Politics of the Middle East Jordan, Palestine, Israel

People Population, 7,930,491 Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1% Muslim 97.2% (predominantly Sunni), Christian 2.2%

History Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Trans-Jordan, Emerit of Jordan 1946 Independence 1948 – 1967 Gained control of the West Bank 1951 Abdullah I killed 1957 End of security pact with UK 1958 Arab Federation of Iraq and Jordan 1965 Land exchange with SA

1967 Six day War, loss of West Bank 1970 Black September 1973 War, 1 Brigade to Syria, 1980s Protests resulting in expanded freedoms Did not participate in Gulf War 1, Iraq Israel Jordan Peace Pact October 26, 1994, ending 46-year state of war. 1996 Food riots, IMF ends subsidies, 25% unemployment, 50% public sector employees, 1999 Death of King Hussein King Abdullah II, political reforms economic cooperation with Egypt, Syria, Israel 2011 Arab Revolutions, protests quelled by some reforms, extended subsidies, reappointment of ministers and early parliamentary elections.

Government Parliamentary Multi Party Monarchy King Abdullah II King is the executive, signs and vetoes laws, may suspend or dissolve parliament. A veto by the king may be overridden by a two-thirds vote of both houses of parliament at his discretion appoints and dismisses judges, approves constitutional amendments, declares war, head of the military

Bicameral assembly Chamber of Deputies 150 members, elected to 4 year terms by the electorate 15 seats reserved for women, 9 seats for Christians, 3 for Chechens/ Circassians. approves, rejects legislation with little power to initiate laws. Assembly of Senators 60 members appointed by the King, 4 year terms Can be removed by Chamber of Deputies 2013 Talal al-Sharif tried to shoot a colleague with an assault rifle.

Palestinian Question At Present, 1,951,603 Palestine refugees in Jordan 338,000 are still living in refugee camps 1946 Jordan had two towns with more than 10,000 people: Amman (65,754) and Salt (14,479). 1952 After refugee crisis, Amman 108,412 Irbid and Zarqa more than doubled their population from less than 10,000 each to respectively, 23,000 and 28,000 1951 King Abdullah I assassinated at the al-Aqsa Mosque by a Palestinian 1966 -1967 Six Day War, 1 Million Refugees

Black September Fedayeen: Loose collection of Palestinian resistance 1967 United under the PLO actions in Jordan including the destruction of three hijacked international airliners and attempted assassination of the king prompted military response Jordanian victory in July 1971, Fedayeen expelled Syrian intervention threatens to start regional war Center of Palestinian militancy relocates to Lebanon

Foreign Relations Pro-Western, close ties US, UK Neutrality Gulf War I European Neighbour Policy, Non-NATO member ally Iraq, received significant oil subsidies until 2003, now hosts large ex-pat community

Palestine

Economy Primarily agricultural Employs 90% of the population Challenges: confiscation of land for military and settler use, blockades restrict export and import of materials GDP 6.8 Billion 1600 per capita

People West Bank 2.5 Million Gaza I.8 Million E. Jerusalem 1.6 Million Muslim 85%, Jewish, 13%, Christian 2%

Government 1994 Palestinian Authority established by the Oslo Accords as an interim government semi-presidential multi-party republic, with a Legislative Council, an executive President, and a Prime Minister President and parliament elected by the people PM is appointed by the President2006 Hamas wins decisive election in parliament Refusal to abide by conditions placed on the PA Hamas members removed from West Bank positions, Control taken of Gaza

Hamas Islamist organisation founded 1987 First Intifada Goals: Liberate Palestine, Establish and Islamic State Wings: Social Welfare, Political and Military Governed by a Consultative Council 15 Member Political Bureau elected by the Council

Israel

People Populations 8,230,000 76% Jewish, 21% Arab, 3% other Hebrew and Arabic Language

Origins of the Idea Israel means Jacob in reference to the Patriarch "struggle with God"[ Twelve Tribes of Israel Jacob From  Canaan were forced by famine to go into Egypt for four generations until Moses lead the Exodus.

Zionism nationalist movement that supports the creation of a Jewish Zionist Congress Aliyah, Immigration waves, (1884), (1904–14), (1919–1923), (1924–1929) 1903, declined a British offer to establish a homeland in Uganda. WWII 33% increase of Jews in Palestine fear that American Jews would encourage the USA to support Germany in WW I resulted in Balfour Declaration

Mandatory Palestine Balfour Declaration 1917, “His Majesty's government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people” Influx of Jewish Migrants, Jerusalem Riots 1920 White Paper 1922. Limited Jewish immigration 1929 Riots 1931, 17% of Palestine Jewish 1936-39 Arab Revolt 1948-49 Civil War

Government Unitary Parliamentary Republic Knesset 120 members Universal Suffrage PM is Head of Government President performs ceremonial duties Basic Law of Israel, un-codified constitution Unstable coalitions Judicial System - English Common Law and Jewish Law Marriage and divorce are under religious courts: Jewish, Muslim, Druze, and Christian

20th Knesset

Coalition Government 30 Likud 6 United Torah Judaism 7 Shas 10 Kulanu 8 Jewish Home

Settlement 382,031 West Bank, 300,000, East Jerusalem 20,000 in the Golan Heights Considered illegal by international community UN Vote, 158 of 166, 160 of 171

Military Israeli Defence Force 3rd highest ratio of GDP to military spending Mossad and Shaback Conscription Men 3 years, Women 2 176,500 active troops and an additional 445,000 reservists US is expected to provide the country with $3.15 billion per year from 2013–2018 Global Peace Index, ranking 145th out of 153 Has not signed Non-proliferation treaty

Foreign Affairs US has provided $68 billion in military assistance and $32 billion in grants since 1967 diplomatic relations with 157 countries, 3 members of the Arab League Egypt and Jordan, Mauritania recognise Israel