(Institute for Contemporary Affairs/Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Dan Diker- Israel has ended the Palestinian Authority's penetration of eastern Jerusalem and its control of the Muslim Waqf on the Temple Mount, restoring Jordanian religious administration of the Haram al-Sharif mosque compound. The expulsion of the PA from Jerusalem is the culmination of years of activity by Israeli security forces, which intensified in 2002 with arrests and expulsions of Palestinian security agents in Jerusalem's Old City, freeing Arab residents from years of murder, kidnapping, and extortion. Israel has shown great sensitivity to Hashemite lineage - King Abdullah II is believed to be a 43rd generation direct descendent of the Prophet Mohammed, and Jordan's special religious role in Jerusalem was reflected in the peace treaty between Israel and Jordan in October 1994. Jordan's and Egypt's very public participation in repairs of the Temple Mount compound sends a clear message that Arafat is not acceptable to the Arab world as the custodian of Islam's third holiest shrine. The return of Jordan's traditionally moderating influence suggests the possibilities that a stronger Jordanian-Palestinian link could offer in the management of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. For example, Jordan could become a more acceptable conduit for international aid because Palestinian institutions do not meet the standards of accountability and transparency that donors now demand. West Bank Palestinians may have to decide in the near future whether they prefer a political association with a post-disengagement Gazan leadership, which West Bankers have traditionally viewed as their inferiors, or a connection of even the most minimal sort with Jordan instead.
2004-08-06 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive