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King Abdullah II of Jordan (file)
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| By israelinsider staff May 12, 2007 |
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There are unconfirmed reports that Abdullah II, head of the Hashemite Kingdom, is exploring a new confederation linking Jordan and the Palestinian Authority as a run up to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. The proposed link, first reported by Debkafile, would differ markedly from the previous arrangement that preceded Jordanian annexaton of the "West Bank" prior to the 1967 war.
Former Jordanian prime minister Abdul Salem Majali, who led the negotiations which culminated in the 1994 peace accord with Israel, has reportedly presented an outline of the arrangement to Israeli and Palestinian leaders. The King's rare visit to the PA to meet with Mahmoud Abbas is intended to advance these talks. Abdullah is scheduled to meet with Israeli PM Olmert in the coming days in Petra.
The driving force for the talks from the Jordanian perspective is deep concern about instability in the Hashemite Kingdom as the Palestinian Authority descends into chaos and refugees are expected to flood into Jordan following the start of the anticipated US troop withdrawal from Iraq in the late summer. Jordan evidently believes that a confederate relationship with the PA will lure Israel into a less adversarial position with respect to the Hamas-led Palestinian government, and may even lead to its recognition and lifting of economic sanctions against it.
Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Debkafile claims, are not in favor of the proposed links, undercutting as it does their own influence in the region. Discussions of the Saudi diplomatic initiative are the "cover story" for the diplomatic activity, but the substance is focused on a new Jordanian role in "birthing" a Palestinian state.
The plan has reportedly been presented to Israeli political factions from left to right. Debkafile said that Olmert assigned Kadima member of the Knesset foreign affairs committee Othniel Schneller to discuss the initiative with Majali. Schneller, a former leader in the Israeli settlement movement, then presented to various Israeli politicians, from the left-wing Meretz leader Yossi Beilin to the right-wing minister of Israeli Beitenu, Avigdor Lieberman.
The King has not yet approved the plan, but it reportedly has support among the heads of Jordan?s security services. The primary purpose of today's visit would be to work out the details of the possible new confederation and to establish the guidelines of demands on Israel for the contours of the future Palestinian state in preparation for talks with Israeli officials in the coming days.
On Thursday, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni met with her Egyptian and Jordanian counterparts in Cairo, reportedly to discuss the Saudi Plan. On Friday, Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres said Israel should accept the plan as the basis for peace talks, the clearest yet statement that Israel may be willing to enter into negotiations on the plan.
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