If King Abdullah really wants a "divorce", then does this mean this is just a start? Does that mean he wishes to eventually take away citizenship of all Palestinians in Jordan?
I'm assuming wikipedia is correct here, there are 2 million Palestinians living in Jordan. Only 167,000 do not have citizenship, they are permanent residents nontheless. Only 338,000 live in UNRWA refugee camps, so most of them are also integrated in Jordanian society and enjoy (and I assume also pay for) Jordanian public services. I find it hard to believe he would take away citizenship of so many people, 1,662,000 of them people who live in Jordanian towns and villages. Especially since I do not think they will be allowed to settle in Gaza or the West Bank, and to tell them they can settle in Israel is just a fairytale. I really wonder where he will draw the line.
There are no Israeli plans to resettle Palestinians from the Westbank into Jordan, I don't think he needs to be afraid of that. So is it a measure to appease the native Hashemites? (p.s I know his family got Jordan quite recent in history, but they are more native than the Palestinians).
Simply put. For 30 years now Palestinians have been a pain in Jordan. King sees turmoil sparked by various "groups" around the arab world. Among these, he reads, is often a struggle for recognition, within the troubled countries. Minorities, religions what ever. He turns to his country and sees a possible rift and source of problems. The Palestinians within Jordan. How would you deal with such a large population without alienating them?
The King is choosing an opportunistic path. Claiming you're helping them, while you're in fact cutting them loose. You deprive the Palestinian body of its leaders and political apparatus. So while Palestinians will retain voting right, they will be forced to vote on a Jordanian scheme of things, with a Jordanian mindset. Off course there will be people that would scream about the "murderous initiative of King Abdallah who attempts to destroy the Palestinian identity" and in a sense they won't be far from the truth. This gesture is a calculated one. I hope for the King Palestinian have math classes.
We are speaking here about PA and PLO officials. Some of them hold Jordanian nationality, example: Mahmoud Abbas.
The report does not say PLO's political activities should be banned in Jordan. So PLO officials living in Jordan could continue their political activity even after being revoked from their nationality, like the Palestinian appatrides living elsewhere. So why should they leave the country?Those who live in Jordan will be kindly asked to continue their political activity elsewhere.
Palestinians living elsewhere are not allowed to settle in the WB. So I don't see why these additional appatrides will be of a concern for Israel more than PLO activists living in Lebanon?Stopping them from getting to the WB, will cause yet another problem for Israel.
The 3.5 million Palestinian refugees and apatrides could settle in the WB if a Palestinian state is created there and if this state wants them to settle there.
It's been two generations and those who were involved have passed away.King Abdullah and the Queen were from refugee families. His from Hijaz and her from Palestine. He's worked hard to create a Jordan First policy and new Jordanian identity. Many regard themselves as Jordanians. Just as much as Americans do after one or two generations.Revoking citizenship status of PA officials sends a message that they are on their own.It's also can be seen as dumping the issue to the Israelis. However, the PA or Israel may allow dual citizenship with other nations.
There is also the factor that there is a cultural disconnect between the Palestinians and the Hashemite Royal Family (Queen Rania notwithstanding). Unlike the Bedouins and original Jordanians, the refugees have no connection to the monarchy and having dual political leadership would complicate things as numbers swell and more Arab-Spring-esque movements come along.
Abdullah is just nipping this in the bud before the inevitable occurs.
The king is afraid of Jordan being "Palestine". He knows that the majority of the Jordanians are "Palestinians" and because of that Jordan is the real "Palestine".