Relations between Jordan and the Palestinian Authority (PA) are under stress, as a number of analysts and commentators in Amman have confirmed to Al-Monitor. One indication was Jordanian Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour’s statement to Israeli Radio’s Arabic service May 23 that he hoped there was no “secret back-channel negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians … that would lead to a poor agreement like the Oslo Accord.” This was not the first time that Ensour had expressed such concerns. Pundits here were quick to point out that despite a Palestinian denial that such negotiations existed, the prime minister’s statement confirmed that bilateral ties were not at their best.

Political commentator Orieb al-Rintawi agreed that relations between Amman and Ramallah are going through “a rough phase.” He told Al-Monitor that it appears “Jordan does not trust Palestinian assurances that there are no back-channel negotiations with Israel. Furthermore, even if such negotiations are taking place, Jordan is not sure about the ability of the Palestinian negotiator to reach a good deal.” He pointed out that Jordan has “deep strategic interests in the outcome of final status negotiations because they affect the future of East Jerusalem, borders, water and the thorny issue of refugees.”

Rintawi added that Ensour’s statements also point to Jordan’s negative view of the Oslo Accord, which was negotiated in secret and without Amman’s knowledge back in 1993. But he said, “Unlike former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, President Mahmoud Abbas is keen on maintaining good working relations with King Abdullah, especially since both sides are committed to the theory that Jordan is Jordan and Palestine is Palestine and that Amman has no interest in representing the Palestinians in future negotiations.”

Bassam Badarin, an Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper correspondent in Amman who monitors Jordanian-Palestinian issues, said that relations can be described as “lukewarm” at this stage. He told Al-Monitor that officials in Amman talk about “poor coordination” between the PA and Jordan over peace negotiations. On the other hand, Badarin said, “President Abbas has complained that he has not had a top-level meeting with Jordanian officials in the last six months.”