Friday Jun 13, 2025
NEWSLETTER
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
Home News

PLO, Jordan furious with Abbas over West Bank ‎confederation scheme

by  Ariel Kahana , Daniel Siryoti and Israel Hayom Staff
Published on  09-04-2018 00:00
Last modified: 12-23-2019 11:34
PLO, Jordan furious with Abbas over West Bank ‎confederation scheme
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas drew ‎harsh condemnation Monday after suggesting that the ‎Palestinians were amenable to the possibility of ‎establishing a confederation with Jordan in the West ‎Bank, providing that Israel were party to such an ‎agreement. ‎

Abbas claimed Sunday that the idea was ‎broached during a meeting with senior U.S. envoys as ‎part of Washington's efforts to promote the Israeli-‎Palestinian peace process, but the Trump ‎administration dismissed the report. ‎

Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian officials also ‎dismissed the idea as being "inapplicable" at this ‎time or any time in the future.‎

A senior Palestine Liberation Organization official ‎called the scheme "delusional," saying a Palestinian-‎Jordanian confederation was "a wet dream for extreme ‎right-wing elements in Israel."‎

‎"It is hard to believe this was anything but empty ‎rhetoric meant to throw a wrench into efforts to ‎broker [an inter-Palestinian Fatah-Hamas] reconciliation," the official said. "Abu Mazen ‎‎[Abbas] is perfectly familiar with the Palestinian ‎leadership's position on this matter, as well as ‎with Jordan's position."

A senior Israeli minister said that the ‎confederation idea was "not born in a vacuum" and ‎was "on the table."‎

He noted that the concept was not without ‎its merits, but stressed that as it is clear that ‎Abbas will never take it seriously, any discussion ‎should be tabled until the post-Abbas era.‎

If and when conditions support promoting the idea of ‎a Palestinian-Jordanian confederation, such a plan ‎would be presented only after the moderate Arab ‎nations weigh in on it, leaving the Palestinians ‎little choice but to accept it, the Israeli minister said. ‎

The Prime Minister's Office declined to comment on ‎the issue. ‎

Jordan, for its part, rejected the idea outright.‎

Jordanian government ‎spokeswoman Jumana Ghuneimat ‎said Sunday that the ‎matter "is not open for ‎discussion," stressing that ‎the kingdom was in favor ‎of a two-state solution ‎that would be negotiated ‎between Israel and the ‎Palestinians.‎

A senior Jordanian official noted, "Many in Israel ‎claim Jordan is, in fact, Palestine – an idea we ‎utterly reject. We were surprised to hear Abbas ‎say he would support the concept of a ‎confederation."‎

Israeli Arab lawmaker Jamal Zahalka also excoriated Abbas.‎ "The fact that the head of the Palestinian ‎Authority even speaks of this type of plan is an ‎insult," ‎the Joint Arab List MK wrote on Facebook.

He further criticized Abbas for admitting he holds ‎occasional meetings with Shin Bet security agency ‎Director Nadav Argaman and lauding the close ‎coordination between the Israeli and Palestinian ‎security forces. ‎

‎"Abbas boasting about how he and the Shin Bet ‎chief agree on 99% of security issues is a knockout ‎‎[to Abbas]," he said. ‎

Related Posts

Israel moves to seize Thunberg's Gaza flotillaIsraeli Foreign Ministry

Israel moves to seize Thunberg's Gaza flotilla

by Itsik Saban

Israeli authorities filed a formal confiscation request targeting the "Madleen" that was intercepted Sunday during an attempted violation of the...

Israeli security forces on high alert amid concerns of Hamas attacks from GazaEyad Baba/AFP

Captured papers expose international Gaza aid went directly to Hamas

by Shachar Kleiman

According to The Wall Street Journal, internal Hamas documents show the terror organization directed up to 25% of humanitarian aid...

Iran launches military exercises, US government personnel in Israel warnedOren Ben Hakoon, AP

Iran launches military exercises, US government personnel in Israel warned

by Ariel Kahana and Dudi Kogan

Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Mossad Director David Barnea are set to meet with US envoy Steve Witkoff ahead...

Menu

Analysis 

Archaeology

Blogpost

Business & Finance

Culture

Exclusive

Explainer

Environment

 

Features

Health

In Brief

Jewish World

Judea and Samaria

Lifestyle

Cyber & Internet

Sports

 

Diplomacy 

Iran & The Gulf

Gaza Strip

Politics

Shopping

Terms of use

Privacy Policy

Submissions

Contact Us

About Us

The first issue of Israel Hayom appeared on July 30, 2007. Israel Hayom was founded on the belief that the Israeli public deserves better, more balanced and more accurate journalism. Journalism that speaks, not shouts. Journalism of a different kind. And free of charge.

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

  • Home
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

Newsletter

[contact-form-7 id=”508379″ html_id=”isrh_form_Newsletter_en” title=”newsletter_subscribe”]

  • Home
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il