Jordan's challenge: Fighting extremism

A week ago, in the midst of the turmoil rumbling through the Middle East, Jordan celebrated its centennial. Not to be confused with the Hashemite kingdom's 70th Independence Day, which was marked in May, the centennial marked the Great Arab Revolt led by the Hashemite family against the Ottoman Empire during World War I. It was this uprising that brought the man who would be known as King Abdullah I to power, and created Jordan.

A century later, and contrary to all projections, Jordan still stands strong, showing stability and durability that are in stark contrast to its neighbors, Iraq and Syria -- both regional powers, ruled by seemingly unshakable dictators. While Iraq and Syria have been plunged into chaos, it is Jordan's fragile regime that has, against all odds, remained steadfast. Perhaps this is because the rulers in Amman, aware of the brittle nature of their regime, never dared act like their counterparts in Baghdad and Damascus.

The secret to the Hashemite kingdom's longevity is multifaceted. It includes its strategic location as a buffer between Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Israel -- something all its neighbors had a clear interest to preserve; the fact that the monarchy is rooted in local Arab traditions and does not counter them as the socialist republican presidencies of Syria or Iraq do; and, perhaps most importantly, the moderate policies practiced by the Jordanian regime, shown in the fact that no rancor felt by the Jordanian public has ever evolved into the deep hatred seen in Syria or Egypt.

Over the last few years, Jordan has been facing an economic crisis, compounded by budding Islamic radicalism, as well as with the growing number of refugees fleeing the atrocities in Iraq and Syria.

The millions of Palestinian refugees who arrived in Jordan following Israel's inception and who form about half of its population have been joined by over 1.5 million Iraqi refugees and about as many Syrian refugees. Caring for these refugees has taken its toll on the Jordanian economy, while also reminding every Jordanian citizen of the dangers of political protests spiraling out of control and of where civil war could lead the kingdom.

The 1916 uprising, led by Hashemite Arab leader Sharif Hussein bin Ali and his son, the Emir Faisal, came one year before the Balfour Declaration gave international legitimacy under British patronage to the Zionist enterprise in the Land of Israel.

These two events did not contradict each other, nor were they headed toward an inevitable collision. Moreover, in 1919, Faisal became the first Arab leader to sign a decree, with Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann, acknowledging Jewish rights in the Land of Israel.

While Faisal was unable to back the agreement with actions, it was the first step in what has become a longstanding friendship and mostly good relations between Jordan and Israel. Through mutual understandings and continuous, intimate contact on a strategic level, the two countries have been able to contain the crises that followed the 1948 War of Independence and the 1967 Six-Day War and overcome their differences.

It is a fascinating fact that the Hashemite rulers, who made the strategic decision to set aside their conflict with Israel and foster a solid relationship with the Jewish state, are among the few regional leaders left standing, and among the few in the Middle East able to make their nation success story.

Jordan still has to weather the threat posed by the Islamic State group, and much of its ability to do so hinges on King Abdullah II's ability to ensure political stability and economic prosperity for his people. The 100 years of Jordanian legacy give hope that he will be able to see his country through the storm.

טעינו? נתקן! אם מצאתם טעות בכתבה, נשמח שתשתפו אותנו