Forgotten World (149): Jordan

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a small country with few natural resources, but it has played a pivotal role in the struggle for power in the Middle East. Jordan’s significance results partly from its strategic location at the crossroads of what most Christians, Jews and Muslims call the Holy Land. It is one of two Arab nations to have made peace with Israel and is a key ally of the United States.
The desert kingdom emerged out of the post-World War I division of the Middle East by Britain and France. The population at that time was made up largely of bedouin tribesmen, who were followers of King Hussein’s grandfather, Abdullah – himself originally from Arabia. Today, these families – known as East Bank Jordanians – are outnumbered by the descendants of Palestinian refugees from Israel and the West Bank. The total population now is 6 million.
Unlike many of the states in the region, Jordan has no oil of its own. Its resources are limited to phosphates and agricultural produce. The economy depends largely on services, tourism and foreign aid, for which the US is the main provider. Jordan prides itself on its health service, one of the best in the region.


 




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