(Saban Center for Middle East Policy/Brookings Institution) Gal Luft - With the decline of the Iraqi military, in the short run the threat of an eastern front against Israel no longer exists, but it is premature to assume that the threat from the east has been permanently removed. There are still several unknowns including the nature of the new Iraqi regime. The Jordan River Valley separates the future Palestinian state from Jordan in case the Palestinians ever try to undermine and topple the Jordanian monarchy. Therefore, Israeli presence along the Jordan River is of critical importance to the security and stability of the Hashemite regime. Additionally, a joint Jordanian-Palestinian border and Palestinian control over the bridges of the Jordan River would allow the Palestinians to import heavy weapons, terrorists, and military reinforcements from abroad.
2004-04-13 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive