Understanding Jordan

Jordan's king and [Palestinian] queen

Jordan Fears the Palestinians - Dr. Dan Schueftan

The Palestinian national movement is the most dangerous enemy of the Hashemite regime in Jordan. 

The Palestinians are eyeing not only Jaffa and Haifa, but also Amman [the capital of Jordan]. If an independent Palestinian state is founded in the West Bank, it will first channel its subversion efforts towards Jordan, a majority of whose residents are Palestinian. If and when it succeeds in overthrowing the Hashemite regime and linking up to radical Arab and Iranian elements in the region, it will be easier for the Palestinians to fight Israel more effectively.
    
Whoever thinks that Palestinians will suffice with a small and backward state between Jenin and Jericho is pathologically addicted to self-deception. They are ignorant of one hundred years of Palestinian political culture.
    
The current situation is the most comfortable for Jordan. Israeli control prevents Hamas from taking over the West Bank, and the Israeli buffer in the Jordan Valley prevents uncontrolled contact between the Palestinians and Jordan. The Jordanians have an interest in lasting Israeli control in the Jordan Valley, with or without sovereignty. 
The writer is head of the International Graduate Program in National Security Studies at the University of Haifa. 
(Israel Hayom)
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