Palestine vs Jordan: A Complex Rivalry Shaped by History, Politics, and Identity

In a region defined by enduring conflict and shifting power dynamics, the relationship between Palestine and Jordan stands as one of the Middle East’s most enduring and nuanced political constellations—marked by historical interdependence, territorial disputes, and delicate diplomacy. Far from a simple binary, the connection between Palestine and Jordan involves deep-rooted cultural ties, contested sovereignty claims, and the legacy of Arab nationalism, all set against the backdrop of modern statehood, refugee populations, and geopolitical maneuvering. At the heart of the Palestinian-Jordanian dynamic lies a shared yet contested national identity.

While Jordan is an independent nation-state recognized internationally since 1946, Palestine remains divided between the occupied West Bank—administered by the Palestinian Authority—and the sovereign state of Palestine declared in 1988, though limited in territorial control. The Jordanian monarchy long viewed Palestinian identity as integral to its legitimacy, seeing predecessors among Palestinian national leaders. After the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians—many from Jaffa, Haifa, and other absorbed into the newly established Hashemite Kingdom—flooded into Jordan, reshaping its demographic and political fabric.

This influx solidified a complex reality where Palestinians make up approximately 60–70% of Jordan’s population, a demographic truth enshrined in official narratives and social memory.

The Historical Entanglement: From Hashemite Patronage to Territorial Ambivalence

Jordan’s ties to Palestine are rooted in Hashemite rule, with King Abdullah I actively promoting Palestinian nationalist integration in the mid-20th century. Following the 1921 Transjordan reorganization, British Mandate administrators and Arab leaders cultivated a symbiotic relationship positioning Palestinians as core to Transjordan’s identity.

Yet this unity was constantly tested. The 1948 war and subsequent displacement deepened Palestinian displacement into both Jordan and the West Bank, institutionalizing a refugee crisis that persists. Jordan temporarily annexed the West Bank in 1950—a move challenged internationally and accepted only by Britain, Pakistan, and Iraq—embedding a geographic and political ambiguity that endures today.

The 1967 Six-Day War shattered this layered reality: Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, severed Jordan’s administrative control and redefined regional relations. Since then, Jordan has maintained a custodial role over East Jerusalem’s Islamic holy sites—particularly Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque—while publicly advocating Palestinian statehood. Yet Jordan’s claims are circumscribed: it cannot assume full title over Palestinian territory without undermining its own national sovereignty and existing population balance.

The monarchy navigates this with careful diplomacy. While emphasizing peaceful coexistence, Jordan avoids explicit support for Palestinian statehood that might erode its legitimacy or challenge its stewardship of holy sites. This balancing act reflects broader regional pressures—between Arab unity and national interest, continuity and change.

Jordan’s public stance often prioritizes stability over confronting Israel’s occupation directly, even as it privately backs Palestinian aspirations.

Refugees, Rights, and Representation: The Palestinian-Jordanian Human Dimension

Palestinian refugees constitute a defining social and political reality across both territories. In Jordan, over 2 million registered Palestinian refugees—many 2nd or 3rd generation—represent a significant portion of the population, contributing deeply to labor markets, education, and public life. However, they remain excluded from full citizenship rights, with the 1954 Nationality Law explicitly denying naturalization.

This legal limbo fuels persistent tensions, as refugees face subtle discrimination and economic marginalization, despite their foundational role in Jordan’s modern identity. In the West Bank, Palestinians assert an unbroken claim to self-determination, governed by the Palestinian Authority’s operational footprint—albeit under Israeli military control and settlement expansion. Jordan’s public rhetoric frequently aligns with this legal-national framework, reinforcing solidarity while managing domestic pressures.

Yet internal divisions emerge: younger Jordanians increasingly question the refugee burden, while Palestinian factions criticize Jerusalem custodianship gaps and Israeli incursions.

Beyond demographics, cultural and familial links remain strong. Families frequently straddle both sides of the border—marriages, business ventures, kinship ties bridge Tel Aviv’s shadow and Amman’s centers, demonstrating enduring social integration that transcends political boundaries.

This yearning for unity contrasts with institutional constraints shaped by geopolitics and state pragmatism.

The Diplomatic Tightrope: Cooperation and Constraints

Diplomatically, Jordan and Palestine navigate a constrained but strategic partnership. While Jordan does not hold sovereign authority over Palestinian territories,