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Arab Unity Jordan’s Efforts for Unity When you talk about Arab unity and an Arab nation, you must begin with yourself, and try to set a good example as much as possible, then you will be a source of strength to your nation. God willing, we shall continue along this path, and, God willing, the results will be good. A nation is a policy not an individual, and it cannot be an individual, because then it has no future. Interview with Orbit Television
Since its creation and until the present day, this country has been at the vanguard of its brothers in defending the cause of its nation, its rights, and its unity. In doing so, Jordan has had to bear a burden far greater than its ability. It made immense sacrifices willingly, and in good faith. It had to bear the consequences of wars that were imposed upon it. We do not say this to count favors, for we believe that this was part of our duty towards our nation and its future generations. We recall it because it is part of our history, and a fact that we invoke against anyone that tries to deny this country’s role and its sacrifices. We recall it as a response to the campaigns of slander, discredit, and confusion. We have always called for unity. We have always been messengers of righteousness and reform. We call on our Arab brothers to shun their disputes, and to resolve them through dialogue, without rigidity, without the use of force, without the interference of any side whatsoever in the internal affairs of any Arab country. We have always been keen to avoid the situation where differences of opinion or interpretation, or discord between Arab leaderships, may extend themselves to the peoples. We believe that these differences are temporary, and will vanish one of these days. Address to the Meeting of Arab Political
Parties
As we have sought to achieve a comprehensive peace for our region, and as we lay down a pivotal cornerstone of its impending structure, we hereby call at the same time for transcending differences among members of the same Arab nation, for unifying our positions and for opening new horizons for cooperation and complementarity among them—thus serving to achieve their aspiration to unity and a comprehensive renaissance, to development and growth and to a free, secure and dignified way of life. Address to the Jordanian War College
This is not only a mere hope that has no justification. Since the beginning, we have shared the loaf of bread on this good land. We lived as one family and brothers on this Arab land. If we recall the past and the beginning of the march, we recall the arrival of the Hashemites in this land, the onset of cohesion and integration to rescue this land and its Arab character and identity—rescue it from the designs that had been woven against it. Whatever march this country has faced was, in the long run, an inescapable fate. Every time our Arab nation sustained a tragedy, it was our march that was hardest hit. We must protect and nurture this march. When we talk about the closure of ranks, solidarity, and national unity, we are not talking about a fleeting thing. This was handed down to us from the first generation that fought the battle on behalf of Arab unity and freedom and the good of the Arabs. We have put the interests of others—our brothers and kinsmen—before ours throughout all the phases of our long struggle. Remarks to the Jordanian Cabinet and House
of Representatives
Even though Jordan has not been responsible for everything that has happened, it has always considered the Nation to be its nation and the greater Homeland its homeland. Any threat to any part of this greater homeland is a threat to Jordan. Remarks to the Jordanian Cabinet and House
of Representatives
This distortion has blemished some of the purest images of the struggle of the Jordanian and Palestinian peoples, namely the decision to unify the two banks of the Jordan in 1950. Of this decision I had said in front of Arab leaders at the Arab Summit of Algiers in 1988 that it was a victory for the stream of Arab unity at that point in time. I wondered then about the degree to which the newer generations were familiar with the facts. Of these is the question of how many of them knew that the Jordanian Arab Army had rescued the largest part of what was left of Palestine, including Arab Jerusalem, in the War of 1948, and the question of how many of them realized that the then representatives of the Palestinian people were the ones who initiated the call for union. Address to the Nation
As I look at my people and my larger family today, I am conscious that the Great Arab Revolt, which aimed at liberating the people and their lands and establishing their state, was a rebellion against the powers that sought to efface the identity of the Arab nation whom God had honored through revealing his holy book in their undiluted Arab tongue. I am conscious that those men who advanced with Faisal Ibn Al-Hussein on Damascus, who joined Abdullah Ibn Al-Hussein in battle in the Hijaz in order to liberate Al-Madina Al-Munawwara and rescue the mosque of the Prophet, and who fought with Zeid Ibn Al-Hussein and his companions in the battles of Ma'an and Tafila, were in fact launching an all embracing battle in the name of the nation—as a prelude to establishing this national entity and protecting its soil from any threat to its freedom, its people or its Islamic and Arabic character. This Jordanian entity thus became the standard-bearer of the revolt after the allies placed their interests above their promises and in the wake of regional regression which plagued certain parts of the Arab nation. Address to the Nation
Hoping to revive the Arab nation, we continued to communicate with our Arab brethren. We did so motivated by a firm conviction in the inevitable coming together of our nation on sound and rational foundations, based on the belief in God and our common destiny, goals and interests. Thereafter, we put border-related disputes between some Arab states as a principal item on our agenda, considering them as fundamental weaknesses which must be addressed and remedied. Address to the Military Staff College
Graduation
Just as the fighting was ending, over two thousand Palestinians held a great meeting in Jericho and decided to unite the rump of Palestine and Jordan under King Abdullah. This was perhaps my grandfather’s greatest triumph of humanity. While the other Arab leaders sat waiting, watching, hoping, blaming each other, my grandfather acted. A man of great foresight, blended with realism, and a true Arab nationalist, he formally agreed to incorporate into Jordan that part of Palestine which Jordanian troops of the Legion had saved for the Arabs. My grandfather gave nearly one million Palestinians, many of them refugees and destitute, full citizenship. This is how the West Bank of Jordan came into being, an important part of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. It is important to remember that by this move my grandfather without doubt saved this large area of Palestine from becoming part of Israel. Remember too that in 1948 Jordan had an army of under 4,500. p. 124, Uneasy Lies the Head, 1962 |
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