Middle East Press On: Arab Society, Israel, Hamas, Trump, Gaza, Netanyahu, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan: New Age Islam's Selection, 10 February 2025
By New Age Islam Edit Desk
10 Feb 20205
1. Crime and violence in Arab society: It’s a danger to all of Israeli society
2. Israel must help Gen Z see Hamas for what they are, a terrorist org
3. Even before the war: 44% of young Gazans considered emigrating
4. Trump's Gaza relocation plan: Science fiction, ingenious plan, or triggering new idea?
5. Netanyahu is becoming Israel’s worst enemy
6. Why Saudi Arabia insists on a Palestinian state
7. Transfer of Palestinians an existential threat to Jordan
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Crime and Violence In Arab Society: It’s A Danger To All Of Israeli Society
By Suleiman Al-Amour
February 10, 2025
The recent wave of violence in Arab society – six people murdered in a single day, including a 14-year-old boy caught in a crossfire between criminals – has once again highlighted a harsh reality. These are not isolated tragedies but a sign of a failing system that allows violence to flourish unchecked.
Working closely with young people aged 16-24, I see firsthand how this violence destroys lives. These should be the years when young people focus on education, employment, and building their future. Instead, many live in fear, trapped in a cycle of inaction that too often leads to crime and further violence.
Some claim that Arab society is to blame for this crisis. However, research proves there is no cultural or religious link to crime rates. Up to 80% of murders in Arab communities are tied to organized crime. Local authorities, civil organizations, and families alone cannot eliminate this problem.
The police can but only if the government makes it a priority. While Israel’s police commissioner travels to the US to teach crime-fighting strategies, we ask: Where are these efforts here at home, particularly in Arab communities?
As long as fear controls the streets, programs meant to integrate young Arabs into Israeli society become meaningless. What good are education and job opportunities if simply boarding a bus or visiting a clinic can turn into a deadly encounter? Arab society has become a battleground, and the state continues to ignore this bloodshed.
Israel crisis
This is not a local issue – it is a national crisis.
This violence will not remain within Arab society. It is already spilling into mixed cities and Jewish neighborhoods, affecting the security of all Israelis. Today, it is an Arab teenager; tomorrow, it could be a Jewish family facing the same brutality. By neglecting this issue, the state enables crime to spread, undermining the safety of the entire nation.
Beyond the crime itself, public indifference makes the situation even worse. Too many young people see violence as an unavoidable part of daily life. If we do not offer real alternatives – quality education, social frameworks, and hope for the future – the situation will continue to deteriorate.
The government must take immediate action. Police presence must increase, but not through aggressive force. Instead, law enforcement must work in cooperation with civil society, acting as both a deterrent and a protector. Educational programs should also be implemented to raise awareness and equip young people with the tools to avoid violence.
Comprehensive reforms are essential to restoring security. Investments must be made in social infrastructure, economic support must be expanded for struggling families, and safe spaces must be created where young people can find support and opportunity. Many Arab youths feel trapped without clear educational or employment prospects. As long as this reality persists, violence will only grow.
Israeli society must also take collective responsibility. Violence in Arab communities is not just “their problem” – it is a problem for all of us. A society where citizens live in fear is a failing society. We must act together – government institutions, civil organizations, and local communities – to stop this cycle of bloodshed.
Solving this crisis requires cooperation with Arab leadership. The government must listen to voices within the community, work alongside local leaders, and address both crime and its root causes. When young people see a future ahead of them, they will not turn to violence.
This is not just an Arab problem. It is a danger to all Israeli citizens. If the government does not act now, the consequences will be devastating for everyone. I call on the government, law enforcement, and Israeli society: do not stand idly by. Do not allow the next murder to happen. Invest in life, security, and hope –for all of us.
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-841364
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Israel Must Help Gen Z See Hamas for What They Are, A Terrorist Org
By Chloe Sparwath
February 10, 2025
I am a proud American Gen Z-er, but sometimes I want to grab my generation by the shoulders and scream, “Wake up!”
We are the most progressive generation to reach adulthood in the United States, yet swaths of us are fangirling over one of the most backward, sexist, homophobic, and violent regimes on earth: The Islamic Republic of Iran, and their barbaric proxy Hamas. Our longing for a worthy cause to champion mixed with Islamic Regime propaganda has clouded our collective judgment.
Hamas knows this, and they are mastermind gas lighters who manipulate people my age online into believing that they are victims and “freedom fighters.”
Since the start of the current hostage deal, Hamas has produced videos showing young female hostages being paraded around on stage in front of a jeering crowd of armed men, and being escorted into vans while men scream at them and bang on the cars.
While this footage made me feel sick, there are already people claiming that the women look well-fed and taken care of. Hamas made sure to dress them up in mock IDF uniforms (they were kidnapped in their pyjamas), hand them “goodie” bags, and have them smile and wave at the crowd.
People are already forgetting, or purposely omitting, how these women looked when they were first kidnapped by Hamas: covered in blood, limping, and being pulled by the hair, while terrorists called them “dogs” and “sex slaves.”
While these hostages coming home is cause for celebration, we cannot allow the world to forget or rewrite the history of what happened to these women on October 7. We also cannot stop advocating for the release of the rest of the hostages. There are three living American hostages, and every American should be shouting from the rooftops for their release.
We need to support Israel and spread awareness about the hostages while improving at spreading the pro-Israel message effectively.
The release of the American hostages should be framed as an issue of patriotism.
Hamas’s treatment of women is a feminist issue, and we are finally starting to see more people, including celebrities, such as Gwyneth Paltrow speak out.
The hostage issue is a human issue that everyone should care about. However, the reality is that Hamas and Iran are winning the media war. Pro-Israel activists need to be strategic about framing the issues in ways that speak to different audiences.
The opinions of Gen Z heavily influence today’s social media tone, so winning the war of disseminating information is key.
The morally correct victim
THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN issue is currently being framed as a David and Goliath situation.
The Palestinians are viewed as the smaller, weaker, underdog hero, a David, against Israel as the stronger, bigger, and evil Goliath. The current line of thinking with 20-somethings seems to be that strong and powerful is, by definition, bad. The weak team is automatically the morally correct victim.
This skewed perception of right and wrong is made worse by the fact that with the David and Goliath situation in the Middle East, the parallel is not between Israel and the Palestinians but between Israel and Iran and its many proxies.
Spoiler alert: Israel is not Goliath.
Israel is not at war with a tiny, struggling, ragtag group of resistant fighters who are oppressed.
The tiny Jewish State the size of New Jersey is fighting for survival in its indigenous and ancestral homeland while surrounded by Muslim-majority nations, many of whom want to see its complete destruction. There is one Jewish state, but 57 Islamic states worldwide.
Gen Z loves to support minority groups; we need to remind them who that is. Gen Z is also staunchly opposed to imperialism. Iran is a gargantuan, wealthy power player that is arguably the world’s biggest source of state-sponsored terror, with terror proxy groups all over the Middle East, several of which were formed solely to rid the world of its only Jewish state.
To my peers who want to do good: Supporting the Jewish people’s right to sovereignty in its historic national homeland is good. To understand Jewish history is to witness the first successful anti-imperialist movement in returning a people to its aboriginal homeland in modern history.
Supporting Iran and its terror groups is not good; not for Jews, not for Muslims, not for women, not for the LGBTQ+ community, or anyone else.
Gen Z, when someone tells you who they are, believe them.
Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah have told us and showed us who they are. They hate you for your way of life, they openly say that the West and the United States are next, and they will take advantage of your good intentions to push their agenda.
It is undoubtedly trendy to be anti-West at the moment, but trendy does not always equate to moral or just.
My plea to Gen Z-ers is to do a bit of research and come to your own conclusions. You will see that standing with Israel is standing with your worldview and principles. Understanding Israel’s story requires a little more work and context. Nevertheless, it is worth it, because the wider the lens, the clearer it becomes who is on the side of right and justice.
Israel’s opponents know that one line, a single image, or a soundbite can affect a lifetime of opinion. Gen Z-ers, please don’t automatically accept the assumptions of a slew of Instagram posts.
Learn the story, the history, the facts, and the context. It is worth it because if you do, you can stand proudly with the Jewish state, in line with your values and ideals.
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-841368
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Even Before The War: 44% Of Young Gazans Considered Emigrating
By Itamar Marcus
February 10, 2025
The question being asked today around the world is whether President Donald Trump’s plan to resettle Gazans in other countries can succeed. Judging by a poll taken just prior to the war, before much of Gaza was destroyed, Trump’s proposal is reasonable.
The poll by the top Palestinian polling agency, the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research, found that a full 44% of Gazan youth between the ages of 18-29 were considering emigrating. Nearly a third (31%) of the entire population considered emigrating.
Gazans’ “most preferred destination for immigration is Turkey, followed by Germany, Canada, the United States, and Qatar,” the poll found.
The largest percentage said they want to leave for economic reasons; second and third reasons are “political” or educational opportunities. The fourth reason is security, and the fifth is corruption.
Since such a large number wanted to leave when there was no war and no destruction, there is no doubt that today, the numbers will be much higher.
Facing years of life in tents and rubble, breathing dust and hearing endless construction noise, the number wanting to leave today, especially among the youth who desire to start a life and build a future, will be far above 50%.
PA and Hamas will reject the plan
Two important things must be noted: Firstly, the Palestinian Authority and Hamas undoubtedly will reject this plan for political reasons, even though it is best for the residents. Neither the Palestinian Authority nor Hamas has put the good of its people ahead of political considerations. They will fight it in every possible way.
Secondly, if pollsters ask Palestinians what they want now, they might not choose emigration because of fear of being called traitors.
Accordingly, if Trump wants his plan to succeed, he must bypass the Palestinian Authority and Hamas and work directly with the people. Gazans who choose to leave must be guaranteed secrecy and protection during the process.
Once people start leaving, those left behind will feel jealous of those already out of the Gaza hell. Once those who are resettled start sending messages about their new lives and pictures of their new homes, the floodgates will open.
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-841362
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Trump's Gaza Relocation Plan: Science Fiction, Ingenious Plan, Or Triggering New Idea?
By Susan Hattis Rolef
February 10, 2025
Last Tuesday, US President Donald Trump unexpectedly threw what at first sight seemed like a brilliant solution – the result of thinking outside the box – into the very complex Middle Eastern political arena.
Basically, what he offered was that after Israel finishes all its business in the Gaza Strip – namely, bringing all the hostages back home and defeating Hamas, and peace can be restored to the region – the US would take over the territory, which would be handed over to it by Israel.
This would take place before or after all the rubble of the destroyed remains of 70% of the buildings and infrastructures in the Strip is cleared, and either before or after all or most of the Gazans would be transferred voluntarily to alternative locations around the world.
The US would then undertake a project to create a magnificent tourist Riviera in its place. Apparently, Israel, and not the US, would be responsible for security in the Gaza Strip, and the wealthy Arab Gulf states and Saudi Arabia would cover the project’s costs, though according to various statements by members of Trump’s staff – perhaps not.
According to all the public opinion polls about the reaction of the Israeli public to Trump’s bombshell, over 70% of Jewish Israelis favour the outline. The reason for such positive reactions in Israel is that it purports to permanently remove Hamas and the problematic Gazan population from Israel’s southwestern border, while providing a stable and lucrative foothold to the US in our region – right along our border.
The plan also raises hopes among those who dream of renewed Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip, that this activity might be facilitated under American auspices, though Trump himself does not seem to consider Jewish settlement to be part of his vision.
Arguments against Trump's plan
THOSE WHO object to the outline do so for either ideological or practical reasons, or both.
One major argument is that though there might be quite a few Gazans who would be happy to leave the Strip and move elsewhere to start new lives (between the assumption of power by Hamas in the Gaza Strip in 2007 until the outbreak of the current war in October 2023, 250-350,000 Gazans migrated from Gaza), the majority are unlikely to accept such a movement voluntarily.
According to international law, a voluntary transfer is acceptable, and there are numerous historical examples of such transfers having taken place in various regions in the world. However, an involuntary transfer is considered contrary to international law.
Another issue that a transfer, voluntary or involuntary, raises is to where around two million Gazans will actually go. Trump seems to believe that Sunni Egypt and Sunni Jordan are realistic potential destinations. The Gazan Palestinians, whether their ancestors came from Gaza, or were refugees created during the 1948/49 Arab-Israeli war, are overwhelmingly Sunni Muslims.
However, both Egypt and Jordan reject out of hand the absorption of more than a handful of Gazan Palestinians, both because these two countries are already overcrowded, and because an injection of large numbers of Gazans into their territories is viewed by their leaders as a danger.
In the case of Egypt, it is because the current al-Sisi regime views the Sunni Muslim Brotherhood, from whose midst Hamas emerged, as an enemy, while the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, since its creation in British Mandatory times, already contains a Palestinian majority, which, together with more recent refugees from Iraq and Syria, is viewed as a destabilizing factor.
From an Israeli perspective, the thought of the destabilization of its two neighbours with which it has written peace agreements and very long borders is not a welcome prospect.
Other predominantly Sunni states mentioned as potential hosts for a Gazan transfer, including Indonesia in Central Asia and Albania in Eastern Europe, are not really viewed as serious targets for the massive immigration of Gazan Palestinians.
West European and North American states, which might be favoured by the potential transferees, also cannot be viewed as viable potential targets, because they are all suffering from strong anti-immigration sentiments when it comes to third world immigrants in general, and Muslim immigrants in particular.
Still, the problems with the plan are not only connected to the Gazan population concerned. The plan requires Israel to perform acts that it is not legally qualified to perform, or that are likely to clash with other policy goals.
Trump’s plan of turning the Gaza Strip into a riviera is based on Israel handing it over to US hands after reconquering it in its entirety, after having withdrawn from most of it because of the need to divert forces to other foci of the war, and now within the framework of the hostage agreement with Hamas. However, on the basis of international law, Israel does not own the Strip, and has no right to hand it over to anyone, besides the Palestinians.
In addition, the timing of Trump’s declaration about his plan is also problematic in terms of the return of the hostages. The timing was apparently designed to help Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sort out political difficulties with some of his coalition partners, by offering them something that might pacify those who are adamantly opposed to the war ending before Hamas is totally defeated.
However, the declaration came before the first round of the current hostage agreement has ended, and before the terms of the second round have been negotiated.
It is feared, among those circles in Israel who consider the return of the live hostages before they all perish to be the most important issue on Israel’s agenda at the moment, that if Hamas will reach the conclusion that Trump is serious about his transfer plans, it might decide not only to refuse to negotiate another round of the agreement, but might actually stop the implementation of the current round.
Though Netanyahu might not grieve over the premature ending of the hostage agreement at this stage, because it destabilizes his government, if we have learned anything from the poor physical condition of Eli Sharabi, Or Levy, and Ohad Ben Ami, who returned from captivity on Saturday, it is that the lives of the remaining live hostages are truly in danger. Hopefully, Netanyahu will be convinced of this as well.
If, in the final reckoning, Trump’s outline fails to materialize for all or part of the reasons mentioned, it might nevertheless end up having at least one welcome result, which is the opening of a new round of regional talks about innovative solutions to the Palestinian problem, and Middle East peace, which bypass all the failed efforts of the past.
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-841354
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Netanyahu Is Becoming Israel’s Worst Enemy
Faisal J. Abbas
February 09, 2025
Just 20 minutes or so after US President Donald Trump had finished his joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last Tuesday, a Saudi statement was issued reiterating the Kingdom’s position on the prospect of normalization with Israel. It stated that Saudi Arabia “will continue its relentless efforts to establish an independent Palestinian state … and will not establish diplomatic relations without that.” It added: “This unwavering position is not subject to compromises.”
The bottom line was clear: Palestinian rights are “nonnegotiable.”
Both the language used and the quick turnaround of the statement were a clear signal of Riyadh’s stern position. Both the White House press secretary and the secretary of state attempted to water it down, while Trump eventually said he was in no hurry to implement his proposal. Many countries around the world, including the UK and many other European countries, reiterated their support for the two-state solution. It seems the message from the regional religious, political and economic powerhouse was understood, unless — of course — your name is Benjamin Netanyahu.
Rather than getting the hint, the occupier-in-chief (Netanyahu) decided to double down, suggesting in a televised “interview” (if whatever Israeli Channel 14 broadcasts can be described as such) that “the Saudis can create a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia; they have a lot of land over there.”
Of course, it is easy for a politician like Netanyahu to poke fun and seek to intimidate. So far, he has been very lucky and has literally managed to get away with murder. But he is wrong if he thinks that tongue-in-cheek comments might win him anything more than a few likes on social media from his lunatic ultra-right-wing followers.
In reality, the sheer number of powerful statements that came out in support of Saudi Arabia, reiterating the nonnegotiable principle of defending Palestinian rights, were a reminder of what Israel is set to lose.
The occupier-in-chief should remember that his government is accused of genocide and that his plans are being labelled as ethnic cleansing. It would be delusional to think that his insistence on “causing maximum damage” and treating Gazans as “human animals,” given that “there are no innocent Palestinians” (all words spoken by members of the Israeli government, not myself) will go without accountability.
Palestinians have never forgotten their homeland since the beginning of the occupation decades ago, and they will never forget what has happened to them in Gaza in the aftermath of Oct. 7, 2023.
Let us also remember that empowering Hamas in Gaza and weakening the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank was an official policy of Israel under Netanyahu for more than 15 years (as reported by the Israeli press).
Furthermore, he has turned himself from a potential partner for the Kingdom, as well as the wider Arab and Muslim worlds, into persona non grata. Nobody would want to shake a hand that has so much blood on it.
Last year, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman wrote that Netanyahu had a choice between going for Rafah or working with Riyadh. Unsurprisingly, the Israeli occupier-in-chief opted for Rafah and mass murder, as opposed to going for the latter option, which would have been the first step toward an integrated, peaceful and prosperous region.
Well, choices have consequences. The Kingdom will continue to stand firmly against Israeli attempts to displace Palestinians and those who aim to dilute their pathway to a state. As it stands, Riyadh is leading a global coalition for a two-state solution and will use the full force of its diplomatic might, global connections and wealth of resources to do everything humanly possible to support the needs of the Palestinians and their right to remain in their land.
Not only is normalization off the table, but at this stage Netanyahu is becoming Israel’s worst enemy. For a country that, for 75 years, garnered global support by warning against its people being thrown into the sea, it is now doing the complete opposite by threatening to displace Gazans.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2589614
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Why Saudi Arabia Insists On A Palestinian State
Hassan Al-Mustafa
February 09, 2025
In September 2024, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman addressed the opening of the ninth session of the Shoura Council, stating unequivocally: “The Palestinian issue is at the forefront of our country’s attention, and we renew the Kingdom’s rejection and strong condemnation of the crimes of the Israeli occupation authority against the Palestinian people.” He emphasized that “the Kingdom will not cease its tireless work toward the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital,” and underscored that “the Kingdom will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel without that.”
This statement represents one of the most significant diplomatic addresses from Saudi Arabia in recent decades, as it emerged within a highly sensitive political and security context. This period has witnessed pivotal changes in the Middle East, including Israel's genocidal actions in Gaza, which were followed by military actions in Lebanon and territorial annexations in Syria. These developments have propelled the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, allied with the extreme religious right, toward increased aggression and a desire to terminate the two-state solution, thereby imposing a new fait accompli in favour of Israel, not only in Palestine but also regionally, under which Israel is crowned as the leader of the Middle East. This situation is clearly rejected by Riyadh.
In addition, in the latter months of President Joe Biden’s administration, the US actively pursued normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel. However, Riyadh, which supports the peace process, has established very challenging yet realistic and straightforward conditions. These conditions include the desire for a strategic security and defence agreement with the US, as well as a clear and reliable commitment from the Israelis to advance a path that ensures the rights of the Palestinians and the establishment of an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with UN resolutions.
Some people perceive these Saudi policies as a manoeuvre, particularly in light of the critical discourse from the Kingdom regarding certain Palestinian factions or the mismanagement of the Palestinian Authority. Additionally, the fact that some of these factions are allied with Iran or maintain an antagonistic stance toward Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries contributes to this perception.
However, it is often overlooked that Saudi Arabia is not an emotional state and its policies are not based on reactive measures. Instead, the country operates according to a strategic vision that prioritizes its national security first and the broader Arab national security second. Consequently, Riyadh has not limited itself to narrow calculations but has instead considered the larger context of the Middle East.
It recognizes the genuine threat posed by aggressive Israeli policies, understanding that the destruction of Gaza, assaults on the West Bank and the displacement of Palestinians will not lead to peace. Rather, these actions are likely to foster further extremism and violence, potentially creating a new generation that is willing to take up arms against Israel — not only within the Occupied Territories but also among sympathizers from various countries around the world, which could lead to wider conflicts.
Hence, the rapid issuance of a clear statement by the Foreign Ministry last week can be understood within this context, as it refuted and rejected the discussions that took place between US President Donald Trump and Netanyahu regarding the resettlement of Palestinians in Egypt and Jordan, as well as Saudi Arabia’s stance on relations with Israel.
The Saudi statement issued shortly after the meeting between Trump and Netanyahu emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s position regarding the establishment of a Palestinian state is “firm and unwavering.” Furthermore, “this firm stance was explicitly affirmed” by the crown prince at the Shoura Council meeting last September.
The statement also reiterated Riyadh’s firm rejection of “any actions that undermine Palestinian rights, including Israeli settlement expansion, land annexation, and any attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians from their homeland.” The statement emphasized that “a just and lasting peace cannot be achieved without ensuring the Palestinian people receive their full legitimate rights under international resolutions, a position Saudi Arabia has made clear to both the previous and current US administrations.”
Riyadh is keen to maintain a distinguished relationship with Washington, particularly following a phone conversation between the crown prince and President Trump last month, during which discussions took place regarding investments potentially worth up to $600 billion, with the possibility of more. Additionally, Trump praised the crown prince and his achievements in an interview with Al Arabiya during his election campaign. However, this does not imply that Saudi Arabia will unconditionally accept American policies; rather, Riyadh will assert its role as a significant regional power with its own international standing and independent policies. The Kingdom will vigorously pursue efforts to solidify this position, aiming to achieve regional peace.
Saudi Arabia recognizes that peace cannot be achieved without the involvement of the Palestinians. Its status as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques necessitates an active role in the Islamic world. The Kingdom cannot accept the policies of Trump and Netanyahu aimed at displacing the Palestinians, as such actions pose a significant threat to both Saudi national security and the stability of Arab nations. This critical aspect has been overlooked by Trump and ignored by Netanyahu in their discussions.
This will be a particularly challenging phase. However, Saudi Arabia has extensive experience in engaging with US presidents. This experience is characterized by a combination of firm stances and diplomatic flexibility, as well as strong security and economic partnerships. Furthermore, Riyadh’s relationship with Washington is state-to-state, facilitated through institutional frameworks, providing greater sustainability. Through this approach, Saudi Arabia aims to foster closer cooperation while ensuring that its interests remain intact and that the already-fragile Arab security is not compromised.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2589617
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Transfer Of Palestinians An Existential Threat To Jordan
Osama Al-Sharif
February 09, 2025
Tens of thousands of Jordanians across the kingdom battled cold and rain after Friday prayers to demonstrate against President Donald Trump’s shocking declaration that the US would “take over” and “own” Gaza, while displacing more than 2 million Palestinians who live there.
Trump made the outrageous remarks during last week’s press conference at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A few days before, he had called for the displacement of Gaza residents to Jordan and Egypt, supposedly on humanitarian grounds. He suggested that Gazans would remain in exile temporarily or long-term.
His statements were quickly rebuffed by the leaders of Jordan and Egypt, as well as by the Palestinian Authority, Saudi Arabia, the Arab League and dozens of world capitals. More importantly, they were rejected by war-weary Gazans who are trying to cope with catastrophic living conditions in the wake of a shaky ceasefire agreement following 15 months of an Israeli onslaught that left 90 percent of the Strip in ruins and more than 50,000 dead.
Following Trump’s declaration, which sent ripples across Washington and world capitals, his aides tried to contextualize what had been said. They said that no US troops would be sent to Gaza and that Gazans would not be forcibly removed from their native land. They added that the US was willing to help in the cleanup effort but would not be involved in the reconstruction.
Trump’s call on Jordan to receive the people of Gaza came less than a week before King Abdullah was scheduled to meet the US president at the White House. The call to displace millions of Palestinians, while quickly welcomed by Israeli extremists, sent shock waves through Amman. No one had imagined that a sitting US president would depart so far from decades-old policy on the Israeli-Palestinian issue in a way that would also threaten the stability of a close ally — in this case, Jordan.
King Abdullah managed to cope with Trump’s Middle Eastern policy during his first term, but not without significant political losses. Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem, including the occupied Eastern part, as Israel’s capital delivered a severe blow to the two-state solution, which Jordan, along with the rest of the international community, champions. That move undercut Jordan’s role as custodian of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. And when Trump unveiled his peace plan to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, King Abdullah was quick to reject it, along with the Palestinians.
Now, Trump has come up with a provocative proposal that Jordan and Egypt receive almost 2 million Palestinians from Gaza. And when the two countries reject such a proposal, Trump doubles down by saying they will eventually do just that.
So, just two weeks after Trump was sworn in, Jordan has found itself in the eye of a political storm as a result of the president’s crude suggestion. The fact that the displacement of Palestinians is against international law — a crime of ethnic cleansing — does not seem to have deterred Trump. On Thursday, he suggested that Israel should hand over Gaza after finishing off Hamas, a disturbing sign that the war could resume at any moment.
But aside from the legal caveats to Trump’s proposal, what is worrying to Jordan is that the US president is now embracing an extremist Israeli proposition that seeks to expel Palestinians from their historical homeland and transfer them to Jordan. The Likud and other ultranationalist Israelis have peddled the notion that Jordan should become the de facto Palestinian state.
King Abdullah has made the transfer of Palestinians, especially from the West Bank, a red line for the kingdom. His foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, has said that any transfer would be interpreted as a declaration of war. Jordanian lawmakers have called for the enactment of a law that prohibits the transfer of Palestinians into Jordan.
Jordan has become an even closer ally of the US in the past decade, joining the war against Daesh and, more recently, allowing America to use Jordanian airbases. The kingdom’s military importance for the US has grown following the latter’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. In return, the US supports the Jordanian treasury with billions of dollars annually through grants and soft loans.
Trump’s decision to suspend all USAID activities worldwide has particularly hit Jordan. The US agency is involved in tens of projects covering health, education, sanitation, Syrian refugee support, water, and economic and political development. Amman fears that Trump could use Jordan’s financial and economic dependency on the US as a tool to extract concessions.
But while a majority of pundits believe that Trump’s Gaza proposal will never fly, the fear is that Israel could use the president’s suggestions to push for the annexation of the West Bank, which would eventually lead to forcing its Palestinian inhabitants to leave for Jordan.
Unlike Egypt’s relationship with the people of Gaza, tens of thousands of West Bankers are also Jordanian citizens. The crossings between the kingdom and the West Bank have been open since the 1967 war and thousands use the bridges between the two banks of the River Jordan every day.
Israel has been waging a vicious war against Palestinian refugee camps in the West Bank for three weeks now. Under this far-right Israeli government, Palestinians in the West Bank have been subjected to a wave of settler attacks, economic strangulation, and expropriation of land, mass incarceration and collective punishment — all aiming to push residents to leave.
The death of the two-state solution and normalization of such calls to transfer Palestinians pose an existential threat to the kingdom.
Transfer would mean the end of the right of return for almost 2 million Palestine refugees already living in Jordan. While supporting Palestinian steadfastness on their land is the first line of defence, Jordan is taking nothing for granted.
Trump’s Gaza proposition is dangerous and must be rejected outright by all. However, the future of Gaza is now a significant challenge for the world community. What Trump has failed to understand is that the fundamental Palestinian right to self-determination must be honoured and recognized. They have earned that right and must be allowed to exercise it.
Jordan will never be an alternative homeland for the Palestinians. Transfer can never be normalized or considered as an option.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2589616
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