Is Jordan Palestine?

• Published in: Israel affairs Vol. 9; no. 3; pp. 49 - 66
• Main Author: Israeli, Raphael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 01.04.2003
• Subjects: Arab Israeli Relations; Arab-Israeli conflict; Borders; Conflict Resolution; International relations; Intifada; Israel; Jordan; Palestinians; Regional studies; State; State formation; Territory; West Bank
• ISSN: 1353-7121; 1743-9086
• DOI: 10.1080/13537120412331321523

Following the June 1967 war, two contenders stood on the international scene competing over rights in West Bank: Jordan, which continued to claim it by virtue of its having constituted part of the Kingdom until 1967, & Israel, which occupied it & was now its master. Following intifada, King Hussein was eager to gain legitimacy from Israel over the East Bank of the Jordan, which remained under his rule & which his grandfather had dubbed Jordan. Fearing that Israel's grip on the West Bank would push the Palestinians to fulfill their independence in his own Kingdom, as they had attempted in 1970, he approached the eager Israelis for a settlement by which his rule was recognized & confirmed by Israel, & leaving it to contend with the Palestinians by itself. Unfortunately the West Bank could provide at the most a solution to the one-third of the Palestinian people dwelling there, leaving the rest untouched. Thus Jordan, the home of half the Palestinian people, became once again part of the solution, & not only part of the problem. Can a solution be found to the Palestinian problem, presumably in the Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine, which can satisfy both Palestinian aspirations for statehood & the Hashemite craving for a throne? Adapted from the source document.