| Submit your comments on this article |
| Iraq-Jordan |
| Jordan’s King Abdullah warns Israel against unilateral Gaza-type steps on the West Bank |
| 2005-08-21 |
| In notes to US president Bush and Israeli PM Sharon over the weekend, the king warned that any further steps, including Israeli withdrawals from West Bank territory, would be deemed violations of the 1995 Jordanian-Israeli peace treaty - if coordinated only with Washington and the Palestinians. He stressed Jordan would not put up with a Israel-Palestinian settlement that failed to address Jordan’s sovereignty, its interests in the Jordan river basin and the border crossings and in shared strategic issues, such as security and water resources. DEBKAfile adds: the Jordanian warning was prompted by deep concern over the side-effects of the expulsion of Israeli communities from the Gaza Strip and northern Samaria. Amman fears their ripple effect next door to the kingdom on the West Bank. In particular - 1. The king was disconcerted by the words of US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice last week, when she said: Everyone empathizes with what the Israelis are facing, but it cannot be Gaza only. This is taken in Amman to mean that Washington will squeeze Israel hard to pursue further withdrawals in favor of the Palestinians while leaving Jordan out of the picture. 2. Amman fears Washington may demand that Israel forego its control of the Jordan River border crossings too, should a precedent of this kind be set on the Gaza-Egyptian border. Jordan refuses to hear of Palestinians controlling the bridges and the Jordan River valley. 3. Jordan’s king is further disturbed by the possibility of Israel permitting free Palestinian passage from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank, lest a land bridge be formed between Gaza and the Jordanian Palestinian community, which already includes 350,000 Gazan refugees. 4. Amman sees Egypt assuming a command role in the Gaza Strip after the Israeli pull-out. Cairo will not be permitted to extend its domain to the West Bank which the Hashemite throne historically and traditionally regards as its back yard. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #9 Then let Jordan have what it asks for within reason first and deal with the Paleos second. Jordan has proven it will deal with the Paleos in a harsh way if so required. They also seem to be pretty honset with Israel too. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet 0’ Doom 2005-08-21 22:04 |
| #8 Real Jordanians, though outnumbered by Paleos, are very different indeed. Jordanians are bedouins, and see themselves as far above Paleos as dogs are above fleas. The Paleos living in Jordan are rather comfortable living under Jordanian rule, preferring it to being under Paleo rule, and also know if they cut up rough, the bedouins will mercilessly slaughter them. The Jordanians also have a vicious secret police, who actively try to ensure that external troublemakers do not have free access to the Paleos. There big concern is Israel opening up a passage between Gaza and the West Bank. The Jordanians suspect that through there and into Jordan would flow every agitator, terrorist, assassin, etc. that could be found not only in Gaza, but in Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia *and* Iran. They may not be entirely incorrect with this concern, as the Hashemite kingdom is an even bigger target than the Saud regime. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-08-21 21:37 |
| #7 "rushing" PIMF |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-08-21 21:34 |
| #6 rusing? This is a surprise? Puhleeeeez |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-08-21 21:33 |
| #5 Agreed. But I'm leery of rushing into actions that will destabilize Jordan. They've been far more help to us in the GWOT than is widely publicized. |
| Posted by: lotp 2005-08-21 21:25 |
| #4 Jordan could always take over that land, as they have before. Most of the "Palestinians" are Jordanians, anyway. |
| Posted by: Jackal 2005-08-21 21:23 |
| #3 Absolutely, Mrs. Davis. This certainly doesn't make life easier for Jordan, but Israel needs to disengage from the Palestinians except to fire or return fire when targeted or fired upon. The Arabs have milked this one long enough. It's time for them to work out some solutions between themselves. Jordan needs to talk to Egypt and the Palestinians, not us. |
| Posted by: Darrell 2005-08-21 21:16 |
| #2 If ever Sharon needed confirmation that he is pursuing the correct strategy, this is it. Let the Arabs clean up their own mess. Or be inundated by ti. Bwahahahaha. |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2005-08-21 20:50 |
| #1 see "Black September" |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-08-21 20:43 |