AMMAN - With
the Israeli occupation authorities operating the Ramon Airport in the Negev, and the start of Palestinian travel from the West Bank through it, Jordanian-Israeli relations are entering a new phase of acrimony, albeit silently this time, despite the meetings that took place between Jordanian King Abdullah II and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid.
The Ramon Airport crisis in Jordan bears political and economic dimensions, according to analysts, the most important of which is that operating the airport constitutes an attack on Jordan’s sovereignty, and a blow to the only land crossing - King Hussein Crossing - that allows the Palestinians to communicate with the world, and harms Amman’s economic interests with regard to the tourism and air transport sectors, and does not cross On the spirit of cooperation and the prospect of peace between the two countries.
Analysts went even further by saying that the danger of operating Ramon Airport on Jordanian interests may affect the package of strategic projects to be implemented between the Israeli side and Jordan on the one hand, and the Arab Gulf states on the other, especially the Peace Railway, the Jordan Gate project, and the transport of Israeli gas through The pipelines of the Jordanian pipeline, all the way to Egypt, to be liquefied and exported to European countries, according to analysts.
Jordanian Prime Minister Bishr Al-Khasawneh (center) and his Palestinian counterpart, Muhammad Shtayyeh, inaugurated the Al-Rama electricity substation to provide the Palestinians with electricity (communication sites)
Jordanian confirmation of support for the Palestinians
Officially, Jordanian Prime Minister Bishr Al-Khasawneh reiterated Jordan's absolute commitment to supporting the Palestinians in order to achieve the two-state solution, ensure stability and a just and comprehensive peace, and facilitate the Palestinians' transit and movement across the King Hussein Bridge to the Kingdom, and from there to the countries of the world.
Al-Khasawneh's statements came during the inauguration of this morning, Wednesday, by his Palestinian counterpart, Muhammad Shtayyeh, in the Al-Rama electricity substation in the "Southern Jordan Valley - Dead Sea" area to provide the Palestinians with electrical energy.
Al-Khasawneh affirmed work to enhance trade exchange with the Palestinians, enhance Jordanian exports to Palestine, and refuse to prejudice the historical and legal situation in the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.
In turn, Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh said that Ramon Airport is one of the projects that would harm the joint Jordanian-Palestinian interests, and you will not find a Palestinian partner, whether official or popular, for it. If the Israeli occupation really wants to facilitate the lives of the Palestinians, then open Al-Quds International Airport.
Shtayyeh added that "neither Ramon Airport nor any other airport will be a substitute for our Jordanian depth," praising the measures taken by the Jordanian authorities to facilitate the crossing of Palestinians through bridges, by extending working hours and providing convenience for transportation, explaining that "the obstruction of trade and movement is done by the party the other (Israeli), with many pretexts."
On social media platforms, Jordanian activists criticized the travel of Palestinians from the West Bank through Ramon Airport, and activists launched the hashtag "#Palestinian_normalization_betrayal", to express their rejection of this step, and activists tweeted at the hashtag "#Ramon_Airport", rejecting any cooperation with the Israeli occupation.
Activists considered the use of the Israeli Ramon Airport by the Palestinians of the West Bank or Gaza Strip in the future as "high treason and a stabbing in the back of Jordan for all the positions it took with the Palestinian people in defending their just cause," as they described them.
A violation of Jordanian sovereignty
According to analysts, Jordan opposed the establishment of the airport and refused to operate it for several considerations, most notably that it "affects the air navigation of King Hussein Airport in the city of Aqaba, southern Jordan, and enters Jordanian airspace during the landing and take-off of Israeli and incoming planes," which constitutes an Israeli violation of Jordan's sovereignty, and in contradiction with The provisions of the Jordanian-Israeli peace agreement, which provided for the two parties' recognition of each other's sovereignty, political independence and mutual respect.
The move to operate the airport does not provide “an atmosphere of cooperation and peace between the two countries,” according to the speech of a member of the Senate and former Jordanian Minister of Information Muhammad al-Momani to Al Jazeera Net, adding that the origin is that there is cooperation between Jordan and Israel in “operating King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba, rather than establishing an airport.” Ramon, and this is what was agreed upon in the Wadi Araba treaty.” As for the presence of two airports that compete with each other in Jordan’s Aqaba and Israeli Eilat, this “will affect the horizon of the peace process between the two countries.”
The use of the Israeli Ramon Airport by the Palestinians of the West Bank and Gaza is a high treason and a stabbing in the back of Jordan for all the positions it stood with the Palestinian people in defending their just cause. Where is the position of the authority, Hamas, the factions and the people of the camps??
Do not lose everyone's sympathy # Palestinian normalization is a betrayal https://t.co/wvCPmC6ByO
— Israeli Affairs Expert Ayman Hunaiti (@AymanHunaiti) August 23, 2022
Al-Momani added that Jordan began the policy of open crossings with the Palestinian side since the Israeli occupation of the West Bank in 1967, and formed an important lung through which the Palestinians breathe to cross the world for work, study and tourism, and this facilitates them, referring to “Israel creating a crisis for the passage of Palestinian travelers through the King Hussein Bridge.” During the current summer and restricting them, to push the Palestinians to use Ramon Airport and restart it.”
On the Palestinian side, Momani believes that the Palestinian Authority should demand a “firm stance that supports the Jordanian position.” Just as the authority asks the Palestinians not to use the Israeli airports in Tel Aviv and Lod, an official position is also required to “prevent the use of Ramon Airport by the Palestinians, and the continued use of the King Bridge.” Hussein until the establishment of the Palestinian state, and the original is that this is what the Palestinian Authority has said at this stage,” he said.
Analysts stress the need for a popular rejection of Ramon Airport, because any use of the airport constitutes "Palestinian normalization, serving Israeli interests, and economic support for the Israeli side at the expense of Jordanian interests."
Yesterday, the first flight from the Israeli Ramon Airport arrived in Cyprus carrying Palestinians from the West Bank, and flights will continue to other countries at the expense of Queen Alia Airport and transit through Jordan.
An Israeli move to serve its interests in line with the Ramallah Authority, which provided a service to Israel at the expense of Jordan, which it wants in crises
— Samih Al-Maaytah (@AlmaitahSamih) August 23, 2022
wholesale losses
Economically, economic analysts talk about losses that “wholesale will be caused by Jordanian economic sectors, the most important of which are the tourism and air transport sectors,” especially that Jordan is visited every year by about 300,000 Palestinian travelers from the West Bank, 70% of whom travel through Jordanian airlines and the national carrier “Royalty.” Jordan" to countries of the world.
According to economic analyst Issam Kodmani, the operation of Ramon Airport "will take a large share of the passengers of the Queen Alia International Airport and King Hussein in Aqaba," in addition to its economic consequences on several sectors, stressing that "Israel tempts the Palestinian traveler to reduce the financial costs of traveling through the airport, and to shorten the travel time." through the land crossings.
Kodmani believes that the official Jordanian response "should not depend only on filing a complaint with the International Aviation Organization, but rather resort to the international judiciary to stop the work of this airport," adding that "Israel is talking about economic cooperation projects for the Arab region, but it does the opposite by establishing and operating an airport adjacent to Aqaba Airport." Which indicates that these Israeli hadiths are “nothing but lies and misinformation,” as he described it.
Tourism companies expressed their fear that Israel would be exploited to attract tourist groups through Ramon and visit the city of Aqaba for a day, at the expense of Jordan, and fears that travel would affect future Umrah and Hajj trips from the same airport.
Everyone should be aware of this
that the last clauses of the “Deal of the Century” alerts to
the Palestinian suffering, and instead of solving it by ending the occupation, the deal proposed turning the suffering into an Israeli incentive to develop control systems for the Palestinians.
— Sara Obeidat 🇯🇴 (@SarasTalk1) August 22, 2022
port bri
Former Jordanian Minister of Transport Khaled Walid Seif believes that the first step to confront the operation of Ramon Airport is to “develop the Karama crossing, reduce the financial costs paid by the Palestinian traveler through the crossing, and provide a better service in terms of traffic, accommodation, smooth movement and ease of movement on the crossing, and open it to work around the clock.” An hour to make it easier for passengers and travelers.
He added that the plan, "establishing a land airport for goods and passengers at the Karama crossing, will contribute to alleviating travelers coming from the Palestinian territories," and Jordan does not alone have the decision to operate the crossing for 24 hours, especially with the Israeli conditions impeding that.
The National Forum to Support the Resistance and Protect the Homeland issued a statement calling on "the Palestinian brothers not to use the Zionist Timna Airport, and to reject normalization by using this airport for transportation and travel," noting that "the Israeli step comes in light of the official impulse for further normalization with the Zionist entity, and the signing of agreements." With him, the last of which is the Jordan Gate project, and in light of the continued Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people and the desecration of sanctities, and the quest to write off the Jordanian role in the mandate over it.
Analysts believe that what contributed to the airport's operation was the state of rapprochement between the Israeli and Turkish side, the thawing of differences between the two countries, and the development of diplomatic relations between them.
#Ramon_Airport will be the security detachment for a new transfer to deport the Palestinians inside, the security coordination #Mossad and its understandings with the Turkish side will be the straw that breaks the camel's back - the silence is suspicious - the Zionist ideology is based on punishing the resistance fighters by punishing their families, beware,,,, a tourist trip may cost you losing Home ‼️
— Ehsan Salita |
Ihsan Salaita (@IhsanSalaita) August 23, 2022