Jordan’s Islamists have been boosted by the war in Gaza
The king is caught between his country’s peace with Israel and his angry people
Editor’s note: Jordanian officials have unequivocally denied that King Abdullah’s daughter took part in the downing of drones attacking Israel. “Any reports or social media posts published on this issue are fabricated. Jordan has been the target of a systematic disinformation campaign. This is clearly part of that campaign.”
The mini-markets in Amman, Jordan’s capital, have banished Coca-Cola, a brand long associated with America, Israel’s closest ally. Local franchises of other American firms have printed leaflets stressing their support for the Palestinian cause, especially in Gaza. But such virtue-signalling hardly helps King Abdullah, who is awkwardly caught between growing popular support for Hamas and the peace treaty with Israel signed by his father, King Hussein, back in 1994.
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This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “On a tightrope”
From the July 13th 2024 edition
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