Israel Matzav

Should Israel be supporting Jordan?

Asaf Romirowsky writes that Israel should be supporting Jordan's King Abdullah.

This would include boosting economic ties, for example, expanding the “Bridging the Rift” science center, a joint Israeli-Jordanian-American center backed by Stanford and Cornell where the focus lies on science providing a common language between Israeli and Jordanian students. More Israeli support would come via shared intelligence as it relates to fighting terrorism and Islamism in both countries. Both forms of support would serve Abdullah well as he attempts to illustrate how Jordan is stable and economically viable.

Beyond the above, Israel has some leverage as it relates to the shared national interest of the Jordan Valley water, which both countries deeply depend on. Israel could expand its desalination efforts in a way that benefits Jordanians. Expanding this collaboration is something Abdullah can use to stress the added value the monarchy and the peace bring to both countries.

If East Bankers and West Bankers unite under an umbrella of hatred towards Israel and the United States, the ongoing asymmetrical warfare Israel faces will only intensify. Abdullah and his monarchy are not perfect, but they remain an island of stability in a region where no one yet knows what the future holds.

I'm not feeling very warm and fuzzy about King Abdullah. I find him much more difficult than I found his father. Perhaps that is why Romirowsky - a former IDF liaison to Jordan - wrote this article.

Abdullah is making problems for Israel. He is revoking Jordanian citizenship from 'Palestinians.' He has become one of the most hysterical advocates for 'Palestinian statehood.' He insists on keeping the 'Palestinians' out of the military, while the Bedouin become more and more disenchanted with both Abdullah and the 'Palestinian' majority. He has fostered closer relations with Tehran (yes, I know, Obama is to blame for that). After 17 years of 'peace' with Israel, his media still believes that the struggle between Israel and the Arabs is existential, and the 'peace' with Jordan is about as cold as it can get.

In sum, Abdullah is a real obstacle to peace, and while that doesn't make Jordan like Syria - where anything would be better than the current government - it does mean that we ought to be open to change to a government that might improve relations with , as much of a longshot as that may be.

Labels: Bedouin, Jordanian citizenship, Jordanian King Abdullah, Jordanian-Israeli peace treaty, Palestinian state RIGHT NOW syndrome

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 6:32 PM