Kuala Lampur, Feb. 16 -- King Abdullah of Jordan - His Hashemite Highness, the self-proclaimed defender of Jerusalem - once beat his chest and swore Jordan would never be the "alternative homeland" for Palestinians. No mass refugee influx, no demographic shifts, no headaches for the throne. A firm stance, until the wind changed. Now, suddenly, he's talking about the unbearable suffering of Palestinians, calling for an end to the bloodshed, standing shoulder to shoulder with their cause. How noble. How timely. How convenient.

But let's not be fooled. This isn't about Palestine. It's about optics. The same man who wouldn't even allow desperate Gazans into Jordan now speaks of their right to a home. The same Arab rulers who wouldn't risk a ...