September 16, 2024 | Haaretz
‘Carry a Quran With a Knife’: How Growing Extremism Threatens Jordan – and Its Security Partnership With Israel
Escalating rhetoric from Islamist groups such as Hamas and the Islamic Action Front, the Muslim Brotherhood's political wing, is pushing Jordanian society toward radicalization. Unfortunately, Jordan's monarchy has decided to appease, not challenge, them
September 16, 2024 | Haaretz
‘Carry a Quran With a Knife’: How Growing Extremism Threatens Jordan – and Its Security Partnership With Israel
Escalating rhetoric from Islamist groups such as Hamas and the Islamic Action Front, the Muslim Brotherhood's political wing, is pushing Jordanian society toward radicalization. Unfortunately, Jordan's monarchy has decided to appease, not challenge, them
Excerpt
Maher al-Jazi, a truck driver and former member of Jordan’s military police, shot and killed three Israeli security officers September 8 at the Allenby Bridge Crossing between the West Bank and Jordan.
Agreement is rare between Hamas and Jordan’s U.S.-aligned monarchy, yet both sought to portray the attack as an expression of support for Palestinians in Gaza. The facts say otherwise. From what we know, al-Jazi acted alone, driven by personal frustrations rather than any ideological commitment to Hamas or any militant faction operating in Gaza.
Abu Obaida, the spokesperson for Hamas’ Al-Qassam Brigades, swiftly proclaimed the attack a “heroic and exceptional operation,” adding that it “reflects the collective conscience of our nation and … foreshadows the nightmare awaiting the Zionist entity at the hands of the heroes of our people.”
Ahmad Sharawi is a research analyst at The Foundation for Defense of Democracies, focusing on Middle East affairs, specifically the Levant and Iranian intervention in Arab affairs, as well as U.S. foreign policy toward the region.