Rami Dabbas – Is Jordan against Saudi-Israeli peace, or is it a game of interests?
There are serious concerns in Jordan about the conclusion of a peace agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia at the expense of Jordan’s interest, and Jordan’s fear of the impact of the peace agreement on Jordan’s guardianship over the holy sites in Jerusalem.
Whereas Jordanian officials recently issued statements expressing those fears of a Saudi-Israeli peace contract, the King of Jordan renewed during the opening of the House of Representatives sessions near one month ago, his country’s commitment to defend the Hashemite guardianship of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
The Jordanian king said that this guardianship is a duty, commitment, firm belief and responsibility that we have undertaken with pride towards it. For more than a hundred years, we will not accept any attempts to change its historical and legal status quo, nor attempts to divide the time or space of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
As despite these statements ostensibly directed at Israel, however, they also send a message to Saudi Arabia and America that there should be no upcoming peace agreement.
An “expensive” price tag for Jordan
Of course, the question that arises is what the Saudis will get in exchange for peace, and will the price be for Riyadh to oversee all the holy sites for Muslims, as it is responsible for the two holiest cities currently among Muslims, Mecca and Madinah.
Recent Saudi initiatives, including a refusal to recognize Jordan’s role in Jerusalem and a pledge of $ 150 million to support Islamic endowments there, indicate that Riyadh is seeking to play a greater role in the city, or at least aim to undermine Hashemite influence.
The Hashemites who lost the tutelage over Mecca and Medina after the establishment of the Saudi state had seen the guardianship over Jerusalem as compensation for what they lost, and therefore, since the establishment of the Kingdom of Jordan about 100 years ago, they have been concerned with and restored Al Aqsa, before they were granted guardianship over Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem Actually, from the year 1948 after the establishment of the State of Israel.
By the year 1988, Jordan was tired of competing with the Palestine Liberation Organization for influence in the West Bank, so King Hussein officially cut off the administrative and legal connection with it, but excluded Jerusalem from the decision to disengage.
In 1994, the peace agreement between Jordan and Israel helped strengthen the Hashemite guardianship of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
In 2013, the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, affirmed Jordan’s role as the protector of these sanctities.
Does Riyadh take the role of Jordan?
As more Arab countries normalize relations with Israel or express their willingness to do so, Jordan has become increasingly concerned that the deal might spur Saudi recognition of Israel in exchange for Riyadh taking on the historic role of the Hashemites as custodian of holy sites.
Whereas, stripping Jordan of its traditional role in Jerusalem and replacing it with Saudi Arabia may cost a heavy price, as Israel and the United States have always viewed the regime in Amman as a pillar of stability in an unstable region.
Jordan is expected to play a major role in any final solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, given that it has a strategic interest in achieving stability and prosperity west of the Jordan River. Therefore, fundamental changes to the status quo in Jerusalem could harm relations with Israel and the United States as well as harm Relationships between different population groups in Jordan, weaken Jordan’s moderate role in favor of a peaceful solution in the region, and lead to undesirable consequences for regional peace and security.
Likewise, if the United States and Israel view Jordan as a strategic partner, then they should realize Amman’s location in Jerusalem and its strategic interests.
In conclusion, reaffirming these positions and recognizing Jordan as a reliable ally could go a long way and help alleviate doubts within the Hashemite Kingdom that resolving the conflict could come at Jordan’s expense.
What Jordanian Street opinion on Israeli-Saudi Peace?
Abdullah Swalha Founder and Director of the Center for Israel Studies in Amman, Jordan the Israeli occupation – as he described – is trying to liquidate the Palestinian issue at the expense of Jordan and Palestine through the Israeli-Saudi peace, changing the guardianship in Jerusalem in favor of Saudi Arabia and implementing its agenda, the Deal of the Century, calling for “adherence to the unity of all sides, and closing The doors of sedition for those trying to promote it.
However, former Saud Sharafat founder and chairman of the and founder for the Study of Globalization and Terrorism told Israel today, explaining that Israel does not want any Palestinian state, and Israel does not want the continued existence of a Palestinian majority inside the West Bank, and stressed that the Custodianship is Hashemite and that he is against changing the guardianship in favor of any other party.
As for the writer and political analyst, Jamil Al-Nimri, he said, There is a great fear that Jordan will be under great pressure and does not have the means to confront this deal, especially after the news that clarified the possibility of Israel and Saudi Arabia to conclude a peace agreement.” But he suggested, Amman will not agree to any deal that disguises itself Of Palestinian rights, “explaining that the lack of approval by the Palestinian side necessarily means that Jordan does not agree to them and he affirmed that The Custodianship over Holy Sites in Jerusalem belongs to Hashimites.
What Saudi Opinion over this case ?
Years ago, a Saudi parliamentary delegation violated the “Jordanian and Hashemite tutelage” related to the meeting of the Arab Parliamentary Conference.
The scenes of the Arab Parliamentary Union meeting that took place in Morocco witnessed “differences” that had never been publicly raised between the Jordanian participants and their counterparts from Saudi Arabia.
The title of the main dispute relates to a phrase related to the affirmation of Jordan’s mandate and custody of the endowments and Islamic and Christian holy sites in occupied Jerusalem.
It was learned that the Saudi delegation participating in the 24th session of the Union vehemently objected to the Jordanian delegation’s desire to talk about affirming the Jordanian Hashemite guardianship of Jerusalem. The Jordanian authorities have not yet known the reasons and backgrounds for the Saudi objection, which clearly showed the existence of official differences or abnormal relations between Amman and Riyadh.
The Saudi delegation at the meeting tried to object, enthusiastically, to the idea of Jordanian tutelage, proposing to give the issue a broader “Islamic dimension”.
However, the Saudi position aroused Oman’s attention and concern, especially since it was the first time that the Saudis announced in regional parliamentary meetings their objection to “the Jordanian role in Jerusalem.”
My Opinion
In conclusion, I think that the King of Jordan has interests in Jerusalem as a historical Custodianship , but he is standing against peace between the Islamic world represented by Saudi Arabia and Israel. This peace, which if it occurs, will have many dimensions, including agreements with most of the Islamic world, which will lead to the establishment of a comprehensive peace with the Palestinians and other countries sinceThe Islamic world is led by Saudi Arabia.
Rami Dabbas is a rare, outspoken advocate Arab for Israel fighting against terrorism. Rami is a former Muslim who became a Christian Zionist. Based in Jordan, he joined anti-Islam activities at university after leaving Islam in 2012. Rami studied civil engineering and is now a human rights activist fighting against Sharia Law, radical Islamic terrorism & Arab nationalism.
Rami is a political writer involved in Christian and pro-Israel advocacy. He is affiliated with groups like Pegida Canada and Jihad Watch which is a part of the LA-based think tank ”David Horowitz Freedom Center.” He also serves as a peace campaigner promoting normalization between Israel and the Arabs. In addition to the Voice of Europe & JihadWatch.org Rami also writes for the NY-based journal and news-site The Algemeiner and the Times of Israel.
His passion is to promote peace between Arabs and Israel following in the footsteps of the late Jordanian King Hussein who made peace with the Jewish State in 1994.
As a pro-Israel advocate, Rami connects in his home country Jordan with many NGOs and think-tanks that promote peace with Israel and work with counter-Jihad organizations.
Rami gives Israel Today readers a unique Arab Christian perspective on events in and around the Middle East. Here is the link for more of Rami Dabbas
