Nation Profile: The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a Middle Eastern nation with an immense history and culture. The Kingdom also faces political and economic vulnerabilities. Surrounded by Israel and the West Bank, Iraq, Syria, and Saudi Arabia, Jordan is a relatively stable Arab nation with a fairly positive relationship with Israel. Despite Jordanian dependence on Israel for security and water, Jordan’s largely Palestinian population remains critical of the government and its dealings with Israel. Jordan is governed by a constitutional monarchy, consisting of a King, Prime Minister, and Parliament.
The Jordanian government arrested King Abdullah’s brother and former Crown Prince, Hamzah bin al Hussein, on charges of promoting sedition. Roughly 15 individuals, including the former Crown Prince and a former state security official, Sharif Hassan bin Zaid, were arrested by Jordanian authorities on unclear charges of plots to destabilize the country. In response to his arrest and accusations against him, al Hussein criticized the Jordanian government for corruption and authoritarian practices. The move by the Kingdom risks inciting fear in an already critical Jordanian population.
Jordanian-Israeli tensions have also escalated this week. King Abdullah’s son, Prince Hussein, was denied access to a planned event in east Jerusalem on March 10. Jordan responded by denying Israel access to its airspace, leading to rising tensions between the two states. To make matters worse, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu halted the transfer of a critical water supply to Jordan, challenging an agreement between the two neighbors that dates back to 1994.
The feud between the two countries is nothing new. It does, however, signal the potential for continued escalations between the two neighbors. Both Israel and Jordan are strategic allies of the United States. Escalating tensions challenge regional stability at a time when Israel is moving to normalize relations with neighboring Arab states.