ABSTRACT
Beyond the practical steps and measures taken by the authorities to consolidate their position in the West Bank, the Government tried to gain the sympathy and support of the refugees by presenting itself as their spokesman. This chapter examines the Government's policy towards its new subjects along with the refugees' response. The Government pursued a two-sided policy with regard to the refugees' political status. It wanted to effect the political integration of the refugees, doing away with any notions of Palestinian separatism. Jordan's proclaimed readiness to absorb the Palestinians and represent their case was followed by practical measures. UNRWA's placement and vocational training schemes made the Jordanian Palestinians the most important manpower reservoir for the developing Arab oil countries. Apart from reflecting their basic positions in the Arab-Israeli conflict, they were the product of political rivalries within the Arab world, together with social and economic problems obtaining within each Arab State.
