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“Jordan: Between the Hammer and the Anvil” – New Research Contribution by the Politics and Society Institute
Monday, September 8, 2025
Hasan Jaber, researcher at the Politics and Society Institute, has published a chapter in the book “The Future of the Occupation of the Palestinian Territories after Gaza: Scenarios, Stakeholders, and Solutions”, released in English by the academic publisher Palgrave Macmillan, specialized in the humanities and social sciences.
The book examines four key themes: outlining possible scenarios for the future of the Israeli occupation, analyzing the interests of main actors such as the United States, Israel, Hamas, and Fatah, assessing the role of regional powers like Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Hezbollah, and proposing strategic measures to advance dialogue towards ending the occupation through peaceful and humanitarian means.
In his chapter, titled “Jordan: Between the Hammer and the Anvil”, Jaber explores the delicate position of Jordan—balancing support for Palestinian rights and national interests while facing regional and international pressures, including its strategic partnership with the United States. The chapter begins by tracing the historical and “organic” ties between Jordan and Palestine—political, economic, and social—starting from the Arab Revolt led by Sharif Hussein bin Ali, through the Sykes-Picot Agreement and the Balfour Declaration, to the establishment of the Emirate of Transjordan in 1921 and the strong relations between the Hashemite leadership and Palestinian elites. It also covers the unification of the West Bank with Jordan after the Jericho Conference of 1949 and the subsequent loss of the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1967.
Jaber highlights Jordan’s policies amid Israeli settlement expansion, the rise of the Israeli far right, and the outbreak of the Second Intifada. Jordan has consistently maintained its support for a two-state solution and Palestinian rights while emphasizing domestic stability and its Hashemite custodianship over Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. These overlapping domestic and foreign policy considerations became even more pressing after the October 7, 2023 Gaza events, which intensified border security concerns, deepened Jordan’s partnership with the United States, and fueled nationwide debates on strategy.
The chapter also discusses Jordan’s shuttle diplomacy to stop the war in Gaza, the escalation of its rhetoric toward Israel, and the widespread public solidarity movements demanding an end to the war—posing a challenge for the government to balance popular demands with diplomatic relations.
From a humanitarian perspective, Jordan reinforced its presence by sending aid and establishing field hospitals in the West Bank and Gaza, reiterating that the post–October 7 developments confirm earlier warnings about the dangers of Israeli extremist policies and their rejection of a just solution to the Palestinian issue. Jordan has consistently underlined its Hashemite custodianship over holy sites in Jerusalem and has declared forced displacement of Palestinians a red line, tantamount to an act of war.
The chapter concludes by outlining several strategic scenarios for strengthening Jordan’s role regarding the Palestinian cause. These include intensifying political and security coordination with the Palestinian Authority, activating Arab and international diplomacy to curb Israeli escalation, mobilizing efforts to prevent further annexation of Palestinian lands, and initiating renewed domestic dialogue to build a unified national consensus on Jordan’s priorities. In practice, Jordan continues to balance its enduring support for Palestinian rights, the Hashemite custodianship of holy sites, domestic stability, and international relations in the face of ongoing challenges posed by the rise of the Israeli far right and the consequences of the Gaza war.
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