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Israel's Relations with Jordan Will Survive Israeli Sovereignty in the Jordan Valley

(Israel Hayom) Nadav Shragai - There is a wide discrepancy between how Jordan openly conducts itself in regards to Israel - using critical, sometimes inciting, rhetoric aimed at pacifying its Palestinian majority - and how the kingdom acts behind the scenes. Jordan enjoys economic, military, and intelligence cooperation with Israel that is often critical to its interests. Jordan also holds special status on the Temple Mount, and has in effect become Israel's silent partner in managing affairs there. The Al-Aqsa mosque holds a status of almost existential importance for Jordan, given its place in the narrative and consciousness of the Hashemite dynasty and many of the kingdom's residents. Jordan will think twice before putting that at risk. Israel's relations with the U.S. and Saudi Arabia have served Jordan well over the years, given its dependence on foreign aid. In 2018, the U.S. signed a deal to provide Jordan with $6.5 billion in military and economic aid over five years. Jordan has over the years come to accept Israel's annexation of east Jerusalem; the construction of Jewish neighborhoods there; the relocation of the American Embassy to Jerusalem; and U.S. recognition of Israeli settlements. While these developments might not be to its liking, Jordan will also survive the annexation of the Jordan Valley and Israel's settlements in Judea and Samaria. The last thing Jordan wants is to find itself shoring up a complicated border with a Palestinian state in the West Bank that would pose a threat to the sense of belonging of the kingdom's Palestinian population as well as a challenge to its government. The Jordanians prefer that the IDF remain a buffer between them and the Palestinians in the West Bank. The writer has documented Jerusalem for Ha'aretz and Israel Hayom for over thirty years.
2020-04-17 00:00:00
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