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Why did Jordan relinquish its claim to the West Bank in 1988?

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Panoramic view of a small valley with a stream, olive trees, and terraced hillsides in the countryside near Ramallah, Palestine, under a sky with scattered clouds. — Palestine View from a small valley with a stream between large hills of olive groves.

In June 1988, an emergency meeting of the Arab League granted the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) financial control over support for Palestinians, effectively recognizing the organization as their legitimate representative. In response to this shift and the ongoing intifada—a Palestinian uprising that challenged both Israeli occupation and his own authority—King Hussein of Jordan renounced all Jordanian claims to the West Bank in 1988.12

By relinquishing these claims, Hussein allowed the PLO to assume full responsibility for the territory. Following this decision, he dissolved the Jordanian parliament, which had included West Bank representatives, ceased salary payments to West Bank civil servants, and changed the status of Palestinian passports to travel documents. When the Palestine National Council subsequently proclaimed the independence of a Palestinian state in November 1988, King Hussein formally recognized the new entity.1