Quick Change

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend," says an Arab proverb, and in the shifting sands of Middle Eastern politics, friends and enemies switch sides with dizzying speed. Latest quick-change act: Egypt's Gamal Abdel Nasser and Jordan's King Hussein are now billing themselves as friends.

Temporarily forgotten are the days, only two years ago, when Radio Cairo vilified Hussein as a "traitor by inheritance--the son, grandson and great-grandson of traitors." Overlooked for the moment is the bloody Nasserite rioting in Amman last April, which Hussein put down with guns and armored cars. Instead, the bitter feud has suddenly dissolved in a sweet embrace. The common foe is now the revolutionary Baath regimes in Syria and Iraq, which have smashed Nasser's hopes for hegemony in the Middle East, and are stirring up a revolution in Jordan.

Young King Hussein took the first step toward reconciliation with his old enemy. Stopping off in Paris during a tour of Europe last month, the King ordered his military aide to find Nasser's personal spokesman and friend, Mohammed Hassanein Heikal, who was also expected in town on a visit. One hour later Heikal was in Hussein's thirdfloor suite at the Hotel Crillon, sipping tea and enjoying a friendly cigarette. Passing casually over their past struggles, Hussein asked: "Is there any way to close ranks against our enemies?" Then he answered the question himself by suggesting an alliance between Egypt and Jordan to oppose the Baath. Heikal agreed, suggested for a starter that Hussein bring a few Nasserites into his Cabinet. Maybe, said the King.

After 2 1/2 hours the secret meeting broke up with smiles and handshakes all round. Next step in the rapprochement: the resumption of diplomatic relations, severed since 1961 when Hussein backed Syria's split with Cairo and offered to send Jordanian troops to fight the Egyptians.

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