Jordan starts last-minute lobby for Palestinian statehood before US finalises its peace plan
Jordan is lobbying for a viable Palestinian state, and to secure its own interests in Jerusalem, in a last-minute push to influence a US peace plan widely expected to favour Israel.
The American plan, led by White House adviser Jared Kushner, has been drafted without the input of long-time ally and mediator, Jordan.
Mr Kushner arrived in Amman yesterday, where he met King Abdullah II.
Insiders say that Jordan is rallying for an agreement that secures Palestinian statehood and respects the international status of Jerusalem.
The late effort included a rare meeting between King Abdullah and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Amman on Monday.
It was their first known meeting since 2014 and broke a freeze in public ties after two unarmed Jordanian civilians were killed at the Israeli embassy in Amman last year.
During the meeting with Mr Netanyahu, King Abdullah stressed the importance of the two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, establishing a state based on borders from 1967 in line with UN resolutions and the 2002 Arab Peace initiative.
Observers say the meeting is part of a wider strategy by Jordan to act as the voice of reason and caution against a peace deal that lacks support among Palestinians, Jordanians and much of the Arab world.
Jordan’s influence in Israel-Palestinian affairs has waned in recent years, despite it having been the main mediator for almost three decades.
“For Jordan, any solution must be a viable two-state solution with Jerusalem as its capital, in line with Jordan’s national security interests,” said Prof Hassan Barari at the University of Jordan.
“The impression is that Kushner is not interested in a twostate solution and what is being offered falls short of self-determination for Palestinians.”
Official sources say King Abdullah and the Jordanian government will try to stand by the popular sentiments of Palestinians and Arabs, providing a voice for their frustrations if the proposed deal were to fall short of expectations.
Any deal pushed by Mr Kushner would have far-reaching consequences for Jordan. An estimated half of the country’s 6.6 million population are of Palestinian origin – 2.2 million of whom are registered with the UN as refugees.
As critical to the Hashemite nation is its royal family’s responsibility for Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
For decades, Jordan has acted as custodian of the holy sites, a role that is spelt out in the 1994 Wadi Araba peace treaty between Jordan and Israel, and is recognised by the UN.
Jordan’s Waqf, funded by its government, presides over and maintains dozens of holy sites, including the Noble Sanctuary and Al Aqsa Mosque, the most hotly contested religious site in the world and a flashpoint for past conflicts.
After Amman, Mr Kushner’s visit is expected to include Riyadh, where he could push for support for the US deal.
The visit comes at a sensitive time in Jordan, where public frustration over the rising cost of living, austerity measures and taxes boiled over this month. Thousands gathered in protests that brought down the government of former prime minister Hani Mulki.
Although protesters have given new premier Omar Razzaz a grace period to repeal some of the most unpopular taxes and measures, they say they are prepared to return to the streets.
Any hint of an Israeli-Palestinian deal that does not retain Jerusalem for a Palestinian state or secure the right of return for refugees in Jordan could trigger unrest.
Despite the disagreements, Jordan and the US retain close relations at every level of government.