I was, and still am, a strong believer in good, even close-knit bilateral relations with the Jordanian monarchy. There are many reasons for this, and all pertain to the ultimate interest of both countries. Despite the honest desire to protect close relations with the kingdom, however, there are red lines that cannot be crossed.
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The sense is that Jordan has crossed them. The king is talking about an Israeli plot to divide the Temple Mount between Jews and Arabs. Indeed – this is a lie. Israel has officially stated it has no such intention. The king, indirectly, helped the Islamic Waqf trust that manages the Temple Mount site to send an unofficial letter to the United States, in which it asked the Biden administration to change the status quo and give the Waqf jurisdiction over all matters, including security, at the holy site. Israel, according to the letter, would have no say in anything that happens there.
The Jordanian prime minister's recent castigation of Israel in the country's parliament was harmful, false, and offensive. His use of extremist terminology is unacceptable.
In his desire to support the Palestinian rioters, Bisher al-Khasawneh said Jews were defiling the Temple Mount (Al-Aqsa). This is jarring, repugnant terminology. Amman also summoned the Israeli ambassador to be reprimanded.
The king tried rallying the Arab world – the United Arab Emirates and Egypt – against Israel. It appears the monarchy is going for the whole pot, and it needs to be disabused of this notion.
Israel must immediately summon the Jordanian ambassador for a reprimand and kindly request that he tell his superiors that Israel is a sovereign, independent country, which is responsible for ensuring public security and order, including at the Temple Mount.
Jordan, for its part, is responsible for helping achieve this objective, as it promised senior Israeli security officials who met with the king last Ramadan, and when the Americans spoke with kingdom officials in an effort to alleviate recent tensions.
In the discussion with the Jordanian ambassador, Israel needs to say, from its perspective, that it outright rejects everything Khasawneh said, and that it maintains and will continue to maintain the status quo. King Abdullah's own problems at home are well established, but he cannot be allowed to target Israel every time the Jordanian people take to the streets to protest against him. Israel will not be his scapegoat to overcome these problems.
Abdullah's father, the late King Hussein, also faced similar troubles at home, but he was able to cope with them with rare diplomatic prudence. He understood that close relations with Israel are an asset and an interest of the highest order for the monarchy.
Over the past year, Israel has made a real effort to rehabilitate relations with Amman, which had deteriorated because of Palestinian riots at the Temple Mount and Jordan's ineffectuality. It seems אם be working. But Amman's recent conduct is running counter to this trend of improvement.
The people of Israel also have feelings and demands. If a referendum is held on the Israeli public's feelings about Jordan's recent behavior, I'm not certain the king would be happy with the results, and it's safe to assume he views these relations as important. It's easy to shift to extremist rhetoric, which is why the king must put an end to this slippery slope.
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But, if it emerges that this is the monarchy's position toward the Palestinians, as the recent public comments would seem to support, including, as stated, from key figures such as the prime minister – no one in the kingdom should be surprised that in Israel there are those who believe that Jordan is Palestine. Thankfully, this isn't Israel's official position.
Right now, both countries need to stem the escalating tide and continue mending their relationship. The concern is that the king is trying to open up a Pandora's Box that was closed. Let's hope this isn't the case.
