TheAltWorld A Jordanian message to Israel
The case of the MP caught trying to smuggle arms into the West Bank
Every time I’ve met with Jordan’s King Abdullah II over the past 20 years, the discussion has included three major points: That Jordan is more powerful that other Arab states regarding the Israeli occupation state as it can threaten its security along the 600km border; The imperative of restoring relations with Iran and allowing Iranian pilgrims to visit Shia shrines in southern Jordan; And the need to open up to Syria as quickly as possible.
Israel fell into what seems to have been a carefully snared trap when it announced it had arrested Jordanian MP Imad al-Adwan while he was crossing into the West Bank. In an official statement filled with contradictions, it said it found 15 pistols, 12 automatic rifles, and around 100kg of gold on him. Video footage was released purporting to show the seized firearms, though not the gold.
All the conversation in Jordan’s Eid social gatherings since then has been about this case and its ramifications and the many unanswered questions about it.
The Adwan tribe to which the MP belongs owns much of the land in the Jordan Valley, adjoining the eastern borders of occupied Palestine. It is one of the country’s most assertive and powerful, and many of its members are armed. It has rallied strongly over the issue, issuing a statement holding the Jordanian and Israeli governments responsible if any harm comes to its MP and he is not released forthwith.
Adwan has become a popular hero not just among his tens of thousands of kinspeople but also the other Jordanian tribes and Jordanian citizens in general of all origins and ethnicities. Whatever the truth of the details released about the case, he is seen as having undertaken a noble patriotic act by trying to get guns and funds to the Palestinian resistance in the West Bank.
One high-level Jordanian suggested to Raialyoum that the arms smuggling attempt might have been an “indirect message” to the Israelis from Jordanian authorities, saying in effect: “It’s us who protect your borders and prevent smuggling. If you don’t change course and stop undermining us, especially by raiding the al-Aqsa mosque and challenging Hashemite custodianship, we’ll leave Jordanian citizens like Adwan to deal with you in the way you understand.” The source added that security cooperation between Jordan and Israel has been stalled for over a month and the joint committees have not met in weeks due to Jordanian foot-dragging.
Israel’s leaders and security agencies are in a bind: if they put Adwan on trial they will face a major backlash, and if they free him they will look weak by climbing down from their all-powerful security posture.
If the Jordanian government doesn’t secure Adwan’s release quickly that could lead to armed action by his fellow tribesmen. It could take several forms. They could abduct Israeli soldiers, civilians, and tourists to trade them in a prisoner exchange. Or they could step up cross-border arms smuggling as an initial act of retribution.
Jordan is changing fast. Frustration is sky-high at both the popular and official levels and it has begun using all the cards available to it. That explains its opening up to Iran and its allies and especially neighbouring Syria. Showing Israel the red card by relaxing border control may be its only option, given the seething pubic anger and the overwhelming support of Jordanians for the Palestinian resistance.
Guy
The governance of Israel will continue doing what it has done since the Balfour agreement .It remains only for the Arab nations of the world to finally realize ,that there can be no appeasement to the Israelis without their realization that they are not a special people .We are all part of humanity ,brothers and sisters ,and we should act accordingly . Jordan is pointing the way.