 Jordan has urged the United States to reject an Israeli plan for a unilateral withdrawal from 90 percent of the West Bank. Administration officials said Jordan has relayed concern that an Israeli pullout would endanger the Hashemite kingdom. The officials said Amman envisions the West Bank turning into a haven for Al Qaida and Iranian- and Syrian-sponsored groups that aim to destabilize the kingdom. "The bottom line from the Jordanians was: 'We have enough of a problem with Al Qaida and Hamas. This makes it worse?'" an official said. | The Israeli's occupy the West Bank, they bitch. The Israeli's pull out, they bitch. It's like they're a ex-wife or something |
The official said Olmert was directed by the administration to consult Jordan regarding any West Bank withdrawal. He said the State Department and White House would in the meantime seek to bolster the authority of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank. |