Jordanians have been vocally critical of their country’s participation in the US-sponsored conference on Middle East security and peace in the Polish capital Feb. 14. On social media, politically active Jordanians rejected the conference’s stated objective of creating an anti-Iran alliance between Arab countries and Israel. They also objected to seeing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sitting in the same room with Arab foreign ministers, describing the event as a cost-free normalization of ties between Arab countries and Israel.

Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi represented Jordan at the two-day event. He was quoted by the Jordan Times as saying Feb. 13, “Jordan is participating in Warsaw’s ministerial meeting to reiterate its unfaltering stance that there will be no comprehensive peace without realizing Palestinians’ legitimate rights to freedom and statehood along the June 4, 1967, lines with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

On Jan. 31, Safadi hosted a one-day meeting at the Dead Sea with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, the UAE and Kuwait, reportedly to hold consultations on a number of regional issues. It is believed that participation in the Warsaw conference was one of the subjects discussed.

Jordan does not share the belief of the United States and most Gulf countries that Iran is the number-one cause of regional instability. King Abdullah has consistently underlined that resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict with a two-state solution is the gateway to regional stability and peace. While criticizing Iran’s meddling in Arab affairs, Jordan has been careful not to be seen as part of an anti-Tehran alliance.