Palestine: Jordan gets jittery again

Al-Bahit's position did not represent the prevailing opinion in Amman according to the article.

One senior official- who spoke on condition of anonymity - reportedly told Al-Hayyat:

Jordan would welcome the decisions sealed by the negotiating process - "without any need whatsoever to sit at the negotiating table." Amman did stress, however, that it would get involved if - and only if - the talks directly harmed their interests, specifically Jordan's borders.

Abdullah cannot ignore - just seven weeks later - that the further delay in releasing the framework agreement could possibly lead to the total breakdown in negotiations between Israel and the PLO which could directly harm Jordan's national interests.

Abdullah is now in the identical position he found himself on 11 October 2006 when he told the Khaleej Times:

I really think that by the first half of 2007 we might wake up to reality and realise that the two-state solution is no longer attainable. Ithink we are really running out of time . Physically on the ground and geographically, I think there is less and less of a West Bank and Jerusalem to talk about.

He then warned:

We want to go back to the 1967 borders. We are talking about that today. Are we going to talk about that tomorrow though? This is the danger.

Abdullah recognised then that compromise would inevitably involve Israel retaining part of the West Bank - notwithstanding the PLO demanding it all.

With a negotiated two-state solution likely to fall by the wayside despite Kerry's desperate efforts to keep it alive - Abdullah is clearly aware that with less of the West Bank to talk about in 2014 than in 2006 - the PLO might attempt to overthrow Abdullah - as it unsuccessfully tried to do in 1970 with Abdullah's father - King Hussein .

Whilst Abdullah warned this week that "Jordan is Jordan and Palestine is Palestine" the PLO Charter and history ominously state otherwise.

Jordan needs a seat at that negotiating table - immediately.