BICOM

Jordanian King Abdullah II is scheduled to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah today. This visit by the Jordanian king to the Palestinian territories is the first one since Mahmoud Abbas became President of the PA. Abdullah’s only previous visit to Ramallah was in 2000 when he met with late president Yasser Arafat.

An analysis in today’s Haaretz newspaper speculated that the meeting reflects Jordanian concerns surrounding the possible establishment of a Palestinian unity government with Hamas. Jordan is also concerned at the possibility of Hamas’ gaining control in the West Bank should Abbas choose to step down. The kingdom has its own well-organised branch of the Muslim Brotherhood movement – the Islamic Action Front – that has taken part in recent protests.  While real differences exist between this movement and Hamas, Amman considers that any strengthening of Hamas on the West Bank will also serve to strengthen the Jordanian domestic opposition, and thus eyes this possibility with concern.

Details of King Abdullah’s trip were announced shortly before Abbas was set to fly to Cairo to meet with Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal on implementing the reconciliation deal the two parties signed in May. Abbas and Meshaal are set to discuss the reconciliation pact in Cairo on the 24^th November.