Jordan readies for possible framework agreement

Jordan is preparing itself for a possible breakthrough in the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, brokered by US Secretary of State John Kerry. According to sources, Amman expects the United States to unveil a “framework proposal” before the end of January. Chief of the Royal Court Fayez al-Tarawneh met with journalists last week to brief them on Jordan’s stand on final status negotiations, especially on refugees, Jerusalem and the borders. The meeting was off the record, but one of the columnists attending told Al-Monitor that Tarawneh wanted to emphasize Jordan’s position ahead of local and regional reactions to the proposed deal.

The deal could still fall through if Israel’s Knesset approves a draft law proposed by a government subcommittee on Sunday to annex the strategically vital Jordan Valley, which comprises 25% of the total area of the West Bank. It is not clear how Jordan will react to such a development, which would surely derail peace talks and undermine the two-state solution. Former Prime Minister Taher al-Masri told Al-Monitor, “A just solution to the Palestinian problem is in Jordan’s best interests.” He added that Jordan has the largest number of Palestinian refugees, and therefore it wants to protect their right of return. Masri said that Jordan rejects any solution that allows Israel to maintain borders along the Jordan Valley. He added that Jordan has a vested interest in being close to the bilateral negotiation table between Israel and the Palestinians.

Tarawneh was quoted by a parliamentary bloc he met recently as saying that 40% of Palestinian refugees in the kingdom have Jordanian citizenship and that the government must assist them in exercising the right of return and receive compensation. His statement has bolstered views that Jordan wanted to safeguard the rights of its own refugees in light of any final status agreement that might be reached between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

On Jerusalem, Jordan continues to supervise Muslim holy sites, a right that is recognized in the Jordan-Israel peace treaty, and was earlier this year supported by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The Hashemite patronage of Muslim sites in East Jerusalem, which goes back to the late 1940s, is fervently defended by King Abdullah II.