2013 Briefing Book - Print Version - Aipac

ISRAEL AT RISK
Israeli officials are particularly concerned about the fate of Syria’s arsenal of long-range missiles and
chemical weapons. Today, Syria maintains the largest stockpile of chemical weapons in the Middle East
and has the capability to place such weapons on long-range SCUD missiles. As the regime collapses,
there is concern that these weapons could be transferred to Hizballah in Lebanon or otherwise fall into
the hands of terrorists that might use them against U.S. or Israeli targets.
Jordan Remains Stable—For Now
While Jordan has remained relatively stable amid the dynamic changes in the region, the potential for
instability and expanding protests in the Hashemite Kingdom is another cause for concern. Since the
1997 treaty between Jordan and Israel, the Hashemite kingdom has emerged as a key ally in the region
of both Israel and the United States, particularly in the areas of counter-terrorism and intelligence
sharing. Additionally, in a widely touted joint U.S.-Jordanian program, Palestinian Authority national
security forces have been trained in Jordan under U.S. personnel and curriculum since 2007.
With the beginning of the Arab Spring in 2011, King Abdullah has worked hard to respond to public
calls for political reforms, often firing governmental ministers for not moving quickly to implement
changes. Jordan’s monarchy remains deeply
concerned by the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood
in Egypt, as it has the potential to embolden the
Islamic Action Front (IAF), the Brotherhood’s
organization in Jordan, which has long opposed
peace with Israel.
King Abdullah of Jordan has thus far survived
internal opposition to his rule.
Israel’s border with Jordan is the longest border
it has with any of its Arab neighbors. The border
has been kept quiet and free of smuggling for
many decades, but now plays host to more than
100,000 Syrian refugees. Should dramatic change
come to Jordan, the potential that weapons
and rockets could be smuggled to terrorists in
the West Bank could become a serious concern.
Rockets launched from the West Bank would
pose an intolerable risk to Jerusalem and other
Israeli population centers as well as Ben Gurion
International Airport.
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