
Jordan has not been the most hostile of Israel’s enemies in recent years, and, under King Hussein, has been the Arab country with the closest ties to Washington. For the last decade the Jordanian Government has been under almost constant pressure from more militant Arabs, from Palestinian guerrilla groups and from Israel, which has won sizable parts of Jordan’s territory.
Geography — An almost landlocked state, Jordan’s single port is Aqaba, on the Red Sea. She has an area of 37,700 square miles, less than 15 per cent of which is arable. Jordan is bordered by Israel to the west, Syria to the north, Iraq to the east and Saudi Arabia to the south.
Population—There are 2.45 million Jordanians, 90 per cent Sunni Moslems and the remainder Christians. Some 588,000 Palestinians live as refugees but have been offered Jordanian citizenship.
Economy—The loss of the West. Bank and the Old City of Jerusalem to Israel in the 1967 war was a severe blow. Almost half the population lived on the West Bank, the most fertile area, representing a quarter of the arable land. Also lost were most of the historic and Biblical sites that drew tourists. Agriculture—principally grains, citrus fruit, almonds, figs and olives—is the mainstay of the economy, but there has also been growing mineral exploitation, and Jordan exports marble, phosphates and, potash.