Jordan has issued a stern condemnation of Israel’s recent policy overhaul in the occupied West Bank, characterizing the measures as an acceleration toward full annexation that directly threatens Jordanian national security. The sweeping changes, announced last week, represent what Jordanian officials describe as a dangerous escalation beyond previous ‘creeping annexation’ into a phase of systematic territorial absorption.
The most contentious measure involves revoking the 1953 Jordanian-era law that prohibited property sales to non-Arabs in the Palestinian territory—a legal safeguard originally intended to prevent Israeli settlement expansion through land purchases. Additional provisions include declassifying West Bank land registers (previously kept confidential to protect against fraudulent property transfers to settlers) and enabling Israel to reclassify unregistered or abandoned lands as ‘state lands’ for confiscation.
Jordanian Senator Omar al-Ayasrah warned Middle East Eye that these actions constitute ‘a leap across strategic stages’ designed to eliminate Jordan’s influence over Palestinian affairs while dismantling legal protections for Arab landowners. The fundamental concern, analysts note, is demographic: Jordan fears Israel’s systematic pressure—through geographic constriction, economic suffocation, and political stagnation—will precipitate Palestinian emigration eastward, potentially destabilizing Jordan’s delicate social and security balance.
In response, Jordan is pursuing diplomatic and legal countermeasures. The Royal Hashemite Documentation Centre is intensifying efforts to restore historical land deeds dating to the Ottoman era, potentially for use in an International Court of Justice challenge. While some Jordanians advocate more drastic responses—including revocation of the 1994 peace treaty or military confrontation—government officials currently describe treaty cancellation as ‘political suicide,’ preferring to exhaust diplomatic channels.
Political analyst Lamis Andoni cautioned that Jordan’s hesitation to leverage economic agreements (such as the gas deal with Israel) might be interpreted as tacit approval. Meanwhile, retired Major General Mamoun Abu Nuwar characterized the land confiscations as an ‘undeclared war’ on Jordan, warning that forced displacement could ‘trigger a regional earthquake’ given Jordan’s strategic geopolitical position and preparedness to defend its demographic stability.