Regional Economic Cooperation

Problem(s):

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan signed a peace agreement with Israel in 1994. Despite the exchange of diplomatic ties, the King’s family has prevented the nation from having viable ties with the people and state of Israel. To make matters worse, the Hashemites have also carried out a variety of public incitement campaigns against Israel, including (but not limited to) celebrating terrorists, inciting the Jordanian public against Israel and promoting anti-Semitism through the regime’s propaganda machine. This has resulted in “minimal to zero” economic and technological benefits for the Jordanian people. On the face of it, it appears that the only one’s profiting have political and social ties with the ruling Hashemite clan. 

EXAMPLE: Recent

Even though Jordan and Israel are at peace, on state TV the Royal Family’s position, articulated by the king very eloquently, has been “The Jews kill our kids in Gaza and Jerusalem every five minutes”. When combined with the following thoughts “There is Islamist fundamentalism but also Zionist fundamentalism, things won’t work this way”. These combined thoughts have kept both sides from fully appreciating the economic benefits of peace.

The feelings from the throne are extended to the nation’s state run media. The king’s own state media has cherished terrorist including those who killed children like Ahlam Al-Tammimi and Ahmad Al-Daqmseh.  Additionally, young Jordanian activists who call for reform and political rights, are arrested, jailed and usually sentenced to years in prison for the most trivial of claims. The actual phrase used is this: those arrested were arrested for “having a long tongue against the king”.

A very personal example is this: Jordan’s opposition leader, Mudar Zahran, was sentenced to life in prison for seeking “to change the structure of society”, all while the Jordanian regime and its loyalists support “slay for pay”, the growth of anti-Semitism, no elections for Palestinians and the Boycott, Divest and Sanction (BDS) movement.  

Proposed Solution: Specifics

• Pass legislation that supports the following:
  • MOTTO: “Jordan and Israel are Abrahamic Brothers who should be partners in peace and economics, not competitors”;
  • THE “MIGHTY PEACE” ACT: This proposed act will fortify and expand the existing peace agreement with Israel. This includes activating and focusing on fulfilling parts of the agreement that King Abdullah has been refusing to expand, implement or honor. Those areas include, but are not limited to economic, educational and cultural cooperation; 
  • BANNING HATE AND TERROR INCITMENT: Eliminate all hate and terror incitement that is currently tolerated, empowered, and even promoted by the current regime. This will be done by introducing strong civil rights policies, along with specifically designed counter-terrorism laws that criminalize the incitement of violence and hate against different races, ethnicities and religions;
  • EXPAND AND REINFORCE ECONOMIC COOPERATION WITH ISRAEL: Create programs that will expand the manufacturing and delivery of imports and exports between both countries in an effort to stimulate the economy and create jobs. We need to learn from each other, and hope that Israel’s professionalism, knowledge and expertise on water, energy, telecommunications and agriculture will not only feed her people, but will expand Jordan’s future in the economic market place;
  • ESTABLISHING FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND JORDAN that reinforces peaceful ties between the nations because they benefit both parties;
  • WORKING WITH ISRAEL TO ENHANCE ITS PIPELINE: In an effort to create jobs and enhance the country’s revenue, the JOC supports refurbishing the current underused pipeline, while developing a new pipeline between Israel and Jordan;
  • ENHANCING ROADS, RAILWAYS, BRIDGES & INFRASTRUCTURE CONNECTING JORDAN AND ISRAEL: Existing road and bridge infrastructure connecting Jordan and Israel must be retrofitted or enhanced. The JOC will work with Israel to plan and construct new public works projects. This will facilitate businesses expansion and the import/export of goods while expanding tourism;
  • MILITARY ALLIANCE: The JOC supports something we call the Jordan-Israel Military Alliance Act . The JOC would like to sign a mutual defense agreement with Israel that includes the US, UK, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. We hope this regional alliance will be structured using the NATO umbrella. One benefit of going in this direction will be the expansion of personal rights through the protection of regional stability;  
  • PASSING THE “TWO EYES” INTELLIGENCE COOPERATION ACT: The JOC supports expanding intelligence cooperation and counter-terrorism effort(s) between the Israel-Jordan-US-UK. The JOC will support making it illegal for Jordanian intelligence agencies to withhold information about terrorist threats and activities that might harm anyone in the alliance.

 POSSIBLE SUPPORT:

• The Jordanian public, who are seeking jobs as they suffer from staggering unemployment rates, and crushing economic conditions;
• Jordan’s secular opposition;
• Economists and businesses;
• Peace-seeking world governments, including UK, Australia, UAE and Saudi Arabia;
• Jordan’s Palestinian majority, as explained by a US Embassy/Amman cable (made public via WikiLeaks). The cable states that the majority of Jordanians of Palestinian origins would prefer civil rights in Jordan than the right of return to Israel.

Possible Opposition:

• The king himself and the royal family which has thrived by claiming to be the only peace partner in Jordan, while preventing the Jordanian public from engaging in peace;
• The Muslim Brotherhood, who are actually the king’s very own political party and would side with the regime, that group too had done very well;

Arguments In Support: This will

• Update status of Jordan’s and Israel’s relationship;
• Expand Jordan’s footprint in the region;
• Expand economic opportunities between the 2 nations;
• Create Jobs that stimulate the economy;
• Stabilize Jordan, weaken the regime’s alliance with the Muslim Brotherhood terror group;
• Establish Jordan as a safe and tolerant country and a future global investment hub;
• Spread peace and prosperity throughout the Middle East.

Arguments In Opposition:

• This will take money from the National Budget earmarked for use by the Royal Family;
• The Hashemite regime will oppose this because it negatively impacts the King’s ability to rule with an iron fist, restricts his use of money and develops public policy that prevents the king from stacking the Parliament with terrorists and regime supporters.

PUBLICITY:

• This legislation will receive wide-spread publicity from the following sources:
  • Local, State and National Jordanian News Media
  • Regional News Media
  • International News Media

HISTORY:

• No such proposal has ever been introduced in the Jordanian parliament for fear of arrest, imprisonment, torture and possible death.

FISCAL EFFECT: This legislation will:

• The fiscal impact has a dual edge to it. On one hand, it will keep money in the Jordanian budget that will be used to finance a variety of public works projects. On the other hand, it will restructure monies taken and used by the Royal family and create jobs and products that expand both the economy and tax base;
• These changes will create jobs at all social levels;
• The overall concept contained in this project are designed to be revenue neutral – we will spend what we save, and conservatively spend money in industries that create jobs, educate and improve the Jordanian economy.

Section Affected: As Drafting Council

Language Attached: Specific Language: No. Structural Language: Yes. This act should be designed using the following concepts:

Section 1: INTENT

The intent of this legislation is to bring enhanced peace and prosperity to Jordan and the region by establishing a comprehensive economic, political and defense partnerships with Israel.   

Section 2: THE “MIGHTY PEACE” ACT:

This proposed act will fortify and expand the existing peace agreement with Israel.  This includes activating and focusing on fulfilling parts of the agreement that King Abdullah has been refusing to expand, implement or honor. Those areas include, but are not limited to economic, educational and cultural cooperation; 

Section 3: BANNING HATE AND TERROR INCITMENT:

Eliminate all hate and terror incitement that is currently tolerated, empowered, and even promoted by the current regime. This will be done by introducing strong civil rights policies, along with specifically designed counter-terrorism laws that criminalize the incitement of violence and hate against different races, ethnicities and religions; 

Section 4: EXPAND AND REINFORCE ECONOMIC COOPERATION WITH ISRAEL:

Create programs that will expand the manufacturing and delivery of imports and exports between both countries in an effort to stimulate the economy and create jobs. We need to learn from each other, and hope that Israel’s professionalism, knowledge and expertise on water, energy, telecommunications and agriculture will not only feed her people, but will expand Jordan’s future in the economic market place;

Section 5: ESTABLISHING FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND JORDAN:

Reinforce peaceful ties between the nations because they benefit both parties;  

Section 6: WORKING WITH ISRAEL TO ENHANCE ITS PIPELINE:

In an effort to create jobs and enhance the country’s revenue, the JOC supports refurbishing the current underused pipeline, while developing a new pipeline between Israel and Jordan;

Section 7: ENHANCING ROADS, RAILWAYS, BRIDGES & INFRASTRUCTURE CONNECTING JORDAN AND ISRAEL:

Existing road and bridge infrastructure connecting Jordan and Israel must be retrofitted or enhanced. The JOC will work with Israel to plan and construct new public works projects.  This will facilitate businesses expansion and the import/export of goods while expanding tourism;

Section 8: MILITARY ALLIANCE:

The JOC supports something we call the Jordan-Israel Military Alliance Act .  The JOC would like to sign a mutual defense agreement with Israel that includes the US, UK, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. We hope this regional alliance will be structured using the NATO umbrella. One benefit of going in this direction will be the expansion of personal rights through the protection of regional stability;  

Section 9: PASSING THE “TWO EYES” INTELLIGENCE COOPERATION ACT:

The JOC supports expanding intelligence cooperation and counter-terrorism effort(s) between the Israel-Jordan-US-UK. The JOC will support making it illegal for Jordanian intelligence agencies to withhold information about terrorist threats and activities that might harm anyone in the alliance. 

Section 10: BUDGET

The sum of $20 Billion dollars is earmarked to implement these programs.  $4 billion a year will be spent over a 5 year period.