Nine years after the Jordanian government broke off its ties with Hamas, the independent Jordanian AmmonNews agency reported on Sunday that the evolving regional situation, and the kingdom's desire to ease tensions with the Muslim Brotherhood , are pushing the Hashemite regime to normalize relations with the Palestinian group.
However, the article states that this is should not be taken as an indication the Jordanian government is deviating from its policy of supporting a two-state solution and its strategic alliance with the US. It goes on to mention meetings that were held between officials from the Jordanian General Intelligence Department (GID) and Hamas representatives last month, a development that was reported in more detail by Al-Ghad at the end of last month. These meetings were apparently significant since Hamas's own media office in Jordan was closed and its representatives in Jordan forced to leave the country in 1999 (Note: the picture above was taken around the time of their expulsion).
Ammon's report suggests that both parties are playing a delicate game of improving their positions in the pursuit of their interests while maintaining their traditionally outspoken, and often opposing, agendas. In exchange for Jordan exercising more neutrality in Palestinian issues, the author indicates that Hamas will cease instigating tensions within Jordan via its relations with the Muslim Brotherhood and Islamist groups in the country who were recently weakened in controversial parliamentary and municipal elections.
Overall these developments suggest that as Hamas takes on a more active role as a domestic Palestinian political actor, it also has the ability to influence trends outside the Occupied Territories. However, despite the apparent necessity for both parties to improve relations with one another, one might question if this ‘mutual’ feeling will survive any downturn in either regional or local tensions.
