was appointed as his father's heir apparent in 2000.- Family :...
Hussein, disagreements with former US President George Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
and Yasser Arafat’s
Yasser Arafat
Mohammed Yasser Abdel Rahman Abdel Raouf Arafat al-Qudwa al-Husseini , popularly known as Yasser Arafat or by his kunya Abu Ammar , was a Palestinian leader and a Laureate of the Nobel Prize. He was Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization , President of the Palestinian National Authority...
escape from Jordan in the guise of a woman.
The King also delves into his relationship with family members, telling of parachuting with Princess Aisha
Princess Aisha bint Al Hussein
HRH Princess Aisha bint Al Hussein is the sister of King Abdullah II of Jordan and is the twin sister of Princess Zein. Her parents are Princess Muna al-Hussein and King Hussein.-Education:...
and the tensions raised by the question of the line of succession.
Despite the insightful asides, the memoir’s lasting impressions are lessons from a man and a country who although have been blessed to live in peace and security are touched by the conflicts of its neighbours.
More than a personal history, the King’s first book serves as a message for Washington policy makers, Israeli politicians and Arab leaders to sit up, take notice and not miss “our last, best chance”.
Further reading
- al-Hussein, Abdullah II bin. Our Last Best Chance: The Pursuit of Peace in a Time of Peril, New York City: Viking Adult, 2011. ISBN 978-0670021710