King Abdullah II says no foreign power is willing to enforce the Gaza ceasefire by force.

By World Israel News Staff

In an interview with the BBC, Jordan’s King Abdullah II stressed that Jordan and other regional powers supporting the Trump-brokered ceasefire in Gaza would not send troops to disarm or fight Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The monarch said he was speaking on behalf of all international powers that may be asked to carry out a peacekeeping mission in Gaza, insisting that no countries view ensuring the stability of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas through military means as part of their obligations.

“Peacekeeping is that you’re sitting there supporting the local police force, the Palestinians, which Jordan and Egypt are willing to train in large numbers, but that takes time,” Abdullah told the BBC. “If we’re running around Gaza on patrol with weapons, that’s not a situation that any country would like to get involved in.”

He added that “enforcing” the ceasefire is something that “nobody will want to touch.”

Abdullah emphasized that no Jordanian soldiers would be deployed on the ground in Gaza, noting that due to Jordan’s large Palestinian population, his country was “too close politically” to send troops into the embattled enclave.

The royal was evasive when asked by the BBC interviewer whether he trusts Hamas, responding that he doesn’t “know them, but those that are working extremely close to [Hamas] – Qatar and Egypt – feel very, very optimistic that they will abide by” the terms of the ceasefire.

Abdullah’s wife, Queen Rania, who is Palestinian, praised President Donald Trump for what she said was his success in pressuring Israel into agreeing to a ceasefire with Hamas.

“To his credit, Trump was the first president in a long time to actually apply pressure on Israel. Beforehand, when they crossed lines, the U.S. president would just maybe just say a few words of rebuke or they just get a slap on the wrist,” Rania told the BBC.

“President Trump actually got [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu to actually agree to a ceasefire. And I hope that he continues to be engaged in this process.”

The post Jordanian king: ‘Nobody’ will enforce Gaza ceasefire militarily appeared first on World Israel News.

Jordanian king slams Israel for misfired terror rocket on hospital, says his country will not admit any Gazan refugees.

By World Israel News Staff

Hundreds of protesters attempted to storm the Israeli embassy in Amman on Tuesday evening, following a misfired rocket by a Gazan terror group that killed hundreds at a hospital in the Strip.

Hamas blamed Israeli for the strike, prompting the IDF to swiftly release video and intercepted communications proving that the rocket had been fired by the Islamic Jihad terror group and fallen short in the coastal enclave.

Despite that evidence, both the Jordanian government and protesters in the streets continued to hold Israel responsible for the tragedy.

In social media footage circulating from the protest, demonstrators are seen violently clashing with Jordanian police, who have to physically prevent them from breaking in to the Israeli embassy.

Police fired tear gas in order to disperse the crowd.

Many of the protesters held flags bearing the symbols of Hamas and other terror groups.

Protests were seen in other Middle Eastern cities on Tuesday night.

In Istanbul, thousands of protesters gathered at the Israeli embassy and launched fireworks at the building.

Hundreds of Lebanese demonstrators gathered in Beirut, fighting police and setting a building adjacent to the U.S. embassy on fire.

In Ramallah, thousands of Palestinian demonstrators demanded that wildly unpopular PA President Mahmoud Abbas resign, due to his alleged inaction following the hospital blast.

Hundreds take to the streets in Ramallah shouting in “The people want the fall of the President,” protesting Mahmoud Abbas’ perceived inaction against the war between Israel and Gaza pic.twitter.com/vRFo7rA0iq

— Gianluca Pacchiani (@GLucaPacchiani) October 17, 2023

Jordanian King Abdullah II was among the Arab voices swiftly condemning Israel for the hospital bombing, calling the incident a “massacre” and a “war crime” hours after the explosion on Tuesday.

But Abdullah did not walk back his comments after the IDF denial of responsibility and footage showing the strike was the fault of Islamic Jihad.

“The whole region is on the brink of falling into the abyss,” Abdullah said earlier on Tuesday, following a meeting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin.

During that meeting, Abdullah stressed that his country would provide no refuge whatsoever from Gazans fleeing from the ongoing war.

“On the issue of refugees coming to Jordan — and I think I can quite strongly speak on behalf not only of Jordan as a nation but of our friends in Egypt — that is a red line,” he said.

Abdullah said that the issue of the welfare of Gazans “has to be dealt with inside Gaza and the West Bank.”

The post Jordanians try to storm Israeli embassy, ‘Middle East on edge of an abyss’ says king appeared first on World Israel News.

As Biden lands in Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and the Palestinian Authority all cancel planned meetings with the president, forcing Biden to nix trip to Jordan.

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

President Joe Biden arrived in Israel Wednesday morning for meetings with regional leaders, only to be snubbed ahead of a planned summit in Jordan.

Air Force One touched down at Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport just before 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, marking Biden’s first visit to Israel since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to office last December.

Biden was greeted on the tarmac by Netanyahu and Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

“Welcome Mr. President,” Herzog told his American counterpart. “God bless you for protecting the nation of Israel.”

Outside of Israel, however, leaders cancelled planned meetings with the American president, dropping out of a summit that was to have been held in Jordan.

Prior to his arrival, Biden had been scheduled to travel from Israel to Jordan for a summit with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas, and Jordan’s King Abdullah II.

All three of the leaders cancelled their appearances and planned meetings with Biden, however, following a massive explosion at the al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital in Gaza City Tuesday night, killing hundreds.

Hamas and Arab media outlets quickly accused the Israeli air force of bombing the hospital, though video footage released by the IDF and recordings from terrorists operating inside the Gaza Strip suggest the explosion was likely the result of a large rocket misfired by Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists.

The hospital explosion set off massive rioting across parts of eastern Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, Jordan, Lebanon, and parts of Turkey, where rioters shot fireworks at the Israeli embassy and attempted to break into an American military facility.

During Biden’s flight to Israel, White House National Security Council adviser John Kirby told reporters on Air Force One that the president “wants to get a sense from the Israelis on the situation on the ground” and will “ask some tough questions” of Israel’s leaders, adding “he’ll be asking them as a friend.”

President Biden said he was “outraged and deeply saddened by the explosion at the Al Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza, and the terrible loss of life that resulted.”

“The United States stands unequivocally for the protection of civilian life during conflict and we mourn the patients, medical staff and other innocents killed or wounded in this tragedy.”

According to reports in Hebrew media outlets, the Israeli government agreed ahead of Biden’s arrival to allow symbolic humanitarian aid into the southern Gaza Strip, towards a safe-zone established for civilians, with the understanding that more aid will be permitted at a later date.

The post Arab leaders cancel summit with Biden after Gaza hospital explosion appeared first on World Israel News.

Abdullah II also warned that the Palestinians may launch another terror war.

By JNS

Jordanian King Abdullah II on Wednesday said he was ready for a conflict should Israel’s incoming government violate “red lines” by changing the status quo governing relations at Jerusalem’s holy sites.

“If people want to get into a conflict with us, we’re quite prepared,” Abdullah said in an interview with CNN. “I always like to believe that let’s look at the glass half full, but we have certain red lines… And if people want to push those red lines, then we will deal with that,” he added.

Jordan, since 1967, has been the custodian of the Temple Mount, Judaism’s most sacred place.

While Muslims are allowed to freely visit and worship at the mosque, Jews are severely restricted from accessing the site where two biblical temples stood and are banned from praying there, although the latter stringency has been relaxed in recent years.

Abdullah also warned that the Palestinians could launch another terror war.

“We have to be concerned about a next intifada,” he said, adding: “If that happens, that’s a complete breakdown of law and order and one that neither the Israelis nor the Palestinians will benefit from. I think there is a lot of concern from all of us in the region, including those in Israel that are on our side on this issue, to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

A spokesman for Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday said the incoming Israeli government’s policy agenda constituted a “dangerous escalation.” Nabil Abu Rudeineh issued a veiled warning that there would be ongoing violence unless a Palestinian state was created, according to the official Palestinian Wafa news agency.

Abu Rudeineh called on the Biden administration “to turn its words into deeds since it is committed to the two-state solution, without which there will be no stability in the region.”

The post Jordanian king threatens conflict if Israel crosses Jerusalem ‘red lines’ appeared first on World Israel News.

“The final details regarding this initiative were addressed last week during my visit with King Abdullah II in Amman,” Lapid said.

By World Israel News Staff

The Israeli government on Sunday approved the proposal of Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Regional Cooperation Minister Esawi Frej to accelerate the implementation of the ‘Jordan Gateway‘ project – the joint industrial zone between the State of Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

The project was first proposed during talks on the 1994 peace agreement.

“Twenty-eight years since the peace agreement with Jordan, we are taking the good neighborly relations between our two countries another step forward. This is a breakthrough that will contribute greatly to developing and strengthening the region.,” Lapid stated.

“The final details regarding this initiative were addressed last week during my visit with King Abdullah II in Amman,” he added.

The two met last Wednesday at the king’s palace in Amman in what was the first public meeting between the Jordanian monarch and an Israeli prime minister in the Jordanian capital in five years. The meeting was “long and warm” and included a lunch with the king and the Israeli delegation, Lapid’s spokesperson said in a press release.

“This is an initiative that will increase employment in both countries, advance our economic and diplomatic relations, and enhance the peace and friendship between our two countries,” Lapid said on Sunday.

“This is a joint industrial zone on the border. It will allow Israeli and Jordanian entrepreneurs and businesspeople to communicate directly. It will produce joint initiatives in trade, technology and local industry.”

Regional Cooperation Minister Issawi Frej said that increasing efforts on the project has been one of his primary missions in the past year.

“This is part of the major progress that we have carried out in strengthening relations with Jordan in the past year,” he said. “We started with the agreement to export water in exchange for solar energy, and now have this decision which takes the vision of the civil peace, not just between the countries but also between the peoples, an additional step further.

“The peace between us is not a peace devoid of economic and civil cooperation that enables the citizens of both countries to enjoy its fruits.”

The approved acceleration of the project includes:

• Advancing operation of the ‘Jordan Gateway’ Park Terminal for the crossing of pedestrians, which will also serve as a convenient crossing for entrepreneurs interested in the joint initiative and in the industrial zone on the Jordanian side.
• According to the detailed outline of the decision, subject to budgetary agreements and the approval of the Knesset Economics Committee, the Airports Authority will build and operate the Jordan Gateway Park Terminal.
• The terminal will have a facility for hosting businesspeople and guests who will arrive from the Jordanian side for business purposes.
• The immediate construction of an entrance facility and the necessary structures for operating the park will be evaluated while allocating resources for completion.
• An outline will be formulated on developing the initiative on the Israeli side in the intermediate- and long-term, which will be evaluated following completion of the first stage.

“I welcome every action to improve relations with the Kingdom of Jordan. Jordan is a strategic partner and is of decisive importance for the stability of the entire region. I am committed to doing whatever proves necessary to establish our relations with the Kingdom and assist in advancing the goals it has in common with the State of Israel,”  Transportation and Road Safety Minister Michaeli said.

The post Israel accelerates ‘Jordan Gateway’ project to ‘enhance peace,’ ‘strengthen region’ appeared first on World Israel News.

Lapid and Abdullah said to discuss strengthening relations and regional issues.

By Lauren Marcus, World Israel News

Prime Minister Yair Lapid spoke with Jordanian King Abdullah II on Saturday evening, ahead of the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha and U.S. President Joe Biden’s trip to the region.

According to a read-out of the call from Lapid’s office, the premier offered Abdullah holiday greetings and “conveyed his condolences on behalf of the Government of Israel on the tragic gas leak in Aqaba.

“Abdullah congratulated Prime Minister Lapid on taking office and wished him success.”

During the conversation, the two leaders discussed “the need to strengthen and deepen cooperation and relations between Israel and Jordan,” as well as Biden’s upcoming visit and “regional challenges and opportunities.”

Jordan recently participated in a clandestine security conference organized by the U.S. in Egypt, which aimed to unite Arab countries and Israel in an alliance against Iran.

Although Jordan and Israel have had a peace treaty since 1994, relations between the two countries have been strained in recent years.

During the Ramadan holiday in April 2022, Jordan demanded that Jewish pilgrims be banned from visiting the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism.

The flashpoint compound is also the site of Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is officially administered by the Jordanian Waqf Islamic organization.

Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh openly praised Temple Mount rioters who violently attacked Jews and Israeli security forces at the site. During a speech to the Jordanian parliament, Khasawneh said that he “saluted” Palestinians and Waqf employees who threw rocks, bottles, and other projectiles at the “Zionist sympathizers defiling the Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of the Israeli occupation government.”

Then-prime minister Naftali Bennett rebuked Khasawneh for his incendiary remarks.

On the heels of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Jordan softened its stance on Israel, even proposing that the two nations create a joint wheat reserve site in order to ensure food security for both countries.

The post Lapid phones Abdullah with holiday greetings, talks strengthening ties appeared first on World Israel News.

Defense Minister Gantz thanked King Abdullah for his leadership and for the Kingdom’s critical role in maintaining regional peace and stability.

By World Israel News Staff

Defense Minister Benny Gantz met Jordan’s King Abdullah II in Jordan on Wednesday.

Gantz highlighted the strategic importance of strong and enduring relations between Israel and Jordan, which contribute to the security and prosperity of both nations, a statement issued by Gantz read.

The dialogue focused on security and policy topics. Gantz thanked King Abdullah for his leadership and for the Kingdom’s critical role in maintaining regional peace and stability.

He also welcomed the expansion of relations between Jordan and the current Israeli government, and expressed his commitment to further developing security, economic and civilian exchanges.

The meeting was attended by the Minister’s Chief of Staff, Maayan Israeli, Director of the Policy and Political-Military Bureau, Zohar Palti, and the Military Secretary, Yaki Dolf from the Israeli party.

On the Jordanian side, H.M. was joined by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Mr. Ayman Safadi, Director of the Political Affairs Directorate, Mr. Moath Al Zu’bi and Director of His Majesty’s Office, Dr. Jafar Hassan.

King Abdullah reiterated the need to maintain calm in Gaza and Judea and Samaria, and to take the “necessary measures to create the horizon needed to achieve just and comprehensive peace, on the basis of the two-state solution,” a statement issued by the Royal Hashemite Court read.

“The meeting also covered a number of issues of mutual concern, as well as means of enhancing security and stability in the region,” the statement added.

The post Israeli Defense Minister, Jordan’s King Abdullah II discuss security appeared first on World Israel News.

President Herzog and King Abdullah discussed deep strategic issues, at both the bilateral and regional levels.

By World Israel News Staff

President Isaac Herzog secretly met the King of Jordan, Abdullah II, last week at the King’s palace, the president’s media spokesperson announced Saturday evening.

Described by Herzog as a “warm meeting,’ it was  held at the King’s invitation. Herzog and Abdullah discussed deep strategic issues, at both the bilateral and regional levels.

“Jordan is a very important country. I have immense respect for King Abdullah, a great leader and a highly significant regional actor, who has recently met extremely important leaders, including President Biden, President Putin, President al-Sisi, and Mahmoud Abbas,” Herzog stated.

“In our meeting, among the things we discussed were the core issues in the dialogue between our states, including an agreement to import agricultural produce during the shmita (Jewish agricultural sabbatical) year, energy issues, sustainability, and solutions to the climate crisis that we can advance together.

“There is a sense in the region of a desire to make progress, a desire to speak,” Herzog continued.

“We are currently marking one year since the signing of the Abraham Accords. These accords created an important regional infrastructure. They are highly important agreements, which are transforming our region and the dialogue within it. I was happy to inaugurate the United Arab Emirates’ embassy in Tel Aviv at the start of my term, and I intend to speak with and meet other heads of state in the region.

“I speak with many leaders from all around the world, almost every day, in full coordination with the Government of Israel. I think that it is very important for the State of Israel’s strategic and diplomatic interests to engage everyone in dialogue,” he concluded.

The post ‘Warm meeting’: Herzog visited King Abdullah in Jordan last week appeared first on World Israel News.

At the trilateral summit in Cairo, the regional leaders discussed the need to resume negotiations for a two-state solution to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

By Lauren Marcus, World Israel News

Embattled Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi in Cairo on Thursday, on the heels of an unprecedented meeting with Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz earlier this week.

At the trilateral summit, the regional leaders discussed the importance of resuming negotiations for a two-state solution to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as supporting Abbas’ resistance to “dangerous repercussions” stemming from Jewish building in Judea and Samaria.

According to a statement from Palestinian news agency Wafa, Abbas said he was ready to embrace “confidence-building steps” with Israel aimed at “achieving comprehensive calm in Palestinian lands.”

A statement from Sissi’s office said he “stressed the importance of joining efforts in order to support the Palestinian position towards a political settlement and push for the resumption of negotiations.”

During the ongoing tensions between Gaza-based terror groups and Israel, Egypt has emerged as a critically important interlocutor, largely facilitating the ceasefire agreement that ended May 2021’s Operation Guardian of the Walls and reportedly pressuring Hamas to temporarily suspend arson balloon attacks on Israel’s southern communities.

Last month, Egypt’s head intelligence officer visited Israel, and Bennett has said he was invited by Sissi for a rare visit to Cairo, though he’s given no indication as to when the trip would take place.

Earlier this week, Abbas hosted Gantz in Ramallah at a meeting which was given the green light by Bennett.

While a source from Bennett’s office told Hebrew-language media that the meeting strictly dealt with security issues and should not be interpreted as a sign of warming ties between the two sides or a move towards peace talks, many on the Israeli right saw it as a sign of the Israeli government caving on its hardline stance regarding the PA.

Gantz wrote on Twitter that the two men discussed “security-policy, civilian and economic issues.”

Hady Amr, the U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for Israeli-Palestinian affairs, warned Israel in a recent meeting that the PA is near collapse, urging the Jewish State to strengthen the ailing government or risk facing a situation in which Hamas and other terror groups come to power.

Abbas has faced heavy international criticism for his government’s staunch crackdown on critics and journalists, with the death of outspoken political activist Nizar Banat in PA police custody sparking widespread protests in PA-controlled areas.

The 85-year-old is wildly unpopular among Palestinians. In May 2021, 16 years into what was originally meant to be a 4 year term as PA premier, Abbas cancelled the first scheduled Palestinian general election since 2005.

A recent survey of Palestinians living in Judea, Samaria and Gaza found 53% believe Hamas is “most deserving of representing and leading the Palestinian people,” while only 14% prefer Abbas’ secular Fatah party.

The post ‘Palestinians are ready for confidence-building with Israel,’ says Abbas appeared first on World Israel News.

Referencing Saudi officials who have spoken out against the Iran deal, Abdullah said “the nuclear program affects Israel as it does the Gulf.”

By Lauren Marcus, World Israel News

In his first international media appearance since a reported coup attempt in April 2021, Jordanian King Abdullah II spoke to CNN on Sunday about the Iranian threat and the Hashemite kingdom’s relationship with Israel.

As nuclear talks stall and Iran ramps up its uranium enrichment, Abdullah revealed that Jordan views the Islamic Republic as a major threat to regional stability.

“Unfortunately, Jordan has been attacked by drones that have come out that are Iranian signature that we have to deal with,” Abdullah said, adding that the attacks have taken place over the last year.

When asked if he supports Iran rejoining the 2015 nuclear deal, Abdullah demurred. He cited “legitimate concerns in our part of the world ….that the Americans are hopefully going to be able to discuss with the Iranians.”

Referencing Saudi officials who have spoken out against the deal, he said that “the nuclear program affects Israel as it does the Gulf.”

On the heels of the signing of the Abraham Accords, Abdullah said he has “noticed that a trend from Arab countries that are looking at their national security interests… the shadow of Iran along with a lot of the regional challenges…that see the option of having a relationship with Israel in their vested interest.”

Abdullah said that he was dismayed to see internal unrest in the Jewish State during May 2021’s Operation Guardian of the Walls.

“Since 1948, this was the first time I feel that a civil war happened in Israel,” he said. “And I think that was a wake-up call for the people of Israel and the people of Palestine, that unless we move along, unless we give hope to the Palestinians…the next war will be even more damaging.”

After years in which tensions ran high between Israel and Jordan, Abdullah said he was very “encouraged” after meeting with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

Abdullah’s ultimate goal, he said, is to help facilitate a two-state solution in order to bring about an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“I think we’ve seen in the past couple of weeks not only a better understanding between Israel and Jordan, but the voices coming out of both Israel and ‘Palestine’ that we need to move forward and reset that relationship,” he said.

The post King Abdullah: Iranian threat may lead more Arab countries to normalize ties with Israel appeared first on World Israel News.

Analysts view the meeting as a nod to the US administration’s commitment to the two-state solution and away from Trump’s Middle East peace plans.

By Meira Svirsky, World Israel News

Marking the first visit by an Arab leader to the White House since U.S. President Joe Biden took office, Jordan’s King Abdullah met with the president Monday.

While the White House billed the visit as an opportunity “to reaffirm the enduring strength of the partnership” between the two countries, analysts viewed the meeting as a nod to the U.S. administration’s commitment to the two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians and away from former president Donald Trump’s Middle East peace plans.

Trump’s policy included recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the Abraham Accords, which bypassed the Palestinians and, by extension, Jordan.

A senior administration official speaking on the condition of anonymity said Biden intended to tell Abdullah in private that he did not view the Accords as an “end run” to a peace deal with the Palestinians, Associated Press reported.

Palestinians account for more than 40 percent of Jordan’s population. A two-state solution, which includes the Palestinian expectation that Jerusalem will be the capital of any future Palestinian state, is looked upon as the king’s key to political survival.

Reading off cue cards, Biden thanked Abdullah for his country’s “enduring and strategic relationship with the United States.”

“You’ve always been there, and we will always be there for Jordan,” the president said.

“We also want to thank you for your vital leadership in the Middle East. You live in a tough neighborhood,” Biden added.

Abdullah noted that he had known the president before becoming king and while Biden was a senator. Speaking warmly, Abdullah waxed about “the privilege of knowing you with my father decades ago.”

The meeting comes at an opportune time for Abdullah to bolster his status both internationally and domestically. Saudi Arabia is mounting challenges to take over custodianship of the Temple Mount from Jordan. Meanwhile, a court in Jordan recently sentenced two former Jordanian officials (one also a Saudi citizen) to 15 years in prison over an alleged plot to overthrow the king.

Since 1994, when Jordan and Israel signed a peace treaty, the United States has been the largest provider of aid to the kingdom, a fact acknowledged by Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen, director of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict program at the United States Institute of Peace, in The New York Times.

The post Jordanian king meets with Biden, pushes for Israeli-Palestinian peace talks appeared first on World Israel News.

The state news agency Petra said Sunday that the trial of the two will begin next week before the state security court.

By Associated Press

The prosecutor of Jordan’s state security court on Sunday filed sedition and incitement charges against two confidants of King Abdullah II’s half-brother Hamzah, marking the latest step in a rare, intrigue-filled palace drama that has rattled the Western-backed kingdom.

The affair erupted into the open in early April when Hamzah was placed under house arrest and two senior associates — Bassem Awadallah and Sharif Hassan bin Zaid — were arrested, amid allegations that they tried to destabilize Jordan with foreign help.

Bin Zaid is a member of the royal family, and Awadallah, a former head of the royal court, reportedly has close ties to Saudi Arabia’s powerful crown prince.

The state news agency Petra said Sunday that the trial of the two will begin next week before the state security court.

Hamzah’s fate remains unclear, including whether his movement and ability to communicate remain restricted. Several days after Hamzah’s house arrest, Abdullah said he had resolved the matter with his half-brother through mediation within the royal family and that Hamzah was in his own home under the king’s protection.

At the time of his initial house arrest, Hamzah alleged that he was being silenced for exposing what he said was incompetence and corruption of the “ruling system.” The royal has established close ties with some of Jordan’s powerful tribes, serving as a conduit for growing anger and resentment as Jordan struggles with a widening economic crisis exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.

Sunday’s indictment, parts of which were published by state-linked media, alleged that Hamzah, was motivated “by his personal ambition” to rule. Hamzah was stripped of the title of crown prince by Abdullah in 2004, who gave the position to his oldest son.

The indictment alleged that Hamzah, Awadallah and bin Zaid were in close contact, with a plan to win external support to strengthen Hamzah’s position. It said Awadallah and bin Zaid directed the content of Hamzah’s tweets which he allegedly planned to publish to “mobilize public opinion.”

The indictment also alleged that Awadallah criticized the king’s handling of the Palestinian cause, with the aim of weakening Jordan’s role as guardian of a major Muslim shrine in contested Jerusalem. The role of guardian is a pillar of the Hashemite dynasty’s claim to political legitimacy.

Abdullah has ruled Jordan since the 1999 death of his father, King Hussein, who ruled the country for close to a half-century. Abdullah has cultivated close relations with U.S. and other Western leaders over the years, and Jordan was a key ally in the war against the Islamic State group. The country borders Israel, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

The post 2 confidants of senior Jordan royal charged with sedition appeared first on World Israel News.

King Abdullah II suggested that there was continued control over Prince Hamzah, who has not been seen or heard from in days.

By Associated Press

Jordan’s King Abdullah II addressed the unprecedented public rift within the royal family for the first time Wednesday, portraying it as an attempted sedition involving his half-brother that had been “nipped in the bud,” but caused him anger, pain and shock.

The monarch appeared to be doubling down on the allegations against Prince Hamzah, a former crown prince, while at the same time trying to reassure Jordanians that the nation was returning to business as usual.

But even if the current crisis is eventually defused, major challenges loom for the Western-allied monarchy as it confronts growing internal dissent.

Wednesday’s statement, presented by a newsreader on Jordan TV, dealt with the internal crisis that erupted over the weekend when Hamzah was confined to his home and accused of being part of a plot to destabilize the kingdom.

Hamzah has denied the allegations, saying he was simply calling out long-running corruption and mismanagement in the kingdom.

The king said Wednesday that he was hurt by the recent events.

“The challenge over the past few days was not the most difficult or dangerous to the stability of our nation, but to me, it was the most painful,” he said. “Sedition came from within and without our one house, and nothing compares to my shock, pain, and anger as a brother and as the head of the Hashemite family, and as a leader of this proud people.”

Abdullah also suggested that there was continued control over Hamzah’s movements. The prince, who has not been seen or heard from in days, was “with his family at his palace, under my care,” the statement said.

There was no sign that authorities have released up to 18 other detainees, including members of one of the powerful tribes on which the monarchy has historically relied.

Authorities have imposed a sweeping gag order on any coverage of the royal dispute in a sign of how sensitive they are to how it is perceived. The gag order and the king’s willingness to sanction his own brother also reaffirmed what Jordanians understand as their “red line” — an absolute ban on criticizing the monarch or the royal family.

Bessma Momani, a professor of international relations at Ontario’s Waterloo University, said the crisis strengthened Hamzah’s popularity, making critics of the government and new followers rally behind him.

She said the king’s doubling-down on vague plot allegations could also create problems in the future. Prosecuting those detained, including members of a powerful tribe, could stir protests. If they are let go, more questions could arise about whether there was ever a plot.

Even before the palace drama, Jordan was grappling with an economic crisis exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, with one in four people out of work. Longstanding complaints about corruption and misrule have fueled scattered protests in recent months.

At the same time, the region’s strategic landscape is shifting as powerful Gulf states pursue closer ties with Israel, potentially undermining Jordan’s role in the Middle East peace process.

The White House, in a statement issued Wednesday, said President Joe Biden had spoken with Abdullah to express strong U.S. support for Jordan and underscore the importance of the king’s leadership to the United States, the region and the peace process.

Asked by reporters if he was concerned about the situation in Jordan, Biden said: “No, I’m not. I just called to tell him that he has a friend in America. Stay strong.”

The crisis in the royal family erupted Saturday when Jordan’s military chief of staff visited Hamzah and warned him to stop attending meetings with critics of the government. Things quickly escalated, with Hamzah accusing the security establishment of threatening him and ordering the general to leave his home.

Authorities placed the former crown prince under a form of house arrest and detained up to 18 people, including former senior officials. On Sunday, the government said Hamzah and others were involved in a “malicious plot” against the kingdom’s security with foreign support.

Abdullah and Hamzah are both sons of King Hussein, who ruled Jordan for nearly a half-century before his death in 1999. Abdullah had appointed Hamzah as crown prince upon his succession but stripped him of the title in 2004.

The government imposed the gag order on coverage of the dispute after an audio recording of the meeting between Hamzah and the chief of staff, Gen. Yousef Huneiti, raised questions about its allegations of a foreign conspiracy. Neither mentioned any such plot in the recording, which was recorded surreptitiously and circulated online.

Family members of those who were arrested in connection with the alleged plot, meanwhile, said they’ve had no communication with authorities or the detainees.

Those arrested include Yasser al-Majali, Hamzah’s chief of staff, and Samir al-Majali, both prominent members of the Majali tribe.

“We don’t know where he is,” said Yasser al-Majali’s brother, Abdullah. He said they have been unable to reach any officials and have not been informed of any charges.

“If there is anything against them, take them to court for a fair trial,” he said. “We don’t want any trouble. We care about stability and we want our people to be released.”

The Majali tribe issued an angry statement immediately after the arrests, calling it a “black day” in which the tribe’s dignity had been insulted.

The tribe denied the men had plotted against Jordan and warned against involving them in “any internal or family dispute.” On Wednesday, video surfaced of the tribesmen holding a small rally demanding the release of their relatives and chanting: “Where is Hamzah?”

Jordan has a large Palestinian population of more than 2 million. The monarchy has granted most of them full citizenship but has historically viewed them with suspicion. Its main base of support is powerful tribes from east of the Jordan River, who dominate the security forces.

For decades, the monarchy has cultivated close ties with the U.S. and other Western nations, which it has used to press for the creation of a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria and eastern portions of Jerusalem.

Judea and Samaria was the biblical heartland prior to the Jewish people’s exile from the Land of Israel.

In 1967, Israel captured Judea and Samaria and eastern portions of Jerusalem, which were occupied by Jordan.

Israel and Jordan made peace in 1994 and maintain close security ties, but relations have soured amid a series of recent diplomatic spats.

At the same time, Gulf countries have been cultivating closer ties with Israel over their shared antipathy toward Iran, relations made public last year when the United Arab Emirates agreed to normalize relations with Israel in a U.S.-brokered deal. Saudi Arabia has at times appeared to be weighing a similar move.

The post ‘Sedition came from within’: Jordanian king blames half-brother for family feud appeared first on World Israel News.

The recording appears to capture Saturday’s explosive meeting between King Abdullah II’s half brother, Prince Hamzah, and the military chief of staff.

By Associated Press

Jordan imposed a sweeping gag order on coverage of its palace feud Tuesday after a recording indicated that authorities tried to silence a former crown prince over his meetings with critics, a sign officials are increasingly nervous about how the rare public rift in the royal family is being perceived.

The recording appears to capture Saturday’s explosive meeting between King Abdullah II’s half brother, Prince Hamzah, and the military chief of staff that set off the current political crisis. In the wake of that meeting, officials accused Hamzah of being part of a foreign plot to destabilize the kingdom — but no such conspiracy is referenced on the recording.

Before the audio surfaced, the palace and a mediator close to Hamzah said that the royal family was in the process of resolving the crisis. It’s unclear where those efforts stand.

On the recording, Gen. Yousef Huneiti, the military chief of staff, says the prince is being placed under a form of house arrest because of meetings he had with individuals who “started talking more than they should.”

The prince raises his voice in anger, accusing the general of threatening him and saying he has no right to issue orders to a member of the royal family.

“You come to me and tell me in my house what to do and who to meet with in my country and from my people? Are you threatening me? … You come to my house and tell me you and security leaders are threatening me? Not to leave your house, only go to your family and don’t tweet?”

“The bad performance of the state is because of me? The failure is because of me? Forgive me but the mistakes are my fault?” he says.

Huneiti, speaking in a calm voice, denies threatening him and says he is simply delivering a message from the heads of intelligence and general security. But by then, Hamzah is shouting over him. “Get in your car, sir!” he says. Neither man mentions the king or a foreign plot.

The recording is consistent with the prince’s earlier description of the encounter.

Jordan, which borders Israel, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, has long been seen as a bastion of stability in a turbulent region. But the coronavirus pandemic has battered Jordan’s economy, and Hamzah’s unprecedented criticism of the ruling class — without naming the king — could lend support to growing complaints about poor governance and human rights abuses.

Reflecting concerns about any sign of instability there, several allies, including the United States, have expressed their strong backing for the king. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Jordan on Tuesday in support of Abdullah, according to Saudi state television.

Jordanian analyst Amer Sabaileh, speaking before the publication ban was imposed, said the dispute “puts more pressure on the king” to reform the system. He noted that the feud had also divided Jordanians, with many on social media expressing support for Hamzah.

The king “needs to go for fast action that saves the image of the family and the monarchy and the unity of society,” Sabaileh said.

Instead, Jordanian authorities have leveled accusations against Hamzah. On the day after the prince’s meeting with the military chief of staff, Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi announced that authorities had arrested more than a dozen people and foiled a foreign plot, without saying which country was involved.

Hamzah, in a video statement, denied being part of any such conspiracy and lashed out at authorities for what he said was years of corruption and incompetence. He said they were trying to silence him because of his criticism. There has been no word since on his status or that of those who were arrested.

Some analysts have raised doubts about the suggestion of a foreign plot.

“Among the countries whose names have been bandied about — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel — none have an interest in stoking instability in Jordan or could have believed that an amateurish plot built around a disaffected prince and a handful of acolytes might possibly have overthrown the well-entrenched Abdullah,” Ghaith al-Omari and Robert Satloff of the Washington Institute, a U.S. think tank, wrote in a policy briefing.

Abdullah and Hamzah are both sons of King Hussein, who remains a beloved figure two decades after his death. Upon ascending to the throne in 1999, Abdullah named Hamzah as crown prince, only to revoke the title five years later and give it to his oldest son.

While Abdullah and Hamzah are said to have good relations generally, Hamzah has at times spoken out against government policies, and more recently had forged ties with powerful tribal leaders in a move seen as a threat to the king.

The gag order — which Jordan’s attorney general said was needed to preserve the confidentiality of an ongoing investigation — highlights how restrictions on speech have been tightened in recent years, something the prince alluded to in his statements.

The post Jordan clamps down on press as new audio of explosive meeting leaks appeared first on World Israel News.

After he was put on house arrest and accused of mounting a coup against his half-brother, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Prince Hamzah sent a letter affirming his support for the regime.

The post WATCH: Ex-crown prince of Jordan ‘pledges allegiance’ to king after alleged coup plot appeared first on World Israel News.

By Associated Press

Mediation between Jordan’s King Abdullah II and his outspoken half brother, Prince Hamzah, successfully de-escalated one of the most serious political crises in the kingdom in decades, the palace and a confidant of the prince said Monday.

The apparent resolution of the unprecedented public feud capped a weekend of palace drama during which the king had placed Hamzah under house arrest for allegedly plotting with foreign supporters to destabilize Jordan, a key Western ally.

Jordanian authorities had accused the former crown prince of being involved in a “malicious plot,” along with two senior Jordanian officials. Hamzah, 41, denied the allegations, saying he was speaking out against corruption and mismanagement.

The announcement of the successful mediation came after Abdullah’s paternal uncle, Hassan, met with Hamzah on Monday.

The mediation took place at Hassan’s home at the Royal Hashemite Court. Hamzah was joined by his brother Hashem and three of their cousins.

“In light of the developments of the past two days, I put myself at the disposal of His Majesty the King,” said the statement signed by Hamzah. He said he would remain loyal to the king and to Jordan’s constitution.

Malik R. Dahlan, a professional mediator and a friend of the family, then issued a separate statement, saying the mediation has “been successful and I expect a resolution shortly.”

Dahlan is the principal of Institution Quraysh for Law & Policy, of which Hamzah Al-Hussein is a council overseer.

He said that “this regrettable incident was the result of the clumsy actions of a senior security official and misrepresentation by a government official,” adding that “it should have remained a family matter.”

This was an apparent reference to Saturday’s events when Jordan’s army chief visited Hamzah and — according to the prince’s description — imposed restrictions on his movement and ability to communicate with the outside world.

Earlier Monday, it appeared tensions were still running high in the kingdom, valued by the West as a stable ally in a volatile region. A recording circulated online in which Hamzah sounded defiant, saying he would not take orders from the army chief.

“The army chief of staff came to me and issued threats in the name of heads of security agencies,” Hamzah said in the recording. “I recorded his comments and distributed them to my acquaintances abroad as well as my family in case something happens.”

“I don’t want to escalate now, but of course I will not abide when he tells me ‘you are not allowed to go out, tweet or connect with people and you are only allowed to see family members,'” he said. “When an army chief of staff says that, this is something that I think is unacceptable.”

The authenticity of the recording was confirmed by an individual close to the prince, speaking on condition of anonymity because of security concerns. The individual said the recording was a few days old and made after the army chief threatened the prince.

Jordan’s army chief of staff, Gen. Yousef Huneiti, said Monday the country’s armed forces and security agencies “have the power and experience” to deal with any developments that might happen internally or in the region.

He made his comments while taking part in “Shield of the Nation,” a drill that included several brigades, special forces, border guards and the Royal Air Force in the eastern region of the kingdom, the state news agency Petra said. The exercise did not appear to be related to the weekend incidents because such drills are planned well in advance.

Huneiti said the troops will confront anyone who “tries to endanger the nation’s security, terrify its citizens and threatens the security and stability of the kingdom.”

Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said Sunday the prince had recorded conversations and passed them to foreign sources. He did not provide specifics on the alleged plot or say what other countries were purportedly involved, however, the Jordanian site Amoon reported that an Israeli ex-Mossad agent had offered to fly Hamzah and his family out of the kingdom.

The individual in question, Roy Shaposhnik, denied he had worked for the Mossad, but confirmed he was a friend of Hamzah’s family and had offered to assist them.

But he said about 14-16 associates of Hamzah had been arrested, in addition to Bassem Awadallah, a former Cabinet minister and one-time head of the royal court, and Sharif Hassan bin Zaid, a member of the royal family.

The U.S. and Arab governments sided quickly with Abdullah, reflecting Jordan’s strategic importance. The kingdom borders Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Israel.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric noted Jordan’s “vital role in the Middle East, and its peace and security and the stability of the country is critically important.”

Domestically, Hamzah’s unprecedented criticism of the ruling class — without naming the king — could lend support to growing complaints about poor governance and human rights abuses in Jordan.

Abdullah and Hamzah are both sons of King Hussein, who remains a beloved figure two decades after his death. Upon ascending to the throne in 1999, Abdullah named Hamzah as crown prince, only to revoke the title five years later. Hassan, the uncle, also had been crown prince but was removed shortly before Hussein’s death.

While Abdullah and Hamzah are said to have good relations generally, Hamzah has at times spoken out against government policies, and more recently had forged ties with powerful tribal leaders in a move seen as a threat to the king.

The post King’s uncle diffuses royal feud in Jordan appeared first on World Israel News.