Sorry, David. But I disagree. After all, this arrangement/road map to a peaceful solution has never required anybody other than the occupier and the occupied!

Anything else, is just more delay, obsfucation and illegal land grabbing! And the prime reason why the illegal land grabbers want to involve the king of Jordan?

To as it were, lend alleged legitimacy to their preferred two-state solution? And one where former Palestine is represented as part of Jordan? Almost as if there never ever was a nation-state called Palestine?

If the Palestinians are to be disenfranchised as you seem to want, David? why would they agree to anything at all?

And typical of activists like David? Who always seem to want to shift the allegorical goalposts, after the allegorical kick is taken?

All that I can say to any of this C.R.A.P., David is, bah humbug!
Alan B.

"King Abdullah's continuing attempt to exclude Jordan from being part of any two-state solution"
Replace this in its entirety with one word, Israel, and you might be correct.

In other words, the author expects Jordan to be punished and sacrifice itself in order to honour some words that some people uttered in the previous century, under very different conditions and when the vast majority of contemporary Jordanians were not yet born, complaining that their intransigent King refuses to place his neck nicely on the gallows and allow his country to be ruined.

Why ask King Abdullah when you could ask Scott Morrison for the same?
Suppose Australia's prime-minister was presented with some recording of his great-grandfather pledging to annex some Indonesian islands. Would he then be foolish enough to do so, granting Australian citizenship to some 8 million Indonesians (that would be about the ratio between Jordanians and "Palestinians") thus make Australia lose its unique character and become a violent backward 3rd-world country?

Perhaps the author, like the fox in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNgOTn7duaQ, may be able to convince our PM (looking at his great success with vaccinations and quarantine) to annex some Indonesian islands, but King Abdullah is so much wiser!

You seem to have overlooked the significance of a key point you've written:

> The PLO unsuccessfully tried to seize power in Jordan in 1970

That's why King Hussein cut Palestine loose. And far from ignoring it at his peril, King Abdullah has heeded the lesson!

This was just over a week ago folks.

“On Saturday, 28 July 2021, at around 3:00 P.M., Muayad Abu Sarah (al-‘Alami), a 37-year-old resident of Beit Ummar in Hebron District, drove to the entrance to the village with three of his sons. Two of them – Muhammad (11) and ‘Anan (9) – were in the back seat of the car and Ahmad (5) was sitting in front. The father noticed soldiers by the military post and drove backwards. After driving about 30 meters, he turned around, and then the soldiers opened fire at the car.”

“The choice to open fire at the car, in the heart of a populated residential area, was unjustified, as none of the passengers posed a risk — to the soldiers or to any other person. The explanation offered by the military, that the soldiers fired at the car after suspecting the passengers had buried a dead baby – has absolutely no bearing upon the shooting."

"This heinous killing of an 11-year-old boy demonstrates, yet again, how low the value of Palestinians’ lives is in the eyes of the soldiers, their commanders and the policymakers – who are responsible for the military’s lethal open-fire policy. The official statement than a Military Police investigation has been launched is merely a means of silencing criticism, and this kind of investigation is the first step towards whitewashing the incident.”
http://www.btselem.org/press_releases/20210803_video_footage_proves_israeli_soldiers_shot_and_killed_11_year_old_muhammad_abu_sarah_had_no_reason_to_open_fire

Dear SteeleRedux,

«This heinous killing of an 11-year-old boy demonstrates, yet again, how low the value of Palestinians’ lives is in the eyes of the soldiers, their commanders and the policymakers»

So how is this related to the article, the good people of Jordan or their good King Abdullah?

Nothing new about the cruelty of SOME Israelis towards Palestinians, but are you implying that poor Jordan must foot the bill?

#Alan B

When was there a nation-state called Palestine?

#Yuyutsu

History and geography don't change - although borders might. Jordan comprises 78% of the land designated in the League of Nations Mandate for Palestine. Many Arab leaders have attested to that truth during the past 100 years. That is the reality that cannot be denied. Any settlement of the Arab-Jewish conflict cannot occur without Jordan's participation.

#Aidan

King Hussein did not cut the West Bank (not "Palestine" as you wrongly state) loose until 1988 - and then only under extreme pressure from the PLO - which still maintains its claim to rule in Jordan and remove the ruling Hashemite dynasty. The longer King Abdullah holds out negotiating with Israel, the more tenuous his rule in Jordan becomes.

Dear David,

So you want Jordan to care more for the league of nations than for themselves, you want them to sacrifice their character and well-being because the King's great-grandfather said something... well good luck with that, Jordanian are wiser than that crow that wanted to show the fox that he can sing!

«Any settlement of the Arab-Jewish conflict cannot occur without Jordan's participation.»

Then it won't, who cares?

Israel is not "The Jews" and Jordan is not "The Arabs", so why should Jordan care whether this Arab-Jewish conflict of yours is settled or not? More so at such a heavy price to themselves. You seem to be the only one here who still cares about settling this stupid age-old historical conflict!

#david singer

>When was there a nation-state called Palestine?

Since the Oslo accords of 1994.

>King Hussein did not cut the West Bank (not "Palestine" as you wrongly state)
>loose until 1988 - and then only under extreme pressure from the PLO

Yes, I concede the West Bank is not all of Palestine.
Nevertheless, the reason is valid and remains valid - the king's position is far more secure without internal threats to his power.

> which still maintains its claim to rule in Jordan and remove the ruling Hashemite dynasty.

But there's a big difference between passively maintaining a claim and actively pursuing it.

>The longer King Abdullah holds out negotiating with Israel,
>the more tenuous his rule in Jordan becomes.

That claim is utterly ridiculous. Right now Jordan is at peace with both Israel and Palestine. Trying to usurp the power to negotiate on behalf of those Palestinian people who aren't already Jordanian citizens would threaten both that peace and his rule.

#Aidan

You state:

1.">When was there a nation-state called Palestine?

Since the Oslo accords of 1994"

What are the borders of this "state"? Who is its ruler?

2. "Yes, I concede the West Bank is not all of Palestine.
Nevertheless, the reason is valid and remains valid - the king's position is far more secure without internal threats to his power."

There are internal threats at the moment to Abdullah's power.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/jordan-coup-abdullah-plot/2021/04/03/2a517ed2-9498-11eb-a74e-1f4cf89fd948_story.html

3."Right now Jordan is at peace with both Israel and Palestine. Trying to usurp the power to negotiate on behalf of those Palestinian people who aren't already Jordanian citizens would threaten both that peace and his rule."

The Palestinian people Abdullah would be negotiating for were Jordanian citizens between 1950 and 1988. Restoring that citizenship would be a giant step in ending the Jewish-Arab conflict

#Yuyutsu

You state:
"You seem to be the only one here who still cares about settling this stupid age-old historical conflict!"

There are a lot of concerned people trying to resolve this conflict - the UN, the EU, President Biden - to mention a few. Regrettably they are all going about it the wrong way IMHO. They have been proposing a solution for the last 54 years that has no prospect of ever happening

Dear David,

«There are a lot of concerned people trying to resolve this conflict - the UN, the EU, President Biden - to mention a few.»

Alright, it is THEIR problem then, not mine, not Israel's and certainly not Jordan's. I won't miss any sleep over this Arab-Jewish conflict, nor would my family in Israel even if this conflict continues for another 500 years -- so why would you?

How could Israel and an increasing number of Arab countries have peace and warm relationships between them despite the said conflict?

Simply, because Israel is not "the Jews" and apparently these Arab countries are not "the Arabs" either.

Let then those who irrationally identify as "Jews" and "Arabs" solve the issues between them IF THEY WANT, or fight to their death otherwise. What's that to do with us?

(I guess these two groups are happy with how things stand, feel that they exist for fighting each other, get thrill from it and wouldn't like any outsiders to spoil their fun)

«The Palestinian people Abdullah would be negotiating for were Jordanian citizens between 1950 and 1988. Restoring that citizenship would be a giant step in ending the Jewish-Arab conflict»

That means that everyone under 33 was not yet born with a Jordanian citizenship while everyone under 43 was under 10 years old when losing their Jordanian citizenship: too young to remember and care about. Even then, only those above 54 actually lived in Jordan and only those over 64 may have significant memories of it.

Perhaps Jordan need not fear the older generations who could by now be settled and docile, but it's those youngsters who grew up and lived all their lives in violence, poverty, frustration, hate and a terrorist mindset. Who possibly in their right mind would want to take such people on and allow them to export that violence to their own country?

Possibly, I cannot tell, such a suicidal move by Jordan would be a giant step in ending the Jewish-Arab conflict - a pretty hefty price for something we need not worry about to begin with.

#Yuyutsu

You show scant concern for your family's safety in Israel when you state: "I won't miss any sleep over this Arab-Jewish conflict, nor would my family in Israel even if this conflict continues for another 500 years -- so why would you?"

Arabs knifing, running down and murdering Israeli citizens in the streets could include your family members as their victims. Hamas murderers firing missiles indiscriminately into Israeli population centres could claim your family as their victims.

That you are prepared to see this conflict continuing for another 500 years shows how little humanity you lack in wanting to see an end to the suffering by both Arabs and Jews over the last 100 years.

Shame on you.

Dear David,

Are you referring to the problems that Israel has with some of these so-called "Palestinians"?
If that's the case, then why did you not say so from the very start? Why confuse it with "Jews" and "Arabs"?

Israel is not the Jews (only some Israelis identify as Jews).
"Palestinians" are not the Arabs (only some Arabs identify as "Palestinians").

Israel's relationship with the Arab countries is improving in leaps and bounds.

Of course Israel has some problems - who doesn't, Australia too.
Of course I am concerned about Israel's problems (even while I do not care about this strange Arab-Jewish conflict that you babble about).

You are welcome to discuss Israel's problems if you even care about Israel as such, but for that you must first recognise Israel's independence - including from the United-Nations (and predecessors) and including from the Jews as such.

Israel (also Jordan) has enough problems of its own - it does not need to also take on board your private Jewish quarrels as well.

#Yuyutsu

You display your ignorance when you make the following comments:
1. "Of course I am concerned about Israel's problems (even while I do not care about this strange Arab-Jewish conflict that you babble about)."

This "strange Arab-Jewish conflict" began 100 years ago in the aftermath of World War 1 when there was no "Israel", no "Israelis" no "Palestinians", no "Jordan", no "Jordanians" - just "Jews" and "Arabs" - living in a very small area of territory forming part of the Ottoman Empire for the previous 400 years called "Palestine". The conflict has yet to be resolved today. Most Arab states and other Islamist nations still want to expel the Jews from - and dismantle - the Jewish State - Israel - created in 1948 on just 17% of "Palestine". The Arabs now have 78% and sovereignty in the remaining 5% is still unresolved.

2. "You are welcome to discuss Israel's problems if you even care about Israel as such, but for that you must first recognise Israel's independence - including from the United-Nations (and predecessors) and including from the Jews as such."

Israel is the Jewish National Home reconstituted under the League of Nations 1922 Mandate for Palestine - adopted unanimously by all 51 members of the League of Nations. The rights of the Jewish people created under that document are preserved by article 80 of the United Nations Charter.

Perhaps you should take the time to read the Mandate for Palestine and article 80 of the UN Charter - rather than spouting a lot of ignorant and ill-informed comments which indicate you have no understanding of the conflict, its origins, and the need to resolve it to end the disastrous effects it has wreaked on Arabs and Jews over the last 100 years.

Your claim that "Israel is not "The Jews" and Jordan is not "The Arabs" is contradicted by the century old history of Palestine. Starting that history from 1947 - instead of 1917 - is simply a perversion of history and you seem to have swallowed that Arab narrative hook, line and sinker.

Dear David,

I see that you refuse to recognise Israel as an independent country that stands on its own and acts solely on the will of its citizens, who owe nothing to any other bodies - Jewish or international, either current or historical.

Well you are in "good company": Iran and some other backward countries also refuse to recognise Israel - too bad for them because Israel stands strong and has enough nukes to eliminate them if it needs to.
They want Israel (or what's left of it) to serve their Muslim agenda while you want Israel to serve your Jewish agenda, there is no difference in principle between you.

The people of Israel will continue to do whatever they believe is good for them - neither for Iran nor for you!

I never claimed that the historical facts that you cite for the umpteenth time are incorrect - only that you ought to shove your irrelevant history where it belongs, and don't forget to flush the toilet afterwards.

Over the course of two days, on 14 and 15 May 2021, dozens of settlers, escorted by about 15 soldiers, came to the southern part of the village, attacking homes with stones and setting fire to four chicken coops belonging to three residents. Dozens of chicks burned to death. The coops and the chicken feed also burned down. The damage to the owners is estimated at hundreds of thousands of shekels. The settlers also set fire to a car parked in the area.

The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that during the clashes that ensued between the soldiers and village residents, 12 residents were injured by live fire and one by rubber-coated metal bullets, and dozens of residents suffered from tear gas inhalation.

This is the second attack by settlers on residents of Qusrah that B’Tselem documented in May: on 2 May 2021, settlers stoned village homes. Residents of Qusrah have been suffering from repeated settler attacks for years, including on their chicken coops.

The settlement outposts of Ahiya and Esh Kodesh were established about 800 meters away from the chicken coops attacked.

Read more in our state-backed settler violence blog: http://www.btselem.org/settler_violence_updates

Dear SteeleRedux,

Again I implore you: what has that to do with the topic, about poor Jordan and its wise King Abdullah which the author wants to punish?

Now off topic, let me tell you what I would do about the situation in the West-Bank that you keep describing, if it was up to me:

I would make Israel withdraw within one month.

Any Israeli living in the West Bank will have the option: return to Israel and receive financial compensation for their home/business in the West Bank (and have all their goods and household items trucked back for free), or remain there and lose their Israeli citizenship.

Then build a strong and tall wall over Israel's [pre-1967] border line.
Then whatever happens over the other side of the wall, however the cards fall between the Jewish settlers and "Palestinians" will be left for them to settle and no longer be any of Israel's business: Good riddance of both!

#Yuyutsu

You state:
"I see that you refuse to recognise Israel as an independent country that stands on its own and acts solely on the will of its citizens, who owe nothing to any other bodies - Jewish or international, either current or historical."

I disagree:

1. Israel is the Jewish National Home reconstituted after 3000 years pursuant to the League of Nations Mandate for Palestine - whose population is 80% Jewish.

2. The "accursed West Bank" (a term you frequently use) is part of the area in which this Jewish National Home was to be reconstituted under article 6 of the Mandate for Palestine and article 80 of the UN Charter.

You are free to disagree with these statements of fact- but there is little point in your posting any further comments to my articles unless you accept these basic propositions.

You further state:
"I never claimed that the historical facts that you cite for the umpteenth time are incorrect - only that you ought to shove your irrelevant history where it belongs, and don't forget to flush the toilet afterwards."

These historical facts are fundamental to an understanding of the 100 years old Jewish-Arab conflict that needs to be resolved if there is to be any semblance of peace in the Middle East between Jews and Arabs.

There have been some significant gains in resolving the conflict - peace treaties between Israel with Egypt and Jordan and the Abraham Accords - but Jew-hatred and the wish to wipe the one and only Jewish State in the world off the map still exists among many of the 57 nation states of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and a myriad of terrorist groups who are non-members.

You also need to moderate your language. Your crude remarks only serve to illustrate the paucity of your arguments.

Dear David,

You have just confirmed your disagreement that Israel is an independent country, thus expressed your contempt for its citizenry. All you care is to get Israel (and Jordan) to solve your perceived "Jewish-Arab conflict", regardless of what the people of Israel (and Jordan) feel or believe is good for them: you rather use them as pawns for your ambitions for the "Jewish nation".

Tough luck for you, Israel IS independent and strong, fearing neither the Jewish people nor the legacy of the League of Nations.

This "Jewish nation" (thus also the notion of a "Jewish National Home") is a fake concept. I won't bother to detail why as you can read all about it in Shlomo Sand's book, "When and How Was the Jewish People Invented?".

For that matter, there is also no "Arab nation" in existence as to establish (and try to solve) a "Jewish-Arab conflict".

Nonetheless, if you do believe in a Jewish nation and feel such a strong desire to forward its interests, then I can suggest that you settle in person in the West Bank and establish your own Jewish state there where you be free to fight or solve your Don-Quixotic wars to your heart's content.

As for Jew-hatred, grow up: most people actually tend to like Jews, but nobody, saintly as they may be, can expect to be liked by absolutely everybody and there is no group of people in this particular world without its haters, including even Australians.

#Yuyutsu

You state:
"As for Jew-hatred, grow up: most people actually tend to like Jews, but nobody, saintly as they may be, can expect to be liked by absolutely everybody and there is no group of people in this particular world without its haters, including even Australians."

I agree - and you have shown by your comments in relation to the creation and continued existence of the world's one Jewish State that you are one of those Jew-haters.

Go wallow in it.

Dear David,

Well, how childish this is getting: "If you don't give me your doll this means that you hate me", "If you don't crown me king then you are not my friend"...

Simply put, Israel is not yours (nor Jordan)!

Just because you happen to be a [non-practicing] Jew does not grant you ownership over other countries. Little Napoleon would like the whole world to stand at attention and obey his whims, but hopefully he will grow up one day.

You still have not responded to my offer to create your own Jewish state, possibly in the West Bank, spending your own effort, time, money, sweat, blood and tears, rather than demand that others do it for you!

#Yuyutsu

The more you rant the way you are doing in your latest post - the more you expose yourself as a rabid Jew-hater.

Dear David,

The more you rant the way you are doing - the more you expose yourself as hating Israel and denying its indepedence.

It is my pride and honour to defend Israel from being overridden by this Jewish cult of yours.

#Yuyutsu

Another Jew-hating rant that sees you continuing to deny that Israel is the Jewish National Home reconstituted after 3000 years following decisions made by the League of Nations and United Nations.

Dear David,

Fortunately your fringe Jewish cult who wants to take over and control Israel (and Jordan) for its own ends, is far from representing Judaism as a whole. Sadly there are those who know not the difference, thus it taints and brings shame on normative Jewish people as well.

Bark as much as you like, the Israeli people will continue to do what they believe to be best for them, neither for Mr. Singer from Australia nor for this long-gone League of Nations or their corrupt successors.

Now speaking about 3000 years ago, brings us to the kingdom of the kings David and Solomon who violently overthrew the former good king, Saul, forged parts of the bible to smear his name and enslaved both their people and all the surrounding nations to build them extravagant palaces.

It was only during the reign of these two cruel kings (who as modern research shows, worshiped idols rather than the Jewish god), lasting less than 100 years, that Israel grew so huge in area, creating the legend of "Bigger Israel". The people of Israel then rebelled against their lineage and the kingdom was split.

While that was just a speck of Jewish history, your cult strives to restore Israel to that short-lived maximal size. However, you are not actually willing to work for it, you are not willing to fight and risk your lives and limbs for your goal, nor bear the hardship and shame involved: you rather have the citizens of Israel (whom you consider to be "Messiah's donkey", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Messiah%27s_Donkey) do all that for you while you enjoy all comforts in far-away Australia.

Jews in general do not deserve to be hated, but these two terrible kings who lived 3000 years ago do, along with their supporters.

#Yuyutsu

The Jew-hatred is really pouring out of you. Is there more to come from your hate-filled invective spewed out under the cover of anonymity?