Geostrategic Media Political Commentary, Analysis, Security, Defense
Eng. Saleem Al Batayneh
Where are we heading? We no longer ask this question. What’s more important is on is what is going on. That is the real question. It is not guaranteed that we will get satisfactory answers to any of these queries, especially those vague questions. The narratives are countless and thought-provoking, and some of them are complete chapters. There are many things that happen in Jordan and there is no talk about them except for answers in negative formularies as their negation confirms the truth of what is denied. In the end, the arena was designated and occupied to rumors and gossips.
As the plans for the construction of the new city of Amman are accelerating clandestinely (based on secrecy to achieve fearing evil eyes and envy people). Very few recognize this. Yet, two writers, Rachel Ketone and Michael Provost, pointed this out.
Many people wonder how Jordan that lives on international grants and financial aid dare have the luxury of developing a new capital at an exorbitant cos at a time Jordan is facing hard economic challenges (a budget deficit, high poverty rates that exceeded expectations, terrifying unemployment…etc.). The money that will be spent on building a new city should have been used to improve the compelling living conditions and ailments of the poor provinces and areas of the kingdom.
I don’t know where to start? Ahead of us is a vague and mysterious project! It is as if the Jordanians are in a coma for not understanding what is going on around them as the coming days will shock them with more surprises. Furthermore, it sounds that there are new and bold decisions that are in line with the changes in the Jordanian stance and with the term (new Jordan) heavily marketed by the American ambassador in Amman (Henry T. Wooster). Among those decisions, according to the American newspaper’s article at the USA Today, a month ago, there will be an abolition of the decision to disengage from the West Bank. Of course, the Jordanian media will start promoting the upcoming new phase.
It is ostensible that Jordan is no longer able to withstand more to counter the political acceleration process of normalization with Israel and the American, Israeli and countries under the Abrahamic Accord, are exercising too much pressure, on the kingdom. It is apparent if Jordan will be able to withstand the scenario of the Jordanian Hashemite Custodianship over the sanctities, or if Jordan would acquiesce to the decision to disengage from the West Bank. Consequently, this manifests that Jordan has conceded the West Bank, approved the death of the two-state solution, and end of the dream of the return of Palestinian refugees to their homes simply by accepting the fait accompli to drastically liquidate the Palestinian cause.
Attempts to liquidate the Palestinian refugee issue did not stop, and all the studies, projects and plans put forward, previously and currently, aimed at dismantling the Palestinian camps in Jordan and the rest of the neighboring countries and the region and resettling them in the countries which is hosting them at present. This also entails ending the role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) which has been the prominent international witness to the plight of the Palestinians.
Gabriella Mirandas said in her report at the USA Today that meetings took place a few years ago between Jordanian officials and others in the American administration according to which Jordan was offered an opportunity to settle the remaining Palestinian refugees with the possibility of absorbing and reuniting the Palestinians residing in the camps of Syria and Lebanon and granting them Jordanian nationality and integrating them into political and economic structures in return for Washington to provide a huge aid package that will pull Jordan out of its suffocating crisis.
The writers Wayne Madsen and Seymour Hersh hailed in a report published by the New Yorker last March Jordan’s impressive role in supporting Palestinian refugees. They said that Jordan has always been one of the US most reliable partners in the Middle East, and is considered an important country that secures Israel’s interests and national intelligence. Jordan was one of the first countries to agree to Israel’s annexation of the Jordan Valley and the settlements of the West Bank, provided that the status quo in Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque is not affected.
Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former US President Donald Trump, has reappeared and confirmed that there will be no right for any Palestinian refugee to return to Israel.Kushner told the Los Angeles Times that the US peace plan (the deal of the century) is still valid and is being implemented. He said that at present, we are witnessing the implementation of its terms which call for permanent settlement of Palestinian refugees in the places where they reside so that (new cities) will be established for them in their places of settlement, the costs of which will be paid from an international fund that will be established for this purpose.
Political analysts worldwide regard the philosophy of the deal of the century as a dangerous project because it is founded on ample obliteration of the right of return, and the abolition of the international and legal dimensions of the Palestinian refugee issue by targeting UNRWA and completely abolishing the organization which has served as an international and legal cover. Thus, the issue will shift from political to economic, succumb to the American-controlled refugee fund.
What Kushner said previously is that the deal of the century will provide Jordan with funds in the form of grants, loans, and investments amounting to more than (7 billion dollars) that will be distributed over many projects, including (the Zarqa – Amman bus at a cost of $150 million, provision of water at a value of $150 million, support for alternative energy with a value of $150 million, development of the Jordan River region with a value of $250 million, loans for small and medium-sized companies through the (OPEC) program with a value of $125 million, border development in Aqaba and the Jordan Valley at a cost of $400 million, and development of Jordanian airports at a cost of $650 million. The plan also entails the development of a land port in Ma’an to serve the city’s governmental complexes and the international road at a cost of $50 million, building a resort in the north of Aqaba near the Zayed Seaport project along with developing the Aqaba city corniche and building a city for water games, hotels and beaches at a cost of $1 4 billion dollars (700 million dollars of it in the form of loans). The plan also includes support and construction of a direct railway between Aqaba and Amman to support trade and transport goods at a cost of ($1.8 billion), of which 913 million dollars will be in the form of loans for a period of ten years.
Kushner concluded his speech to the American newspaper that the Jordanian officials are now aware of everything and what Jordan is supposed to do for this purpose.
I think that while I am going to try to find out the answer to these questions, I must make it clear that the storm we are experiencing is a logical outcome of eminent sequences with the participation of all concerned players in the political landscape within the region by twitching towards Israel at high speed.
The questions that are raised in this context are much more important than the answers.
There must be transparency and disclosure because the dust instigated by some is intentional to distract people with marginal issues; such matters must be tackled by astute people. In this regard, strong signals are emanating without our awareness that manifest we are absent-minded intentionally by active players.
The future is left to the unknown. Therefore, for several reasons, we should be very careful to distinguish between what some people say and what they do! We should also distinguish between terms. In the Arabic language, terms are intertwined, but their meanings are different only separated by a very thin thread.
Finally, with a direct relationship, the questions of public opinion might rise. If all of the foregoing is true, it is so par excellence, raising a hectic question: What is next?
Former member of the Jordanian Parliament and a prominent Jordanian writer
