Publications

Hamas victory in the Palestinian Legislative Council has set off a flurry of speculation about the possible implications for regional politics beyond the Israeli-Palestinian relationship. Considering the longstanding historical ties between the populations of the two Banks of the Jordan River, the large Palestinian population in Jordan itself (more or less half of the total), and the fact that Jordan ruled the West Bank for nearly twenty years prior to the 1967 War, the election results might appear to have particularly negative consequences for the Hashemite Kingdom. A broader perspective on these issues might therefore serve as a useful corrective.