The release of the first issue of the Jordanian–Palestinian Researchers Network Newsletter:New Approaches to Reading Regional Transformations and the Palestinian Cause

The Policy and Society Institute has launched the pilot issue of the Jordanian–Palestinian Researchers Network Newsletter, dedicated to examining the recent wave of international recognition of the State of Palestine and analyzing its political implications—both for the Palestinian cause and for the broader regional landscape—amid the transformations unfolding since October 7, 2023.

Through this publication, the Network aims to offer intellectual insights that enrich dialogue and enhance its effectiveness on the Palestinian issue and the dynamics of the Jordanian–Palestinian relationship.

The issue opens with an article by Mohammad Abu Rumman, Academic Advisor at the Policy and Society Institute, titled “Jordan and the Gaza Plan: Balancing the Possible and the Fearful.” The piece provides an in-depth reading of Jordan’s position on the new “Trump Plan” for Gaza, exploring how Amman balances its strategic partnership with Washington while adhering to its national principles regarding Palestine. It warns that any regional or international custodianship could undermine the political meaning of Palestinian statehood and have significant repercussions for Jordan’s national security.

In the second article, researcher Ibrahim Sameeh Rabaiah, in “Between the State and Trump: The Reversal of the Scene and Strategies of Action,” examines the war on Gaza’s impact on the Palestinian and regional arenas. He explains how the “Trump Plan” reshaped the priorities of Arab and Palestinian actors and how international recognitions have revived the Palestinian issue after years of political stagnation. The article calls for a coherent Palestinian–Arab strategy that balances political realism with the imperatives of national justice.

Researcher Walid Habbas contributes an analytical piece titled “Israel’s Position on Western Recognition of the State of Palestine,” offering a critical analysis of Israeli thinking regarding recent recognitions. He shows how Israel perceives them as a threat to its settlement project and as “a reward for terrorism.” The article maps Israel’s political currents and highlights the ideological shifts that have pushed Israeli society further toward the far right and total rejection of the two-state solution.

In a comprehensive analytical study, Ali Hijazi writes “Jordan’s Role in the West Bank: An Analytical Reading in Light of the New Generation’s Perceptions.” Drawing on a public opinion survey conducted by the Policy and Society Institute among Jordanian university students, the article reveals a fundamental shift in the awareness of the new Jordanian generation—viewing the stability of the West Bank as integral to Jordan’s stability. It argues that Amman’s role should be active yet calculated in shaping future settlements, as young Jordanians increasingly link national identity to the Palestinian cause, reflecting a new strategic consciousness of national security.

Researcher Hasan Jaber, in his article “Recognition of the State of Palestine and Prospects for Arab Collective Action,” explores the diplomatic and legal dimensions of international recognition. He argues that such recognitions have reshaped the normative power of the Palestinian cause and revived the potential for collective Arab diplomacy. The article also addresses obstacles to this momentum—divergent regional priorities and structural constraints in the UN Security Council—and concludes that turning recognition into political reality requires a new Arab consensus balancing principles and interests.

Khaled Dabbas, in “Arab–International Coordination on the Palestinian Issue: The Question of Effectiveness and the Limits of Capacity,” offers a critical assessment of the Arab regional system’s declining ability to coordinate collectively in the face of Israeli and U.S. projects. He notes that varying Arab approaches—from mediation to normalization to neutrality—have hampered the formulation of a unified position that could channel global recognition momentum toward advancing Palestinian rights.

In the same vein, Bader Al-Madi, in “Saudi Arabia’s Role Toward the Palestinian Cause After October 7,” analyzes the evolution of Saudi policy toward the Arab–Israeli conflict. He explains how Riyadh combines its historical commitment to the Palestinian cause with pragmatic strategic considerations in a shifting regional environment. The article traces how Saudi Arabia repositioned itself diplomatically after the Gaza war to become a leading actor in promoting international recognition of Palestine through UN initiatives and engagement with major powers.

Researcher Amir Dawood, in his article “The Impact of International Recognition of the State of Palestine on Settlement Projects,” discusses how recognition can be used as a political tool to curb settlement expansion and alter the legal balance of power in international forums by leveraging UN resolutions and the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice as instruments of pressure on Israel.

Nidham Barakat, in “Recognition of the State of Palestine and Its Implications for Negotiations and the War on Gaza,” provides an in-depth analysis of how international recognition could affect the political process—questioning whether this wave will lead to a just settlement or serve to freeze the conflict under a legal veneer. He proposes a realistic approach to maintain the political horizon and prevent recognition from becoming a merely symbolic achievement.

The issue concludes with Mohammad Al-Rujoub’s article “The Trump Plan and Its Implications for the Palestinian Position,” which reflects on Palestinian concerns about international recognition being exploited to dilute their cause or impose new transitional arrangements in Gaza and the West Bank. Al-Rujoub stresses that the real battle today is no longer fought solely on the battlefield but in the arena of political and legal legitimacy.

This publication is part of the broader vision of the Jordanian–Palestinian Researchers Network, which brings together leading academics and experts from both sides to foster sustained scholarly dialogue on issues of shared interest. The Network aims to develop practical recommendations and policy insights that strengthen Jordanian–Palestinian complementarity in addressing current regional challenges and establish a joint research platform that restores scientific rigor to the study of Palestinian and Arab issues, bridging academic vision and political realism.

The Policy and Society Institute is an independent Jordanian think tank dedicated to advancing security and prosperity in Jordan and the region. Guided by the principle of safeguarding Jordan’s supreme national interests, the Institute continuously works to build and empower research capacity and enhance evidence-based policy engagement.

Click here to download the full newsletter (In Arabic).