Jordan’s cooperation with the United States, England, and France to counter the Islamic Republic of Iran’s punitive attack on Israel raised many questions in the political and media circles of the region. This report states whether Jordan, as the country’s officials have claimed, was on the side of the West simply to defend its airspace, or is it due to other demands.
A look at the statements of analysts, internal protests in Jordan, and other dimensions of the regional diplomacy scene, has shown that neither Jordan’s political-defense capacity nor the current atmosphere governing the public opinion of the Arab countries and the Islamic world justifies cooperation with the West, and Amman authorities realized very soon that they should not have take action against Tehran.
The inevitability of defense or cognitive error?
Officials in Amman announced that their effort was only to defend Jordan’s own airspace. But even Western analysts did not accept Jordan’s justification, and according to Patrick Wintour, one of the British Guardian newspaper analysts, the Jordanian government put itself in a difficult and awkward position with this action. Interestingly, the government of the Kingdom of King Abdullah II, the King of Jordan, also faced protests from the people internally. The actions of the Jordanian Air Force and military intelligence agencies to restrain Iranian drones and punish Iran caused the protests in the kingdom.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II, once a staunch supporter of organizing comprehensive aid initiatives for Gaza, and his wife, Queen Rania, who has been a vocal advocate for Palestinian rights, now find themselves in a position incongruent with Jordan’s regional power status.
The Guardian highlighted two crucial factors shedding light on the Kingdom of Jordan’s stance amidst both foreign and domestic circumstances:
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- Jordan’s shared border with Israel and the geopolitical and security sensitivities inherent in this proximity.
- The significant presence of the largest population of Palestinian refugees within Jordan, adds a unique dimension to the country’s political landscape.
Although the Guardian and other Western media have preferred to ignore this fact, it must be said that the Palestinian refugees living in Jordan are not a passive and neutral population, and in terms of political and social action and reaction, they have extensive and effective dynamism and political dynamics. Most of them support the discourse of the Islamic Republic in support of the cause of Palestine.
Of course, it is not only Palestinian citizens of Jordanian descent who protested Amman’s recent approach. In addition to them, a significant part of Jordanians also complained about the actions of King Abdullah II’s government, and the gathering of protesters in front of the US Embassy in Amman was an important issue that worried Amman’s political authorities. On social media and the internet, thousands of Jordanian and Palestinian users protested the decision of the King of Jordan, and Jordan soon realized that he had stepped on the wrong path.
Israel’s insidious action against Jordan
Israel’s hostile actions against Jordan have a long and distant history, and in the current situation, it has created many problems for Amman in the water and security fields. But on the surface, Tel Aviv seeks to show itself as Jordan’s friend and ally.
Israel’s insidious tactics toward Jordan included attempts to imply that, in the event of countering Iran’s drone-missile attacks against Israel, the Jordanian Air Force aligned closely with Israel. However, Jordan’s involvement in this scenario was not on par with that of the United States, England, and France. Despite this, Israeli authorities, known for employing psychological warfare and sowing discord among Arab nations, outwardly portrayed Jordan as an ally while inwardly undermining its credibility within the Arab world.
A message that was received very soon
A cursory examination of recent statements from Jordanian authorities and diplomatic channels reveals that Amman swiftly learned the political implications of recent events. Despite attempts, even Germany’s biased actions failed to sway Jordan toward closer cooperation with Israel.
The recent visit of German Foreign Minister Berbuk Weir to Jordan occurred within the context of Berlin’s consistent biased stance in recent months, particularly concerning developments in Gaza. During this period, Germany has unequivocally supported Israel and is now endeavoring to enlist Arab nations as allies of Israel. However, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi emphatically asserted, “As long as the occupying regime exists, there is no peace, and as long as Israel continues to disregard the rights of Palestinians, there is no security.” Al-Safadi emphasized the imperative for the Security Council to issue a binding decision on the ceasefire, unequivocally stating that Israel must not be permitted to attack Rafah.
During a meeting held in New York between the foreign ministers of Iran and Jordan, Ayman al-Safadi underscored Jordan’s recent objective and comprehensive assessment of regional issues. Al-Safadi acknowledged the significant impact of the Islamic Republic’s decision to counter Israel, recognizing it as a crucial security achievement for the region. He commended Iran’s diplomatic endeavors aimed at halting the conflict in Gaza, reaffirming Jordan’s unwavering commitment to prioritizing the Palestinian cause. Al-Safadi emphasized the alignment between Jordan and Iran in advocating for an expedited end to the Gaza conflict, emphasizing the urgent need for concerted efforts towards this goal.
Conversely, during a meeting between Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and King Abdullah II of Jordan and Bahrain, both monarchs emphasized the urgent need for the international community to enforce immediate ceasefire resolutions in Gaza. Additionally, they condemned the aggressive actions of Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank. In a separate meeting with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid, King Abdullah II reiterated the call for a Gaza ceasefire and advocated for a just resolution to the Palestinian issue, ensuring the fulfillment of all legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
The collective stance conveyed through these meetings underscores Jordan’s commitment to opposing the malevolent objectives of Israel. Jordan adamantly rejects any alignment with supporters of Zionism and remains steadfast in its pursuit of regional stability. The “True Promise” operation has bolstered confidence among regional nations to confront Zionism head-on.
