(MENAFN - Alghad Newspaper)

The Israelis think they can twist our arm by threatening to suspend the Two-Seas Channel project, all to force the return of their diplomatic mission in Amman.

Notably, the Israeli embassy staff left some five months ago, in the wake of the Israeli guard's crime, who killed two Jordanian citizens, one of them not 17 years old!

Since then, Jordan's stand on the matter has been steadfast and our conditions clear.

The diplomatic mission will not return to Amman until the killer stands trial, and the Israeli authorities issue an official apology, as well.

Until then, the embassy remains shut.

Only after these terms are met, the Israeli mission to Amman may return, under a new ambassador, as the former will not be allowed entry to resume her post.

In response to these conditions, the Israeli saw to pressure us into concession. From threating to suspend the Channel project to —as one Israeli official said— finding new regional partners to play ball with Israel.

Honestly speaking, this is absurd.

Jordan's regional role was never exclusive to Israel nor fully dependent on Israel's approval. Israel's recent proximity to other possible regional players does not compromise Jordan's regional position. It will not devalue Jordan's key role in advancing resolutions to the crises of the region, let alone the peace process, should there even be one at this point!

Regional economic and political naturalisation will not reduce Jordan's involvement in the Palestinian Cause, and the Palestinians, above all, know this for a fact.

It was we, Jordan, who stood alone in the face of the world, defending Palestine and the Palestinians' rights. Who else bothered while the rest of the Arab and Islamic world indulged in other —make no mistake— pointless ventures?!

Meanwhile, the entire world has recognised Jordan's indispensable role in the region, from the United States to European Union, all the way to Russia and the ends of the earth.

The outcomes of Jordan's efforts over the last few years clearly undermine the authenticity of Israeli propaganda and effort to contain the Kingdom's growing influence.

Sadly, some have been claiming that Jordan's foreign relations have been strained by the deteriorating relationship with Israel, after the embassy incident. Obviously, they do not share the leadership's take on our situation and priorities.

Our stand is clear, especially on the Palestinian cause, among other pressing issues!

In fact, our strategies push for a comprehensive, just solution in Palestine and the advancement of anti-terrorism measures worldwide. As for the situation north and east of Jordan, our interests remain to advance political solution in Syria and defuse the crisis in Iraq.

Those are our priorities. So someone please explain how do they not fit with the regional approach for stability and sustainability?!

The truth is that that Jordan's role in the region is indispensable!

However, it may have been a mistake naturalising economic relations with Israel.

Relations with an occupation state are never sustainable. We have said it times over; Israel is an unreliable partner, and has no interest in upholding their parts of any bargain.

Make no mistake; it is rooted in the nature of its unfriendly unfolding.

Many have warned against binding Jordan's economic interests to Israel's over the years and now it became clear why.

The moment Jordanian-Israeli relations hit a bump, the Israelis show their true colours, by trying to extort us into submission, as opposed to abiding to the law, and this isn't the first time, mind you.

For what it is worth, Israel is a state of occupation that harbours little to no respect for the law, let alone legislation or diplomatic customs.

This is evident from the way they chose to handle the diplomatic crisis between Jordan and Israel. Instead of trying their killer diplomat in accordance to international law, they threaten to suspend the Two-Seas Channel project.

Israel will never accept any law that views it in the same light it views its neighbours!

That said, perhaps Jordan should respond in like to Israel's threats, by suspending the gas agreement.

Legally speaking, we can, and the Israelis need to sell us their gas as much as we need the Channel's water, so why not play our card; an eye for an eye!

There is no better way to approach Israel, having suffered the consequences of their disrespect for the law first-hand, be it in case of the Israeli Embassy incident or the murder of Judge Zuaitar, let alone their persistent infringement against religious endowments in Jerusalem as well as against the Palestinians.

We must twist their arm as well and as hard as they are trying to twist ours.

How else are we going to restore critical balance to our relationship with Israel if not through stone-writ guarantees to not disrupt joint projects, while making sure that the embassy murderer stands trial.

Without any such guarantees, we will never be able to deal with Israel as peers or in partnership; we will always be inferior to the Israeli state of occupation, unless we stand up for ourselves!

Either way, it is best for Jordan not to bind its economic interests to the agendas of a hostile, enemy state that has no respect for agreements, law or legislation, whatsoever!

This article is an edited translation of the Arabic version, published by AlGhad.

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