Jordanian-Israeli Relations
The peacebuilding experience
Jordans peace treaty with Israel was unique as it bore the promise of what was termed a warm peace between the two warring countries. With legitimacy provided by Madrid and Oslo, hopes for true peace, as the Israelis would describe it, were high. This book explores the Jordanian-Israeli relations from a Jordanian perspective, focusing on the peacebuilding experience since 1994. In examining the reasons why a warm peace has not developed, the book focuses on the interplay between agency and structure on the Jordanian side, in relation to the Israeli-Palestinian context. In doing so, the book discusses the role of the various Jordanian leadership layers in the process and brings to light the intra-societal dynamics and particularities of the Jordanian social construct.
With research based on the premise that international relations are social constructions, meaning that facts are theory-laden and contexts matter to political actors since they influence their understanding of conflict and impact upon their decisions, the book also serves as an example of the application of an inter-disciplinary approach to analysing conflicts and subsequent peacebuilding experiences.
This book will be of interest to students of Politics and International Relations, History, Middle Eastern Studies and Social Studies, in particular those interested in the areas of Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding.
Dr Mutayyam al Oran holds a PhD in international conflict analysis and international relations from the University of Kent, UK. Her areas of expertise include international relations, conflict resolution/transformation and peacebuilding, in addition to Arab-Israeli relations and politics. Dr al Oran is a member of the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies and she has published a number of articles in academic journals.
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- JordanianIsraeli Relations
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- Mutayyam al Oran
JordanianIsraeli Relations
The peacebuilding experience
Mutayyam al Oran
First published 2009
by Routledge
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2009 Mutayyam al Oran
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Al Oran, Mutayyam, 1972Jordanian-Israeli relations: the peacebuilding experience, Mutayyam al Oran
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. JordanForeign relationsIsrael. 2. IsraelForeign relations Jordan. 3. Arab-Israeli conflict1993Peace. 4. JordanPolitics and government1999. 5. Israel-Politics and government1993I. Title.
DS154.16.175A4 2008
327.569505694dc22 2008023420
ISBN 0-203-88692-5 Master e-book ISBN
ISBN13: 978-0-415-43784-4 (hbk)
ISBN13: 978-0-203-88692-2 (ebk)
ISBN10: 0-415-43784-9 (hbk)
ISBN10: 0-203-88692-5 (ebk)
I dedicate this work to the ones whose ideals put me on the path of peace research and without whose support, love and encouragement, this humble effort would never have seen the light of day. More specifically, I dedicate it to my beloved mother, Muna al Oran, to my precious Maysa and dearest Manal and Mudar. Thank you for being my family and friends. I also dedicate this book to the memory of my father, Suleiman al Oran.
Acknowledgements
This work has benefited from the valuable assistance and advice of a number of individuals in Jordan and Britain. In Jordan, I am thankful to all who accorded me interviews at various stages of my work and despite their hectic schedules and constant travel, especially their Excellencies Mr Marwan Muasher, Gen. Ali Shukri and Adnan Abu Odeh. I am grateful to the staff at the Centre dEtudes et Recherches du Moyen Orient in Amman for placing the resources of their library at my disposal. Similarly, I thank the staff at Jordan University Archives and the Royal Scientific Society for granting me access to their publications. I am also particularly grateful to the Global Research in International Affairs (GLORIA) Centre for allowing me full use of an article I published in the December 2006 issue of the Middle East Review of International Affairs Journal. Distinguished scholars whose unpublished academic works (including doctoral theses) were made available to me to benefit from, deserve my special thanks and appreciation, especially Dr Adiba Mango.
I also extend my deepest appreciation and sincere gratitude to Professors Hugh Miall and Gerd Nonneman and Dr Neil Quilliam for their invaluable insights, support and encouragement, and above all, friendship.
As much as everybodys valuable insight and comments helped guide the research and enriched the analytical process, the failings and shortcomings of the work remain solely and entirely my own.
Preface
My keen interest in peacebuilding, conflict resolution in general and the IsraeliArab conflict in particular is not merely attributed to all these being my areas of academic specialization, but also to my being a woman living in a turbulent region during continuously challenging times, a region known to the world as the Middle East. With conflicts raging in numerous Middle Eastern hot spots and, at times, outliving entire generations that witnessed their beginnings, one is met with sheer cynicism when broaching the topic of regional peace, let alone prospects of a warm Arab-Israeli one. Notwithstanding the frustrations breeding this cynicism, this last one is inadmissible. This is simply because the best time to contemplate peace is during ongoing violent conflict. Peace is what we struggle with our opponents to achieve. It requires stamina, unshaken faith and heroic sacrifices. It is certainly not an abstract notion that we are meant to praise in quiet conversation with trusted friends. Peace is made with people one fears and calls enemies, and the struggle to build it is even harder. Therefore, it is as timely as ever to talk of peace in the Middle East and to contemplate a warm one, more so because of the ongoing clashes, occupation, violence and deeply rooted frustrations.