Posted on 02/24/2006 7:07:49 AM PST by Sabramerican
Analysis: Did Naveh cross the Jordanian 'red line'? Orly Halpern, THE JERUSALEM POST Feb. 23, 2006
The Jordanian political and intellectual elites are outraged. Why? Because OC Central Command Maj.-Gen. Yair Naveh said Jordanians of Palestinian descent will want to overthrow their monarchy and that there are enough of them to do it.
There are three problems here from the Jordanian perspective. The first is that to even hint that the Hashemite King Abdullah II will be removed forcibly from his seat is to question the king himself. And to question the king is beyond unacceptable. It borders on profanity.
"When it comes to His Majesty it is a red line," a high-ranking Jordanian government official told The Jerusalem Post. "We cannot accept it and we reject it."
Naveh works closely with the Jordanians over security issues. When asked if Jordan will refuse to work him, the official declined to reply. "Ask the Israelis if they will keep him."
But there are other aspects to the two statements, which, true or not, are a deeply problematic to Jordanians.
As the general in charge of the area that shares a border with Jordan, Naveh is supposedly in-the-know. And if he is in the know and he says that the Jordanian regime is in danger, then maybe this is true. By announcing that as a fact he is in effect destabilizing the regime.
"He's inciting against the regime in Jordan," said Hassan Barrari, a Jordanian expert on Israeli affairs. "We don't care about intentions [of his statement], but it creates confusion among Jordanians…If this guy keeps talking like that - that the king is doomed - what message is he sending to Jordanians? He is a key person. The fact that this guy is part of security dialogue with Israel means he knows much more. So the fact that he is saying this is outrageous. People here are really angry."
Barrari, an associate at the Center for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan, said Naveh's information about Palestinians is wrong. According to the 1994 census Palestinians are 43% of the population, he said.
Nevertheless, he said, it does not matter. "They are citizens," Barrari told the Post. "To us that statement is incitement. It's like saying: 'You guys are a majority in Jordan. Why don't you rise up and take over?'"
Barrari added that the Palestinian problem "is in Palestine, not here."
Jordan, however, did have problems in 1970 when the PLO tried to take over the country. The result was a violent crackdown on them by former King Hussein which ended with thousands of Palestinians killed. Relations have since improved, but under great pressure from Israel, King Hussein forced Hamas to leave in the 1990's.
In recent years, Jordan has made a concerted effort to make all of the Palestinians living within its borders equal members of society. Unlike other Arab countries to which Palestinian refugees escaped, in Jordan Palestinians were given citizenship. Recently, the government started a campaign called "Jordan First" meant to make people feel that the Jordanian nationality is the first identity of all citizens.
Barrari said the statements are considered by the elite not only disrespectful and dangerous, but opposing peace.
"This is the second time such a thing is happening," he said. "The first was when Dani Yatom sent his agents to assassinate Khaled Mashaal. We are asking Israelis: do you really want peace? And if you do, why do you put these people to work with us? I love Israelis and I want to have peace with them and then they put this guy on the other side of the river."
Truthful analysis is not allowed.
Remember that you read it here first (on the day Hamas won) that your favorite King was going to lose his kingdom.
You now have an advantage over the State Dept. When it occurs they will be surprised- unlike you.
Not the smartest statement to make, unfortunately accurate which makes it hurt worse.
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Dude, Jordan is Palestine. Is that some kind of secret?
What he said was true, unfortunately. But is was not prudent to say so openly; I'm sure the King and his security services are well aware of the problem.
Well, the West Bank including East Jerusalem I believe used to be Jordan. I doubt that the people living there now would want to be part of Jordan again, they want their own country. It would probably be better actually if Israel gave it back to Jordan.
First of all, Jordan was created out of thin air by the British in 2/3's of "Palestine".
Second, the "West Bank" was never Jordan's. They grabbed it in the 1948 war against Israel and they're control of it was recognized only by Pakistan and Britain (which was complicitous).
On FR, there are too many people who do know history for folks like you to write your nonsense without challenge.
And by the way, when Jordan did control the area, Jews were not even allowed to visit the Western Wall and Jewish holy sites and cemeteries were destroyed.
they're = their
When Al Queda took its first publicized action in Jordan - the bombing last year at a Marriot hotel in Amman - I recognized then that that act was likely to be seen, historically, as the opening shot in a formal link-up of Al Queda and Hamas to bring down the Jordanian government, expand terroristic, Islamo-fascist 'Palestinian' control to all of Jordan, while at the same time insuring and expanding the terroristic abilities of the Salafists and Al Queda groups operating in Iraq.
The link-up is more important to Al Queda and Hamas, in the current phase, than any fundamental (no pun intended) differences they may have. Al Queda needs a safe haven next to Iraq or it will not survive there and Hamas does not need a relatively peaceful Jordan that Palestinians could come to see as a viable alternative to an Islamo-fascist, Hamas run "Palestine".
Jordan knows it is walking a tightrope and Hamas hopes to set enough fires at both ends of that rope, so that the Jordanian government collapses.
I expect Hamas, in its current "we won" arrogant phase, to actually, publicly concur, in some form or another, with the Israeli general's view of Jordan's problem.
I don't know your purpose or motivation but you hit the nail, and the truth, on the head.
When Jordan was created out of two third of "Palestine" the inhabitants were Arabs/Bedouin. The use of the name "Palestinian" for Arabs had not been yet invented.
At the time only Jews were called Palestinians.
But the Arab makeup of most of the Jordanians and those Arabs across the river who now call themselves "Palestinians" is identical. And the Queen is "Palestinian".
Thanks for providing clear facts and keen insights on this and other issues relating to Israel.
Thanks. I also have keen insights on domestic issues but there are only so many hours in the day. ;-)
Israel was created out of thin air too.
And by the way, when Jordan did control the area, Jews were not even allowed to visit the Western Wall and Jewish holy sites and cemeteries were destroyed.
I know. I would rather have Israel run it than the arabs.
I am not anti-Israel, you don't have to be so defensive.
Israel was created the way most nations were created including the United States. By people fighting for its existence.
The partition vote at the UN would have been null and void had Israel not won its war for Independence.
As best I understand the Hashemites (the non Palestinians in Jordan) were largely from Saudi Arabia. They lost out to the Saud clan and were forced out of Saudi Arabia. The Brits had backed them and gave them Jordan to help them out.
When people speak of ethnic Palestinians I wonder if there is such a thing. How many are of Egyptian, Syrian, Hashemite, Beduin, etc. backgrounds. Are the people in Gaza the same as the ones in the West Bank? I still supsect Palestinian identity means little aside from wanting to kill Jews.
It will make for one hell of an "I told you so" when King hussein finds himself looking for a freindly country to live out his exile in. That is if he lives long enough to go into exile. Perhaps the isrealis will be gracious enough to provide him with a villa on the med. Near Gaza maybe.
Trying to raise my blood pressure and impair my health again. Naughty.
Anyone who thinks that the monarchy in Jordan will survive in then long term is not thinking seriously about the future.
The Arabs have shown an intense dislike of kings who were forced upon them by outside powers, and the current dynasty was put on the throne with the support of the British.
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