You can often tell who is on the rise in the Middle East by watching which groups suddenly become recipients of attention from Arab regimes. So we see two events in quick succession: King Abdullah of Jordan called Mahmoud Abbas yesterday and told him that he is “concerned” over the resurgence of Hamas-Fatah violence, which he said will “harm the Palestinian cause and endanger efforts aimed at setting up an independent Palestinian state.” Translation: you’re not keeping a lid on things, Abu Mazen, and I’m getting worried about Hamas’s influence on my border.

And then this story:

Jordanian officials have held talks with the militant Palestinian group Hamas for the first time since authorities arrested three of its members two years ago for planning attacks in the country.

Abdullah has his finger in the breeze, gauging the exact extent to which lines of communication should be opened with Hamas, to correspond with the group’s improving prospects. King Abdullah understands that the recipients of his phone calls might soon have to be Ismail Haniyah and Khaled Meshal — not Abu Mazen.