Protests in Jordan over aid to Israel
Last Updated on April 16, 2024 9:50 am
More than 300 drones and missiles were launched from Iran into Israel over the weekend. However, Jordan tried to prevent them from reaching Israel. The Jordanian government said in a statement that it was done in self-defense.
They were a threat to our people and populated areas, the statement said.
But Jordanian citizens who have been protesting against Israel for weeks protested such actions by their government. Hussein, a political activist in the country, said, “I am very upset with the way Jordan has defended Israel.” He did not want to give his full name for fear of danger.
He said, many people here are not accepting it. We do not support Iran and believe Iran has a major role in what is happening in Gaza. But we stand by any move that hinders Israel’s activities in Gaza.
Mariam, a university student in Amman, said that Iran is not popular in Jordan. But I reject Jordan’s interception of missiles fired by Iran and unwitting involvement in this war.
One in five people, including the Queen of Jordan, are of Palestinian descent.
Mahmoud Ridasad, a military analyst in Amman, said the incident over the weekend could never be said to be in defense of Israel, but rather in defense of Jordan’s sovereignty and airspace. Because, he commented that it is not known where the drone or missile will fall.
Meanwhile, Ridasad said about the happy news published in the Israeli media that Jordan has helped, it is nothing but Israeli propaganda.
Tahani Mustafa, a Palestinian analyst at the Brussels-based think tank International Crisis Group, said Jordanian citizens are divided over the weekend’s events. Because, people do not know the details about Jordan’s economic, diplomatic and security relations with the United States and Israel, because these issues are not written much here, he said.
A defense cooperation agreement was signed between the United States and Jordan in 2021. But in this case, there is criticism that the approval of the Jordanian parliament was not taken. Under the agreement, members of the US military will be able to enter and travel in Jordan without transportation and air restrictions.
Mustafa said that after the protests started in Amman over Gaza, many people started talking about expelling the Americans from Jordan.
Hundreds of thousands of locals have been protesting in front of the Israeli embassy in Amman for the past few weeks. They also called for the annulment of the 1994 peace agreement between Israel and Jordan.