THE HASHEMITE OPTION is endorsed in this Washington Post oped by Yossi Klein Halevi:
As a first step, the Palestinian Authority must go the way of the Taliban. Arafat should be placed on a plane to Baghdad and his terrorist “police” apparatus dismantled. Israel would then cede most of the territories to Jordan, concentrating the settlements in areas close to the 1967 borders. Until the situation stabilizes, Israel would remain in control of a united Jerusalem, though it would cede the Temple Mount to the Hashemites who, as descendants of the Prophet Muhammad’s family, have a compelling claim as custodians of the site. Finally, Israel would retain a military presence along the Jordan River.
Jordan is the only Arab country that has entered into a strategic relationship with the Jewish state. The Hashemites fear a PLO state no less than the Israelis do. Ironically, Ariel Sharon, who once advocated transforming Jordan into Palestine, has become one of the stalwarts of the Israeli-Jordanian relationship. Perhaps Sharon is the man to help transform Palestine back into Jordan.
Note the passing reference to the Hashemites’ “compelling claim” as custodians of Muslim holy places.
I’ll bet Prince Abdullah just loves hearing about that.