With Israel-Jordan Relations at an All-Time Low, the Countries Aren't Likely to Cooperate in the West Bank

In his thoughtful essay, Elliott Abrams puts forward a compelling articulation of the obstacles that have stood in the way of the formation of a Palestinian state, and which continue to do so. As a possible alternative to the two-state solution, Abrams brings up the possibility of a Jordanian-Palestinian confederation turning the Palestinian West Bank territories into a semi-autonomous entity within Jordan. It is this proposal that I wish to focus on. Variations of the Jordanian option have been raised by figures on almost every side of the conflict over the years. For all the points Abrams raises in its favor, it still presents nearly insurmountable hurdles, perhaps none more difficult than the ongoing erosion of the Israel-Jordan relationship.

To begin with, Jordan’s King Abdullah has of late been uncharacteristically pointed in his criticism of Israel. Following Israel’s September 9 attack on Hamas’s leadership in Qatar, the king joined 56 other countries at the September 15 Arab-Islamic summit in calling for tougher measures against the Jewish state. He also called the attack “proof that the Israeli threat has no limits,” and advocated for a “clear, decisive, and deterrent” response. He urged his colleagues to “review all our tools of joint action to confront the threat of this extremist Israeli government.” 

Just days later, during his September 23 speech before the UN General Assembly, King Abdullah again centered his remarks on Israel. His criticisms focused on the Israeli government’s threats of annexation and settlement expansion in the West Bank, its alleged complicity in the desecration of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, and on its “provocative calls for a so-called ‘Greater Israel.’” In light of all this bad behavior, the king said, “the international community must stop entertaining the illusion that this [Israeli] government is a willing partner for peace.”