Jordan is today facing a direct political confrontation with Israel, which we must recognize. The Jordanian position expressed by His Majesty the King was something that major countries did not dare to do; refusing to receive Netanyahu except on conditions, and not allowing the door to open with the Sweida despite intense Israeli diplomatic pressure, and waving in front of the whole world the intention to address Tel Aviv's behavior in southern Syria and the West Bank independently, while expressing his loss of hope in international action against Israeli bullying.
His Majesty the King said at the United Nations General Assembly literally that the Israeli government's appetite has become a regional threat, and that Syria is a cautionary example of this, and that Israel is gradually testing the world, exploiting the silence of the international community to go further in its transgression. It is a new public Jordanian reading of Israel, reflecting a deep understanding of Netanyahu's and the extreme right's intentions.
Therefore, Israel today began closing all checkpoints in the West Bank, a clear message to Jordan after the recent royal position, and announcing that the tightening of restrictions on Palestinians will be the title of the response and the beginning of the challenge. It is true that Jordan, through its Foreign Minister, renewed the categorical rejection of any attempts to relocate to Jordan, but this does not mean that the Jordanian decision-making table is devoid of response options with administrative and legal decisions that enhance the effectiveness of the decision to sever ties with the West Bank.
There is no doubt that we have excellent relations with most countries of the world, especially with European countries and China, while Israel has suffered heavy losses in its international relations due to the policies of the ruling right there, and Jordan knows how to exploit these spaces in diplomatic movement, but Israel, by its hostile nature, will not forget what Jordan has caused it in terms of damage to its reputation before the world.
Jordan also categorically announced that it will not tolerate any change in the situation in southern Syria or in the files that affect Jordanian security and its share of water. Jordan today is defending itself and not aligning as usual, and this is a new front that Tel Aviv may exploit to respond.
And although we are accustomed to the skepticism led by Israel and hostile Brotherhood forces (especially the London branch), we must realize the extent of the realism of this Israeli escalation, which requires us to benefit from all the elements of strength that Jordan has acquired in the military and diplomatic fields, and to exploit the new circumstances that have surrounded the militia situation, which had a significant presence in the domestic political map.
It is likely that the Jordanian position will have consequences and a price, as the record of Israeli behavior suggests, so today we are required to stand behind the King and the army by confronting the narrative of skepticism and lowering morale that is spreading here and there.
Demographic change and our share of water are the files that Israel will use against us, and these are serious and existential files, so the future requires vigilance and investment of all the elements of strength we have.
