Jordanian official speaks of 'State of two banks' 

While Amman is sensitive to claims that 'Jordan is the 
Palestinian state', head of senate in independence day speech 
refers to 'two united banks, with kingdom emerging on 
both banks of holy river' 

by Roee Nahmias 

Ynet
May 26, 2010
http://bit.ly/jordan-palestine  

In a ceremony commemorating Jordan's independence day, 
Taher al-Masri, head of the country's senate, spoke of the 
"state of two united banks," London-based al-Quds al-Arabi 
reported on Wednesday.

This is a rare and surprising statement, which may be interpreted 
as granting legitimization to the viewpoint that the Palestinian 
residents of the West Bank are part of the Hashemite Kingdom. 

Speaking before an audience of some 1,000 people, including the 
royal family and Kind Abdullah II, al-Masri spoke of "the two 
united banks, with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan emerging 
on both banks of the holy river." 

After the outbreak of the First Intifada in 1987, Jordan's late 
King Hussein renounced all territorial claims over the West Bank. 
Jordan repeatedly emphasized that it is a separate entity from the 
West Bank, and that a solution to the Palestinian problem will not 
take place in its borders. 

Since then, Jordanian officials have not only abstained from 
making such statements, but have also expressed fury any time 
Israeli elements make similar claims such as "Jordan is the 
Palestinian state." 

The Jordanians were outraged last year when Knesset Member 
Arieh Eldad (National Union) submitted a bill calling for two states 
for two peoples on either side of the Jordan River. Amman protested 
to the Israeli ambassador in Jordan, and parliament members called 
on the government to cut ties with Israel. 

There are also those that may interpret al-Masri's comments as 
more than a claim to responsibility over the Palestinians, but also 
as territorial ambitions in the West bank. Jordan's official stance 
rejects any such claims in light of its peace agreement with Israel.