Jordan reinforced army presence on border with Israel

(Patria) - Jordan said the army has reinforced its presence along the borders with Israel and warned that any attempt by Israel to forcibly displace Palestinians across the Jordan River would constitute a violation of the peace agreement, Reuters reported.

Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh said his country would resort to "all means in its power" to prevent Israel from implementing any policy of mass expulsion of Palestinians from the West Bank.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas has raised fears in Jordan, home to a large population of Palestinian refugees and their descendants. Right-wing and ultra-nationalists in the current Israeli government have long advocated for a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian issue by expelling Palestinians to Jordan.

"Any displacement or creation of conditions that would lead to it, Jordan will consider it a declaration of war and a material violation of the peace agreement," Khasawneh said, referring to the 1994 peace agreement with Israel, state media reported.

"This would lead to the liquidation of the Palestinian cause and harm Jordan's national security," he added.

Jordan has strong security ties with Israel. But relations have deteriorated sharply since the arrival of one of the most right-wing governments in Israel's history. "The peace treaty would be a piece of paper on a shelf covered in dust if Israel did not respect its obligations and violated it," Khasawneh said.

Any threat to Jordan's national security would "put all options on the table," Khasawneh said, adding that the recent deployment of troops along the border with Israel is part of measures to protect the country's security.