There is a dissonance in Jordan—every time Israelis and Palestinians seem to get close to an agreement, even a draft, two contradicting approaches emerge among Jordanian elite. On the one hand, Israeli-Palestinian peace is a Jordanian strategic interest. The way Jordan sees it, the alternative to peace is further deterioration which could lead to Israel’s completion of the security barrier and the pushing of the West Bank into the arms of Jordan, similar to what happened in Gaza. On the other hand, the decision makers still cannot seem to convey to the trans-Jordanian elite that one of the implications of an Israeli-Palestinian peace is the settlement of Palestinian refugees permanently in Jordan. …
In a way this is reminiscent of Israel’s paralysis when it comes to making difficult decisions on borders, Jerusalem and the refugees—Jordan knows what it ought to be doing but is paralyzed due to internal political dynamics.
King Abdullah is interested in an Israeli-Palestinian peace. He would sign a Clinton Parameters- based agreement tomorrow if it was up to him. It is possible that he is not handling his opposition now because an agreement does not seem imminent, something along the lines of ‘we’ll cross the bridge when we get there.’ But it shows the pressures he faces internally and what he will have to face when the moment of truth comes. Access the full interview>>
