(MENAFN- Jordan Times) Jordan faces challenges from two fronts: Syria's crisis, with its unforeseen consequences, and possible escalation of violence in the West Bank due to evolving crises, one of which caused by the question of who killed Yasser Arafat.
Both might have a negative bearing on Jordan.
Despite huge pressures, the Kingdom has shown exceptional skill in managing the Syrian crisis. It still has to consolidate and protect its position when dealing with this crisis in the future. The country could do so by reaching national consensus on a policy to preserve state institutions and protect the country from any possible internal disputes.
Despite the risks entailed, Jordan needs to try to keep channels of communication open with all parties to the conflict in the region. Its strategic interests dictate that it play a key role in any scenario. Therefore, any political intervention on Jordan's part requires extreme tact, especially given that nothing decisive can develop in Syria without Jordanian support.
Hence, it is extremely important to reach consensus among all parties to the conflict, especially the Syrians.
The other challenge posed for Jordan would be a surprise unilateral Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank. This method was already used in Gaza.
If such approach is applied to the West Bank, it might precipitate serious disorder that or, in the worst case, civil war.
The Israelis believe that the turmoil created in the West Bank will spill over onto the east bank of the River Jordan, just as the Syrian crisis extended to Tripoli, in Lebanon.
Any Israeli solution to the Palestinian crisis will almost certainly include Jordan, as a natural extension of the conflict.
Jordan will again have to play a central role in resolving the Palestinian problem. Accordingly, any Palestinian-Israeli settlement should be conceived in Jordan.
On the domestic scene, the foremost political topic is the forthcoming parliamentary elections, with special emphasis on the Elections Law.
Despite the regional political changes, the home front should become the centre of attention of all Jordanians. Here, it is important to underline the significance of the law-enforcement process launched with the closure of several well-known restaurants, bakeries and sweet shops, followed by joint military and security forces operation against "a group of wanted criminals" in Sweileh's Kamaliyah area.
At this crucial juncture, many questions arise, foremost among them whether the Jordanian society is ready for the election stage.
It is important to remember that elections should represent an opportunity to bring harmony to the political arena and to end any remnant of past disputes. It would be dangerous to incorporate the unresolved problems of today in the coming phase.
The writer, political analyst and expert in intercultural studies, is lecturer at the University of Jordan. He contributed this article to The Jordan Times.
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