In an interview with Makor Rishon this weekend, Sheikh Ahmed Abu-Mashhur, head of the 140,000 strong HajAhalin tribe speaks out and discusses how he views a future peace, and what the Kingdom of Jordan is doing about it.
The Sheikh represents a sizable clan of 80,000 people in the Jerusalem area, with the other 60,000 in Jordan and other areas of Israel.
The Sheikh has some interesting things to say.
Those more familiar with the region are aware that the “Palestinians” are mostly a collection of different tribes and/or clans. Some are geographically concentrated in one area, others are more spread out.
Both Hamas and Fatah constantly find their attempts at absolute rule disrupted and limited by preexisting political/familial structures that don’t accept or want these criminals/terrorists ruling over them (such as in Rafah and Hebron to name two notable examples).
Jordan (with its 80% Palestinian majority) recognizes that a Palestinian Authority state is direct danger to the state of Jordan and the entire region. The Hashemite kingdom is very afraid of what will happen if the Palestinian Authority declares a state. The Sheikh says Jordan has lost all faith and trust in the PA and wants to create another alternative.
So the Jordanians are quietly taking active steps to explore changing the situation on the ground, in ways that are good for Jordan, good for Israel, and good for the Arab clans.
Abu-Mashhur says that Jordan is actively bypassing the Palestinian Authority as senior Jordanian government representatives and military officers are approaching the leaders of all the clans directly for talks.
They are exploring the idea of creating a Jordan-Israel confederation with Palestinians taking on Jordanian citizenship, while having political autonomy in Judea and Samaria through the clan structure, a more traditional solution.
Sound familiar?
Abu Mashhur continues the interview with some very definite opinions about Israel.
In his words, the biggest disaster the Israelis caused his people was not the “Occupation” but Israel bringing in the PLO from overseas and the Oslo accords.
He has a deep disrespect for the PA and its institutions.
Unlike the PA, he recognizes and accepts Israel as a Jewish state. He says that Allah commands that they live in peace with the Jewish people. Jews are the children of Yaakov, and they are the children of Yishmael. We’re all family, cousins.
He finishes his interview with this rather telling statement.
“I hope the future will be where we renew our direct ties with Jordan like we used to have, and we get rid of the Palestinian Authority.”
Not my words. The words of a Palestinian Arab leader representing 140,000 Palestinian constituents. And apparently also the desire of the King of Jordan.
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Best news I heard all day.
ReplyDeleteThe Silence is Deafening!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe only thing "Jordan" cares about is saving their Royal asses. Israel should let them sink and fester on their own. The best thing would be to see the entire Jordanian royal family lynched in public and left for the crows.
ReplyDeleteWhy can't I find hits in Google or Wikipedia for this tribe or its leader? Does he really speak for a significant number of people?
ReplyDeleteYou have to search in Hebrew.
ReplyDeleteשבט הג'אהלין
With the Hebrew, you gave me enough to realize the "ha" and the "al" are redundant. Al Jahalin is a Beduin Village not far from Y-m, -- close enough to connect to the city's utilities -- and near Maale Adumim with a total population of 1,250. The tribe was originally from Tel Arad. I don't see anything to justify his claims of a population of 10s of thousands in Israel or globally, even figuring that only a minority went to the town that holds their name. His numbers would imply that his group from Tel Dan comprise between half and 2/3 the Negev Bedouin.
ReplyDeleteI'm just saying, Abu Mashhur would be far from the first Arab leader to hyperinflate his own importance. Given the difficulty in finding out much about his people, why aren't we assuming the same here? (Other than liking what he has to say and wishing it were a popular opinion in the PA camp.)
However, even if the numbers are more in line with what a quick google indicate, the story is still significant. This tribe, held up by PA media as an example of people displaced by the IDF, built a school out of tires in desperation. If they don't see things in the terms their example being used to portray, that says much about the PA party line.
-micha
It's just too simple... :-)
ReplyDeleteBut, to be honest, since technically Jordan is the Arab Palestinian state (via the 77% giveaway by the British), that would solve the problem...