Abdullah II of Jordan

Fifty-seven countries in the world, a third of the United Nations, do not recognize Israel. In a way, I think North Korea has better international relations than Israel.

The Middle East has the highest unemployment percentage of any region in the world we have the largest youth cohort of history coming into the market place that frustration does translate into the political sphere when people are hungry and without jobs.

The Arab Spring I think we will look back whether it's two years, five years, ten or fifteen. And say it's a good thing.

I think it's almost impossible for any expert to predict for the rapid changes we see in the Middle East. They are rapid and they will continue for quite a while.

If everybody is happy, then something is wrong with the democratic process.

We're never going to be able to get rid of terrorism, because there is always going to be evil in the world.

Many occasions I've sat down with Israelis to say, where do you see your country in 10 years time, and work me back, so we can figure out the synergies and the connections between Israel and the rest of the Arab world. No Israeli has ever been able to answer that question.

Jerusalem is a time bomb that I fear is just waiting to go off.

Remember you don't do anything in isolation.

If you look at military and intelligence positions from the 1950s, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has always been against American national interests.

At the end of the day we want to bring stability and hope to Iraq. That's the only way to defeat terrorism.

When there's a status quo, usually what shakes everybody up is some sort of military confrontation, at which point we all come running and screaming to pick up the pieces.

I think the success of democracy is not really police security; it's the presence of a broad middle class. The stronger the middle class of a people is, the less you have to worry about one group coming in and exploiting the democratic process for its own ends.

I look at Jerusalem as being a beacon for the three monotheistic religions.

I personally believe that any country that has a nuclear program should conform to international regulations and should have international regulatory bodies that check to make sure that any nuclear program moves in the right direction.

Through Hamas, Iran has been able to buy itself a seat on the table in talking about the Palestinian issue. And, as a result, through Hamas it does play a role in the issue of the Palestinians, as strange as that should sound.

Jordan has to show the Arab world that there's another way of doing things. We're a monarchy, yes, but if we can show democracy that leads to a two-, three-, four-party system - left, right and center - in a couple of years' time, then the Muslim Brotherhood will no longer be something to contend with.

Each country its cost analysis is going to be different. So what we are you seeing in Syria, for example, is different than what's going on in Jordan. The maps are being rewritten.

I think this is really a defining moment for the Arab world. The problem is, it is all going to be about blood, sweat and tears. In certain countries it may be just sweat, and in some countries sweat and tears, and in some countries, as you can see, a lot of blood. I think initial instability is something that we are all extremely nervous of.

If you have a government that is elected, they need to do the hard work - because if they don't, they won't be around the next time the ballot box is open.

My view is when you use violence on your people, that never ends well.

Wikileaks didn't help confidence with American administrations because of conversations made public so easily.

I believe nuclear energy in Jordan will be done in such a way where it is a public-private partnership so everyone can see exactly what's going on.

I've benefited from the best of both societies and both cultures, East and West.

I'm easily entertained.

I like to look at the glass half full.

I don't think the Middle East could afford another war.

Nobody scares me.

When we try to push the envelope, there are certain sectors of society that say this is a Zionist plot to sort of destabilize our country, or this is an American agenda.

There is a tendency by a lot of officials to hide behind the king. And it's about time that officials take their responsibility and are responsible in front of the people.

There are so many different sub-societies inside of Syria.

We have to always hope in humanity that people will make the right choices.

What keeps me up at night is poverty and unemployment.

Chemical weapons are something that scares everybody.

It is always dangerous to underestimate anybody.

If you believe that the killing of innocent people is right, then you are not part of my future.

I think the debate in our society now is that people have to agree on zero-tolerance to terrorism.

You're always going to have terrorism.

Don't take 'no' for an answer.

Today more than ever we need creative minds to address the issues of the age. And one of the most urgent is this: How can humanity know so much, achieve so much, and still fail so many people so badly?

In our view, successful reform is not an event. It is a sustainable process that will build on its own successes - a virtuous cycle of change.

No matter what's happening in the Middle East - the Arab Spring, et cetera, the economic challenges, high rates of unemployment - the emotional, critical issue is always the Israeli-Palestinian one.

The incentive that you give to your youth is going to be the make-or-break future of the country.

Ten years ago I said, you know, my goal is to be able to get food on the table. What I'm trying to say by that is trying to create a vibrant, capable and effective middle class. The quicker and stronger that we can be able to do this, the easier it is for political reform to move forward.

For me, I am left leaning when it comes to health and education, on the right when it comes to defense. So I don't know where I come on the political spectrum. And I think this the challenge that a lot of Jordanians have to deal with.

The monarchy that I hand over to my son is not going to be the same one that I have inherited.

There is resistance to change. There's a resistance to ideas.

The security and the future of Jordan is hand-in-hand with the future of the Palestinians and the Israelis.

I hope that none of the countries in the Middle East are planning anything but the peaceful utilization of nuclear energy.

Political development should start at the grassroots.