As annexation deadline passes, Jordan feels relieved but remains vigilant

Jul 3, 2020

The July 1 deadline set in March by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to begin a process of annexing up to 30% of occupied West Bank territories has come and gone, and nothing happened. There is a sense of reserved relief here in Jordan, a country whose leader, King Abdullah II, emerged as one of the most vociferous critics of the annexation, issuing on May 15 a terse warning of “a massive conflict” between Jordan and Israel “if Israel really annexed the West Bank in July.”

But even though the controversial and illegal move appears to be on hold for now, Jordan is careful not to let down its guard. During a meeting with a number of military retirees July 1, the king stressed that “Jordan’s position on the Palestinian cause remains unwavering,” reaffirming that “any unilateral Israeli measures to annex lands in the West Bank are unacceptable,” according to a Royal Court statement cited by The Jordan Times. He added, “Jordan has clearly expressed its steadfast position that such measures would undermine chances to achieve peace and stability in the region,” pointing out that the kingdom was coordinating its position with a number of Arab and European countries.

While rejecting any form of annexation, Jordan was particularly critical of plans to annex most of the Jordan Valley on the Palestinian side. By doing so, Israel would be severing any geographical connection between Jordan and what Amman sees as the future Palestinian state under the two-state solution. Jordan and the rest of the Arab countries have rejected the Donald Trump peace plan unveiled at the White House Jan. 28. The plan allowed Israel to annex Jewish settlements in the West Bank as well as the Jordan Valley, while recognizing a Palestinian state on bits and pieces of whatever remains. It sealed the fate of East Jerusalem as well as Palestinian refugees, 2 million of whom reside in Jordan.

Even as the kingdom battled the coronavirus pandemic, King Abdullah and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi conducted talks with leading Arab and European officials in a bid to build diplomatic momentum against annexation. The fact that a number of European countries had warned of “consequences” including possible economic sanctions against Israel if annexation took place is seen in Amman as the fruition of an extensive Jordanian diplomatic campaign.

On June 17, King Abdullah held conference calls with US congressional leaders underscoring the danger that Israeli annexation poses to regional stability and to the peace treaty with Israel. On June 18, more than 190 Democrats in the House of Representatives sent a letter to the Israeli government arguing that “unilateral annexation puts both Israel’s security and democracy at risk” and “would have a clear impact on Israel’s future and our vital bilateral and bipartisan relationship.”