The Journal of South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies published NESA Center Associate Professor Dr. Michael Sharnoff's latest article, "Arab Challenges to Jordan’s Custodianship of Holy Sites in Jerusalem," in its Spring 2024 issue.

Abstract:

This article will demonstrate how Arab challenges manifest in two distinct phases: The first phase (1953–88) consists of Jordan’s struggle against revolutionary, anti-monarchial regimes, and rivalry over the right to represent Palestine, which included assassinations, military intervention, and subversion. The second phase (1988-present) consists of a shift from military threats and terrorist attacks against Jordan to efforts to undermine the Hashemite custodianship of Jerusalem’s Muslim and Christian holy sites. Additionally, the Trump administration and the so-called Deal of the Century have reawakened Jordanian suspicions of a plot to destabilize the kingdom and transform it into an alternative Palestinian homeland known as the al-watan al-badil conspiracy.

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About the Author

Michael Sharnoff is an Associate Professor at the NESA Center. His areas of expertise include the history and politics of Egypt and the Levant, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and radical Islamist movements.

About the Publisher

The Journal of South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies is a Villanova University publication that aims to provide a forum for scholars engaged in study of the modern Islamic and non-Islamic societies in South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa.

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