Opinion pieces published on Sunday offered an in-depth reading of regional transformations and the security and political risks facing Jordan and the Palestinians, with particular focus on Jordan’s strategy in managing its international and regional relations and its role in protecting the West Bank and the holy sites.

Abu Rumman of Al-Araby Al-Jadeed discussed the ongoing meetings of King Abdullah II with a select group of Jordanian politicians, indicating that the decision-making apparatus in Amman seeks to expand Jordan’s political maneuvering internationally through economic and political engagement with friendly Muslim countries in Asia and strengthening ties with the European Union, a goal reflected in the signing of agreements and significant economic aid. The writer emphasized that the strategic dimensions of these moves are related to lessons learned from the Gaza war and its subsequent developments, highlighting three main conclusions. The first identifies the Israeli right-wing government as the primary source of threat to Jordan’s national security, while acknowledging that certain Israeli sectors lean toward a two-state solution. Abu Rumman stressed, however, that the plan to annex the West Bank and dismantle the Palestinian Authority carries serious implications for Jordan. The second conclusion involves redefining Jordanian strategic interests and regional alliances, particularly with the emerging axis of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt, while carefully maintaining neutrality in the disputes between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Abu Rumman noted that regional developments have strengthened the Jordan-Turkey relationship, which was previously a source of concern due to its links to political Islamist movements, now evolving into a key strategic partnership aligned on Israel and Syria. The third conclusion concerns the evolving concept of military warfare, with the King sending a message to the Chief of the Joint Staff directing the modernization of the Jordanian Armed Forces, the integration of advanced technology, and the enhancement of defense industries, including Jordanian-Turkish cooperation and naval capabilities, with the possibility of expanding collaboration with European countries to ensure that the forces are prepared to handle complex conflicts combining conventional and unconventional warfare, cyber operations, and unmanned aerial systems.

Lamis Anoni considered the recent Israeli decisions not merely symbolic, but rather actual steps toward annexing most of the West Bank, including land expropriation and population displacement, as part of a Zionist settlement project that has been ongoing for more than a century. She emphasized that these moves also threaten Jordan through potential refugee influxes or Israeli military expansion along the Jordan River under the pretext of securing Israel’s safety, highlighting that Jordan’s custodianship of Islamic and Christian holy sites remains central and constitutes a strategic line of defense against the full implementation of Israeli plans. Anoni stressed the importance of unifying Jordanian and Palestinian positions and preventing any voices within Jordan from equating responses to displacement with incitement against Palestinians. She emphasized that defending the holy sites is a national duty that protects Jordanian-Palestinian identity, while coordinated efforts will strengthen Palestinian resilience in the West Bank and mitigate the risk of undermining national cohesion. She also noted the Palestinian Authority’s shortcomings in confronting the settlement project, particularly in addressing attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Ibrahimi Mosque, warning that exploiting historical disputes between Jordan and the Palestinian Authority could harm both sides and provide Israel with an opportunity to consolidate control over land and religious sites.

Maher Abu Tire of Al-Ghad highlighted tensions between Washington and Tehran, noting that both sides are seeking to buy time to avoid a potential war while Israel closely monitors developments. He argued that any potential agreement with Iran, whether regarding its nuclear program or recognition of its regional influence, will carry political and geostrategic costs, including the reshuffling of regional power dynamics and U.S. economic interests, particularly control over Iranian oil. Abu Tire added that reaching an agreement with Iran could avert war in the region, but it would not eliminate the need for fundamental reform in Arab-Iranian relations, as the absence of a third regional path for understanding and consensus would leave the region vulnerable to U.S. and Israeli interference, threatening its future and resources.

Hassan Al-Dajjeh of Al-Ghad explained that the confrontation in the West Bank is no longer confined to armed clashes but extends to legal and administrative levels, as Israel seeks to annul Jordanian land laws and replace them with its own legislation, paving the way for de facto annexation and undermining the feasibility of an independent Palestinian state. He pointed out that settlement expansion is accelerating, with roughly 210 official settlements, 250–260 unofficial outposts, and more than 350 agricultural and grazing points, while the number of settlers reaches approximately 750,000. Since October 2023, around 40,000 Palestinians, including 17,000 children, have been displaced, while casualties exceed 1,150 dead, 13,000 injured, and 22,000 detained, with direct effects on the economy, trade, and agriculture, particularly olive and fruit trees. Al-Dajjeh emphasized that the “silent war” encompasses every legal amendment, settlement unit, and checkpoint, representing a systematic effort to reshape the legal, geographic, and demographic reality, gradually undermining Palestinian rights and making a two-state solution increasingly difficult.

This coverage of Sunday’s opinion pieces illustrates the interconnected analysis of political, strategic, and regional developments, highlighting Israeli threats, Jordan’s crucial role, and the urgent need for Jordanian-Palestinian coordination to counter ongoing settlement initiatives.