JaFaJ

1. Summary: Determined to defend their homeland, the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) is currently on alert to a highly-elevated risk of terror attacks and infiltration from both the Lebanon and Jordan’s borders. This comes after the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate (MID) briefed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following an attack by an Egyptian border guard on June 3, 2023, which left three Israeli soldiers dead. The MID is concerned about the potential copycat situation amid mounting tensions with Jordan, noting that even members of the Jordanian Royal Family and Jordanian intelligence operations hold profound anti-Israeli views. At the same time, the Israelis are expecting more serve attacks from the Lebanese front, warning that Hezbollah may resort to kidnapping Israeli soldiers again as it did in 2006 which resulted in the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.
2. JaFaJ Intelligence Solutions has learned that the IDF is on high alert for potential terror attacks on Israel’s borders, with a focus being on the Lebanese and Jordanian Borders. JaFaJ has also confirmed that the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate (MID) fully briefed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on June 4, 2023 about the surge of potential border attacks and that Israel needed to be prepared for “copycat actions” that could (would) lead to a variety of deadly scenarios.
3. These warnings came less than 24 hours after an Egyptian border guard shot and killed two Israeli soldiers as they secured their position on the Egyptian border on June 3, 2023. The Egyptians crossed into Israeli territory and then killed a third Israeli soldier before he was neutralized by the Israeli forces.
4. According to Egypt’s official media, the government claims that the guard crossed the borders while he was chasing drug traffickers. JaFaJ has learned from American sources in Egypt, that “while the Egyptian military intelligence is still investigating the incident, they are convinced this was a terror attack, and that it is unlikely they will ever acknowledge this publicly.”
5. According to well-informed JaFaJ sources, MID has confirmed that the risk of increased attacks from Lebanon “may not be limited to throwing mortar shells as usual, and will possibly involve both infiltrating the borders and kidnapping soldiers like Hezbollah did in 2006.” [COMMENT: in 2006, the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah, infiltrated the Israeli borders, killed eight Israelis soldier, and kidnapped two Israelis. This ultimately resulted in the 2006 war in Lebanon. END COMMENT]
6. JaFaJ can also confirm the MID has also warned of the “surging risk of terror attacks on the borders with Jordan, as those may be carried out by members of the Jordanian military.” The source added that the attacks may be triggered by a “potential copycat effect,” similar to the one carried out by the Egyptian officer earlier this week. A source reported the MID’s concern that such an attack is likely to happen because of elevated, “wide-spread hatred for Israel by the Jordanian Royal Family, as well as the military and intelligence, ranks that are closest to King Abdullah.”
7. Conclusion: As tensions rise in the Middle East and the fallout from the recent arrest of Jordan’s King’s loyalist and Parliament Member Emad Al-Edwan for smuggling both weapons and gold and his ultimate release, problems are going to arise. In addition, after the recent attack on Israeli soldiers by an Egyptian border guard, Israel will remain on high alert as she has tightened her borders. What is more alarming to Israel is the fact that she could not depend on her formerly trusted Arab allies, Jordan, and Egypt, to protect her borders. This sobering fact is a reminder that Israel can only depend on herself for protecting her citizens, and that as the region’s economic woes play a huge role in the actions of all governments and their people.

1. Summary: JaFaJ can confirm that the Israeli government has decided to prosecute the Jordanian Member of Parliament, Emad Al-Edwan, on terror charges, despite pressure from Jordan’s King and the United Arab Emirates. Prime Minister Netanyahu is supporting the Israeli Attorney General (AG) in carrying out the prosecution. A recent story run by an Israeli news site Maariv, claims Al-Edwan would be released soon, but this was dismissed as unfounded by a senior Israeli security source.
2. JaFaJ has learned that the Israeli police have finished its investigation of Jordanian Member of Parliament (MP) Emad Al-Edwan. Al-Edwan has been detained by Israeli authorities since April 23rd when he was arrested for attempting to smuggle 200 pieces of highly powered weapons and 220lbs of gold from Jordan into Israel. [Ref. JaFaJ report [https://acuitywebtechnologies.com/jafaj/jordanian-parliament-member-arrested-in-israel-for-smuggling-weapons-gold-the-untold-facts/]
Maariv Story “Unfounded”
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3. On April 28th 2023, Israeli newspapers Maariv ran a story claiming that Israel and Jordan had reached a “deal” to secure the release of Al-Edwan. Israeli journalist Jacky Hugi authored the report and claimed that the significance of Al-Edwan’s tribe’s has played a huge role in achieving the alleged deal. JaFaJ verified Hugi’s claims with a senior security official in Jerusalem. The official has confirmed that “This is totally unfounded, we have not made any deals with the Jordanians regarding Al-Edwan, and nobody can speak about this other than the AG’s or PM’s office at this moment.” The source continued, “In Israeli we have laws, this is a legal matter; Al-Edwan is not above the law.”
4. Furthermore, Al-Edwan’s tribe numbers a few hundred individuals “scattered across the entire central region of Jordan.” They do not pose any significant security or political threat to Israel or the Jordanian regime. [COMMENT: The so-called native Jordanians are the minority in modern day Jordan, with the Palestinians making up over 90 percent of the population. Nonetheless, the King’s decades-long rhetoric has been that the “tribes are so strong and that he alone could keep them under control.” In reality, the tribes do not have any military leverage and the Hashemite Kingdom has historically been preserved by foreign militaries including the Britons, the Pakistanis and the Americans. END COMMENT]
5. JaFaJ Intelligence sources have also learned that Israel’s police have forwarded all evidence, which includes recorded testimonies by Al-Edwan, to Israel’s Attorney General (AG), Gali Baharav-Miara. JaFaJ intelligence sources are reporting that the AG and her team are convinced that they have collected enough evidence to prosecute and convict Al-Edwan for several charges related to terrorism. An Israeli source has confirmed with JaFaJ that the AG met Israeli Prime Minister (PM) Netanyahu, last week and discussed the matter. Senior commanders of the Israel Security Agency, Shen Bit, and the Mossad also attended the meeting.
6. In the meeting, the AG discussed the evidence with the PM and outlined how she planned to prosecute Al-Edwan. JaFaJ sources confirmed that Netanyahu assured the AG of his support and that justice had to be served regardless of the pressure on Israel to release Al-Edwan.
7. Since the MP’s capture, JaFaJ has confirmed that Israel has been facing growing pressure to release Al-Edwan and sweep the entire matter under the rug. A JaFaJ source close to Jordan’s King Abdullah says that the King has mobilized his allies to pressure the Israelis, resulting in a barrage of phone calls to Netanyahu’s office from several European governments, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt. According to the source, they were “all trying to twist Netanyahu’s arm into letting Al-Edwan out and claiming that the whole issue was just a misunderstanding.” Even so, both the PM and AG appear determined to make Al-Edwan face justice.
8. “The most radical pressure is coming from the United Arab Emirates,” an American security source reported to JaFaJ. “Mohammad Bin Zayed [UAE’s president] seems to be in love with Jordan’s King.” The source continued, “He wanted the Jordanian Congressman [MP] released scot-free, he just doesn’t realize how much damage this has done to his image here [in the United States] and in Israel.”
9. JaFaJ sources have confirmed that Al-Edwan was transferred to a secure maximum-security facility where he is being held in solitary confinement.
10. Conclusion: Despite the King’s pleas and pressure from his Arab and Western allies, it does not seem likely that Israel would ever release the MP before trial. Unless something drastic changes, Al-Edwan will likely face justice in Israeli courts with the possibility of spending many years in prison. This signifies a shift in policy by Israel, which has been very tolerant of Abdullah’s provocations, threats and direct tampering with Israel’s security.

Note: This story is developing fast, and will be updated as information becomes available.
1.Summary:
Jordanian Parliament Member Emad Al-Edwan was arrested on the 23rd of April, 2023 after crossing from Jordan into Israel. He was trying to smuggle high power weapons and gold into the country. JaFaJ was able to confirm the man is highly connected to the Kings inner circle and is considered a Jordanian intelligence asset. Jordan’s King private office has been pushing Israel to release him but without success so far. JaFaJ sources insinuated damning evidence of the Hashemite Kingdoms’ connections to terrorist groups who have carried out attacks in Israel.
2. On Sunday, April 23, 2023, Jordanian Parliament Member Emad Al-Edwan was arrested by the Israeli authorities after crossing the Allenby Bridge from Jordan for attempting to smuggle weapons and 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of gold into Israel.
3. The weapon cache included several M4 assault rifles and other high-powered weapons. The Israeli media circulated a video of the seized weapons without mentioning the Jordanian parliamentarian’s name in their story until the Israeli government issued a gag order banning the media from reporting on the matter. [COMMENT: The Israeli government takes Gag orders very seriously, with those breaking them risking significant jail time. A gag order is considered a state security matter in the Jewish state. END COMMENT]
Who is Emad Al-Edwan?
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4. Emad Al-Edwan is a Jordanian of East Bank heritage. His family dub themselves “a tribe,” indicating vast numbers of tribesmen, as most East Bank Jordanians do. In reality, the Al-Edwan family number less than 500 individuals and is no more prominent than any other family in Jordan. Born in 1988, Al-Edwan is married and holds a master’s degree in law. Before becoming a Parliament member, he was not a very successful lawyer with a humble practice in the Jordanian capital Amman.
5. Since college, Emad has been affiliated with the fearsome and very capable Mukhabarat, the Jordanian Genrra; Intellgence Department (GID). A Jordanian intelligence source confirmed: “He has been an informer of ours since 1997, and we have helped him win a parliamentary seat.” [COMMENT: In Jordan, the GID is known for meddling in all aspects in life in a manner very similar to the Stasi of East Germany, from soccer teams to government appointments. The GID follows a lifelong affiliation method: they recruit informants from universities and let them work for them for a lifetime. Hence it is only logical Al-Edwan would have never become a Parliament Member in a country where the GID has a documented history of rigging elections. END COMMENT]
The King’s Body, Al-Edwan, is More Connected than Most
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6. A Western intelligence source in Amman has confided to us that “Emad Al-Edwan is considered to be one of the King’s inner circle, with strong connections to the spokesman of the Jordanian parliament Ahmd Al-Safadi. As such, Al-Edwan was highly favored by both the King whom he met with regularly and the GID.” An American source reported to JaFaJ: “Al-Edwan was on the King’s A-list, and a likely candidate for the position of Speaker of the House or Prime Minister. He is also considered one of the King’s pit bulls, the go-to guy for crazy missions.”
Al-Edwan Was Covered by the Jordanian Embassy
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7. JaFaJ intelligence sources have confirmed that Al-Edwan entered Israel under direct diplomatic coordination provided by the Jordanian Embassy in Tel Aviv. In addition, Jordanian diplomats were “present” when the bust occurred. A Western intelligence source reported to JaFaJ that Israeli intelligence against suspect the Jordanian diplomats were involved in the smuggling operation and had aided and abetted Al-Edwan. The sources added that the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the Embassy that it sought to speak to those diplomats to ask them what they knew about the matter. Still, the Jordanian turned this request down, and two diplomats hastily fled back to Amman in the afternoon.
8. At the same time, JaFaJ has confirmed that the head of the King of Jordan’s Royal Hashemite Court and his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ayman Safadi, has been trying to reach Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since the arrest took place, hoping to secure the release of Al-Edwan and to stop the media coverage of the story. In addition, the Jordanian Chief of Intelligence, Hatuqai, called the Deputy Director of the Mossad, the Israeli intelligence services.
9. JaFaJ can confirm the gag order was issued by the Israeli government for what our well-connected Western source in Jerusalem calls “A point of reasoning with Jordan in exchange for Al-Edwan telling them whom he has been delivering weapons and money to.”
The source added Al-Edwan has been on the radar screen of the Israeli security agencies for some time, and they have documented him delivering weapons and cash to several terror operatives in the West Bank, and this is supported with an abundance of evidence of that.”
Worse Than Anyone Thinks
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10. A Western intelligence source reported to JaFaJ the case of Al-Edwan is “worse than we have thought; it shows the government of Jordan has facilitated the delivery of weapons and cash to terror organizations in the territories [the West Bank] that have been used in recent terror attacks against Israeli civilians.”
11. JaFaJ has confirmed that Al-Edwan has been involved in three similar operations before this one, with connections to the newly emerging terror group “Ariene Al-Asood.” An Israeli source reported the following to JaFaJ, “We cannot comment on the case, but we have known from the beginning that Ariene Al-Asood is an offshoot of the Jordanian intelligence in the West Bank.”
What the Israelis Want to Know
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12. As the interrogation of Al-Edwan continues, the Israelis are seeking more information from him about whom he was planning to deliver weapons for in future operations and who has been giving him the orders in Jordan. Currently, the Israeli are more concerned with gathering evidence implicating the Jordanian government to stop it from supporting terrorists.
The King Wants to Blame it on the Iranians
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13. JaFaJ learned Jordan’s King’s advisors are working on blaming the issue on Iran and claiming Al-Edwan was working on behalf of Iranians. An American source reported to JaFaJ, “The Jordanians began calling everyone who would listen in DC claiming it was the Iranians and not them; this is hard to believe because Israel has been providing evidence suggesting the contrary and pointing towards Jordan.”

1. Summary: the King of Jordan has dispatched his Prime Minister to wealthy Qatar to seek extra financial aid. It is unlikely that Qatar will be providing any additional assistance to Jordan because of its recent reconsolidation with Saudi Arabia and also Saudi Arabia’s normalization with Iran. These political developments have stripped the King of any significance that he has ever had as the “semi-official middleman” between all parties. In addition, the King’s recklessness and arrogant positions and attitudes has cost him friends in the region, especially with the Arab Gulf states who are conscious of their honour and dignity. Strapped for cash and profoundly disliked by his people, the King might face serious public protests and unrest by his subjects by the summer of this year, with no sign from any of his fellow Arab rulers being able or willing to help Abdullah avoid his fate.
2. According to Petra, Jordan’s state news agency, Jordan’s Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh flew to Qatar on April 9th, 2023, where it was reported that the “Prime Minister and a ministerial team began a two-day visit to Doha on Monday.” What’s unique about the visit is that Jordan’s King Abdullah rarely allows officials to conduct external visits. He only lets his Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, conduct such visits but rarely meets with governments of wealth or significance, such as Qatar. This made it very unusual for the King to allow his Prime Minister to pay an extended visit to Qatar, one of the King’s most staunch allies.
3. JaFaJ sources within the Jordanian government have confirmed that Al-Khasawneh’s visit was ordered by the King and his wife. A Jordanian General Intelligence Department source reported, “The King needs Qatar’s money and has been begging them for aid since last November, but to no avail. As a result, he took a different approach and sent the Prime Minister to do the begging and save himself [the King] some dignity.” Asked why he thought Qatar was no longer giving the King aid, the source responded, “It’s not just Qatar.” The source continued, “Except for the UAE and Oman, Gulf Arabs have not been providing any substantial help.”
4. The source added, “They are no longer convinced that they need to support Jordan, and they are not desperate for our help like before.” The source continued, “It is because they have on-going secret talks with Israel, and they are no longer afraid of Iran after Saudi Arabia and Iran signed a peace deal.” The source confided with JaFaJ that “as a result, they do not need the King to carry messages to either the Iranians or the Israelis and act as the middleman.” He added, “Now we [the Government of Jordan] are nobody to them.” His conclusion was surprising, “It is much worse than you think. Some of those Gulf States have established ties with the King’s growing opposition in London and, elsewhere, something they would not have dared to do just a year ago.”
5. JaFaJ sources inside the King’s office, the Royal Hashemite Court, confirmed that Al-Khaswaneh’s visit to Qatar was mainly ordered by the King’s wife, Queen Rania, who told him “To get as much financial support he could, even if just a few million dollars – anything.” The sources confirmed that Arab Gulf states have not been providing aid like they used to. [COMMENT: Several Arab Gulf states follow the leadership of Saudi Arabia, and the Saudis have lost a lot of confidence in Jordan’s monarchy due to King Abduallah’s ties to Iran which he had refused to end despite Iran’s hostility to Saudi Arabia. While Saudi-Jordanian times are not exactly wrong, some Saudi aid still flows, and the old days of substantial Saudi grants are gone. END COMMENT]
The Qatari Well Has Dried Up; Jordan A “Foreign Aid Blackhole”
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6. Despite being one of the world’s top gas exporters, the wealthy Qataris are cautious regarding how they spend their money, especially when Jordan is involved. A source close to Qatar’s Royal Emiri Court confided to JaFaJ, “Qatar no longer sees that it should provide any further help to Jordan’s King.” The source added, “We have provided a lot, and we employ tens of thousands of his [the King’s] people for very little appreciation.” The source continued, “We have our concerns and children to provide for, and those need our money more than anyone else.” He added, “Our political support for the King is unwavering; His Royal Highness Prince Tameem highly respects King Abdullah, but sorry, we no longer have the money to hand out to Jordan’s foreign aid blackhole.”
7. A British source in Qatar confirmed with JaFaJ that Qatar’s former passionate support for Abdullah is no more. The source added, “The Qataris are no longer inclined to provide blind support for the Muslim Brotherhood and those who support them, and Abdullah has been the Muslim Brotherhood’s sweetheart for a long time, and that came with inflated Qatari respect, but no more because Qatar has changed many of her policies since it has reconciled with Saudi Arabia.”
Conclusion
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8. Arrogant, reckless and considerably unrealistic about his assumptions, Jordan’s King has always managed to get away with provoking his Arab allies as much as he can and failing to appreciate their help. Nonetheless, the tide has changed not just in the Middle East, but in the Gulf, especially with the normalization of ties between Saudi Arabia and Qatar and Saudi Arabia and Iran. Both changes have left King Abdulla unable to play his favourite game: playing both ends against the middle.
9. The recent normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran has impacted the King’s importance to both countries and the region. Very aligned with Iran, Abdullah has served as both a mediator and a message carrier between the Gulf and Iran, and he cannot claim this role now. Abdullah’s tightest alliance is with Muhammad Ben Zayed, the President of the United Arab Emirates and Qatar’s archenemy, who has occasionally been hostile to Saudi Arabia. Nonetheless, Ben Zayed is not known to be as generous with his aid as the Saudis, and by siding with him, Abdullah has made both the Saudis and Qataris weary of him.
10. With his government being cash strapped and on the verge of bankruptcy, Jordan’s King is unlikely to find any Arab ruler that will give him a blank check, as they did in 2018 when Arab Gulf states gave him USD 2.5 billion to tackle and eliminate the protests then sweeping Jordan. As Abdullah is expected to face further regional political isolation, his already disgruntled people are likely to become even more furious over his actions as Jordan’s economy is worsening by the day. As a result, further unrest and unprecedented protests are likely to hit the Hashemite Kingdom during the summer of 2023.

1. Summary: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has issued a very harshly worded press statement protesting a visit to the premises of Al-Aqsa Mosque by Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Israeli Minister of National Security. In the statement, UAE emphasized the need for “the comprehensive protection of Al-Aqsa Mosque and that stopping the serious and provocative violations therein, and to respect the role of the sisterly Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in caring for Sanctities and Waqf in accordance with international law and the existing historical situation.” This was followed by the postponement of a state-visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the UAE. The UAE’s sudden hostility appears to stem from its desire to sustain the ongoing status quo between Israel and the Palestinians. In addition, pressure from the Jordanian monarchy, particularly Queen Rania, has influenced UAE President Mohammad Ben Zayed into developing less-friendly positions towards Israel. It also serves as a wakeup call to all of those in the region to the shortcomings of the Abrahamic Accords, which have worked to some extent, but cannot go further without involving a potentially new Palestinian leadership and neutralizing the obstructionism created by the King of Jordan. Peace between UAE and Israel is expected to endure but may just become another cold peace like the ones Israel has with Jordan and Egypt.
2. On the 3rd of January 2023, Israel National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest site and the site of the Temple Mount. The Palestinians and Jordanians received the ultra-conservative Minister’s visit with anger. Jordan, by treaty, controls the Islamic Waqf of Jerusalem which includes full administrative control over the Mosque, and as such, the visit was considered a direct provocation to the Hashemite Kingdom and violation of the agreement. These events happened shortly after the King of Jordan threatened Israel with a “confrontation” in an internationally broadcast CNN interview if “the Jerusalem red line was crossed by the new Israeli government.” What came as a surprise though was a quick and unapologetic statement of condemnation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
3. Hours after Ben Gavir’s visit, the UAE issued a press statement through its official news agency “strongly condemning Ben-Gavir’s infiltration into Al-Aqsa Mosque.” The Agency reported that the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said, “It has renewed the UAE’s firm position on the necessity of comprehensive protection of Al-Aqsa Mosque and stopping the serious and provocative violations therein”, and “the need to respect the role of the sisterly Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in caring for Sanctities and Waqf in accordance with international law and the existing historical situation, and without prejudice to her authority and powers of managing the endowments of Jerusalem and the affairs of Al-Aqsa Mosque.” Further, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the Israeli authorities to “reduce the escalation and not take steps to exacerbate tension and instability in the region.”
4. At the same time, an announced visit to UAE by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu was “rescheduled.” The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that they were rescheduling the visit “to take place later this month.” Although no official reason was given, this has not prevented the Arab media from celebrating the news as allegedly UAE President Mohammad Ben Zayed “cancelled his meeting with Netanyahu.” The UAE’s vast media empire and network of social media influencers, has not dismissed these claims. This signifies that UAE Officials are content with what has been reported.
5. According to JaFaJ sources, Jordan’s King flew to Abu Dhabi to meet with Mohammad Ben Zayed on the 4th of January, right after the announcement of the “rescheduling” of Netanyahu’s visit. According to the source, this was done as a “clear symbolic gesture of mutual solidarity between Abdullah and Ben Zayed.” Additionally, UAE’s tightly controlled social media influencers expressed solidarity with Jordan in particular “the Hashemite Custodianship of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.”
The Jordanian Role
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6. JaFaJ sources in the region have noticed that the hostility exhibited by the UAE towards Israel has grown. A Western political source close to both the Israelis and the UAE told JaFaJ that “This is all the work of Jordan’s King. Abdullah is begging Ben Zayed for support and pushing him towards antagonizing Israel because his Kingdom is spinning out of control.” The source added that, “The UAE’s attitude has developed in large part thanks to the influence of the King’s wife, Rania, rather than the King himself. Rania has played on Ben Zayed’s chivalry and calls him sometimes several times a week pleading for help, claiming that the Israelis are plotting against her husband and the throne.”
7. The source added that “kneejerk reactions are not in Ben Zayed’s nature.” “He is very calm, but can be easily influenced by those who plead to his humane side. Here, Ben Zayed apparently believes that he is saving an Arab woman in distress and is willing to risk his ties with Israel for it.” The source continued by saying that “At best, he is not calculating the amount of damage he is causing himself.”
8. An Israeli political figure who is no longer in the Israeli government spoke with JaFaJ, and dismissed the sentimental analogy provided by the Western source. He opined “This is not about UAE’s love for the King or his wife. The UAE wants to ‘butter its muffin’ on both sides. On one hand, they want to make peace with the Israelis and enjoy both military and intelligence cooperation, but on the other hand, they want to keep the status quo in Jerusalem and the territories [the West Bank]. This way the UAE thinks they are going to rise on top by playing both ends against the middle.” He added, “We respect the UAE, we appreciate Sheikh Ben Zayed and his brother Tahnoun, but they need to understand that we are not stupid, and that nobody can dictate to us what we do with our country, neither UAE nor their friend Abdullah [King of Jordan].” [COMMENT: Sheikh Tahnoun Ben Zayed is the brother of UAE’s President Mohammad Ben Zayed, who also serves as the UAE’s national security advisor. He is known for having good and cooperative ties with the Israeli. END COMMENT].
9. An Israeli intelligence source reported to JaFaJ that “We have good ties with the UAE. They know that we need to work together.” The source continued by saying that “disagreements happen between even the friendliest of countries,” and he pointed to the US and Canada as an example. The source when asked about the UAE’s recent hostility, and he responded by saying, “The UAE and Jordan are pushing us to keep the status quo on the Temple Mount and to sustain the peace process. Somehow, the Jordanians are obsessed with the thought that we are about to take over the Aqsa Mosque. This is not true, but it seems that the Jordanians are spreading this falsehood and have convinced the UAE’s leaders of it”.
A Sobering Situation
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10. The recent hostility exhibited by the UAE against Israel, comprises a moment of reckoning for the Israelis and many who have built too much hope on the Abrahamic Accords. In 2020, when the said accords were signed between Israel and four Arab states, UAE, Sudan, Bahrain and Morocco, many decision makers in Washington DC and Jerusalem were overly optimistic. Some went as far as to claim that the Abrahamic Accords would roll across the Arab world and mark an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict. The accords were the brainchild of President Trump’s top advisor and son in law, Jared Kushner. Thanks to their actions, the UAE has just proven that the accords were just a tactic for some Arab nations and not a strategy or a token of eternal friendship with the Jewish state.
11. The UAE’s recent actions have exposed several holes in the Abrahamic Accords. The first is the fact that it is impossible to achieve peace between Arabs and Israelis without the Palestinians. A DC-based diplomat who has served in the Middle East for over a decade confided the following to JaFaJ, “Kushner wanted something to show for his accomplishment, and when he found no traction with either the Palestinians or the Jordanian King, he decided to tackle the matter from the outside and not the opposite. At least this is what he claims. In reality, you cannot achieve peace for Israel across the region when there is no peace in Jerusalem itself.” The source added, “What Kushner did was to go around the edges, ignoring the centre of the problem. As a result, peace between UAE and Israel has not provided Israel with any leverage within the region but generated sway and good press for the UAE rulers, and Kushner was literally beating around the bush claiming this is going to eventually cut the big tree.”
12. When asked what Kushner could have done because the Palestinians were not cooperating, the source said, “Kushner should have sought new leadership for the Palestinians and the Trump administration should have taken a tougher stance on the King of Jordan. The King remains deeply involved in the trouble in Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Israelis did provide evidence of the Jordanian Waqf’s involvement in passing guns to terrorists who shot at Israeli police at the Mosque itself, but nothing was done about the King” [COMMENT: The source was referring to a terrorist attack that took place on July 14th, 2017, at the premises of Haram Al-Shareef of Al-Aqsa Mosque. Two Israeli police officers were shot dead, and three gunmen were killed. END COMMENT].
13. A Western intelligence source reported to JaFaJ that, “Technically, Israel has not gained much from peace with the UAE, nothing more than public diplomacy. That is because the UAE has had secret ties with Israel for three decades, long before their peace agreement, and not much has changed as far as I have witnessed.” The source continued by saying, “the level of intelligence cooperation between Israel and UAE has not necessarily increased, but keep in mind, they need Israel and not the opposite. It is also not clear if Israel’s peace with UAE has improved the chances for a regional peace agreement. For example, a peace with Saudi Arabia would open the gateways for other Muslim countries to join. That is because Saudi Arabia is the custodian of Islam’s two most holy sites, and even though the UAE is wealthy and agile, it does not have an important a religious status.”
14. The source added that, “There are profound differences on major issues and the Israelis walked into this in goodwill, but the UAE has not yet changed their stance on two major issues: their political and economic cooperation with Iran and their stance on the two state solution.” When asked why, the source was very clear, “they still want the Palestinians to establish their state on pre-1967 borders, including East Jerusalem as their capital.” The source then admitted that “Israel will never agree to this.” [COMMENT: UAE sustains substantial economic ties with Iran and general good political communications with it. Unlike Saudi Arabia, the UAE does not treat Iran as an enemy. END COMMENT]
The Sky Has Not Fallen, Yet
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15. An Israeli diplomat reported to JaFaJ that “ties with the UAE remain good despite the setback.” The source added, “We have become used to negativity from our Arab partners, and we realize that change will take time. We are patient and we see the UAE as our trusted partner in the Gulf region, and what we disagree on we will negotiate”.
Conclusion
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16. The UAE’s position proves that making peace between the Arabs states and Israel is not as easy as some American and Israeli politicians have thought it to be. The difficult nature of the process is not only due to conflicting ideology, but also the fact that many Arab regimes have done so well under the region’s status quo, a status quo that includes the Arab-Israeli conflict. Therefore, most of them have fought hard against any changes that may result in ending the conflict. Also, it is necessary for Western and Israeli decision makers to understand the oral and emotional cultural aspects of the Middle East, and not mistake verbal warmth and welcomeness by some Arab rulers as signs of drastic change. For the foreseen future, it is unlikely that the UAE will change its position regarding the “two state solution and a Palestinian state on pre-1967 war borders with Eastern Jerusalem as the Palestinians’ capital.” One of the main reasons for this is because of the close ties between UAE and the King of Jordan, who conveniently adopts the same position and sees any wavering from it as a threat to his regime. Therefore, the UAE is not likely to compromise its friendship with Jordan’s King for the sake of better ties with Israel. In the end, a state of “cold peace” will be the future outcome of the ties between both countries.

Jordan’s King is Weak and Fragile, Still, Hamzah Has No Chance
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1. Summary: Jordan has been spiralling into unrest since early December. An ongoing national strike in protests of the King’s economic policies has blossomed into civil disobedience. In response, King Abdullah has recklessly dealt with those taking part in the strike (demonstrators), with the “heavy hand of oppression.” This has made the public more defiant and deepened the crisis. At the same time, some of the very few remaining loyalists to the King’s half-brother, Hamzah, have rekindled their hope of him replacing his brother as King. Still, Hamzah lacks any serious public support or access to either Jordan’s intelligence or army, therefore his chances of ever becoming King are null.
The King is Weak, Very Weak
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2. Since early December, Jordan has been on a national strike in protests of high fuel prices and including all public transportation and trucking vehicles. The strike has extended into private businesses and shops. The strikers were regularly engaged in peaceful demonstrations that spread across most of the country including the capital Amman. To add to the King’s woes, Jordan’s majority of Palestinian heritage is fully engaged in both the strike and the protests in Amman and Zarqa. This by itself poses a huge challenge to the King’s inherent policy of divide and conquer between Jordanians of Palestinian heritage and East Bankers.
3. The protesters were chanting the most dreadful chant the King could have heard “the People want to topple the regime.” While this call has not been the most used among protesters, insults and name-calling were aimed at the King and his wife.
4. In response to the protesters, the King has attempted to squash them using an “Iron Fist”. Videos circulating over social media clearly document the riot police beating up protesters in the streets and going as far as to wage collective harassment against entire blocks that appear to be connected to the protests. Videos also exhibit the King’s notorious gendarmerie throwing tear gas grenades at residential areas and homes, as well as arresting bystanders for no reason. This has resulted in an escalation by the protesters against the King’s character and the strike holding even stronger. The King’s crackdown on social media did not seem to help him, he ordered the blocking of the social media app TikTok and has been blocking and slowing the internet in order to stop Jordanians from spreading videos of the ongoing protests.
5. The King eventually agreed to marginally reduce fuel prices on New Year’s Eve, but that has not helped him as Jordanians are now publicly boasting “they have nothing to lose.” As a result, the strike is still holding strong, even as Jordan’s economy worsens day by day. In addition, Jordanians from all backgrounds have become unified against the King for the first time. Hence, the ongoing instability in Jordan is unlikely to end any time soon as the King is apparently powerless to redeem his image or defuse public anger against him.
6. With the situation worsening by the day and public consensus growing against King Abdullah, Western governments with highly vested interests in Jordan are now wondering about the country’s future. An American intelligence source has recently confided to an Arab Gulf Royal Family member “We wish for King Abdullah to bring peace to his kingdom, but we can’t see how he will be able to do this. We have given him all the help we could already, and he does not seem to be able to manage.”
Hamzah’s Few Remaining Loyalists Thrilled
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7. With the King being so fragile and hated by his subjects, some of the few loyalists to the King’s half-brother Hamzah, have recently rekindled their hope for him to become King. Hamzah, Abdullah’s half-brother whose mother is Lisa Al-Halaby, an American, better known as Queen Noor of Jordan. In April of 2021, Hamzah attempted a militarized coup in cooperation with some East Bank Bedouin radicals against his brother Abdullah. Since the attempt, Hamzah has been under Military Arrest and confined to his palace in Jordan. He is officially prevented from taking part in any political activities, while his two main co-conspirators (former Chief of the Royal Hashemite Court, Bassem Awadallah and Hashemite family member Hassan Bin Zaid), have both been sentenced to prison for engaging in acts of terror. Each was sentenced to fifteen years in prison under the Jordanian Counter-Terror Act.
8. Hamzah’s active loyalists count just a few dozen. A Jordanian intelligence major confirmed to JaFaJ that, “At best, Hamzah’s loyalists are less than 30 individuals and half of them are abroad. There’s nothing they can invoke or do”.
Hamzah Was More Dangerous Than Many Think
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9. Hamzah’s plot to take over the throne from his half-brother was violent in nature. According to JaFaJ sources, Hamzah recruited dozens of tribal figures to his side, promising them a garden of Eden once he gets rid of his brother. Further, he has recruited some violent and radical members into his plot. According to sources, this formed the basis of an investigation by the Jordanian Military Intelligence Department that was aimed at scaring Jordan’s Palestinian majority. The militiamen have been ideologically indoctrinated with hatred for Jordan’s Palestinian majority, under the claim “they have stolen Jordan from us,” and “We must universally strip them of their citizenships and turn them into residents in Jordan with no rights”.
10. Further, a senior source in the Jordanian military intelligence confirmed to JaFaJ that the “Hamzah group already had a terror checklist for the first week Hamzah was supposed to take over, with the target list including some Palestinian-Jordanian businessmen, social media figures and even facilities known to be associated with Jordan’s Palestinian majority.” For example, the Al-Wehdat Soccer Club Plot was designed to commit acts of race-fuelled terrorism against the Palestinians and their interests so they would submit to Hamzah as King. To implement his plot, Hamzah even recruited radical East Banker journalists and academics to assist him and aid in the indoctrination of his followers. This eventually materialized in uniting the radical group named “The Children of Jordan Abroad (CJA),” or “Abna Al Ordoun Fil Mahjar”.
11. The CJA’s members were brought together by Jordanian-Palestinian-American journalist, Muhammad Siyam. Siyam is a native of Bassem Awdallah’s home village near Jerusalem. In the plot, Hamzah enlisted Siyam’s help in crystalizing the group’s notions. The notions included the following: to replace Abdullah with Hamzah, to stop the opposition’s call for a regime change, and to “keep the regime and reform the nation,” all revolving around the slogan of “evolution instead of revolution.” Additionally, vilifying Israel and the United States were deemed to be “enemies of Jordanians because they want to hand Jordan to the Palestinians.” Lastly, it was designed to verify and attack the lead Palestinian opposition, Mudar Zahran as much as possible for being a Jordanian of Palestinian heritage.
12. Ironically, despite calling for military action against Jews and Israelis and seeking a militarized coup by which Jordan’s Palestinian majority would be compromised, the CJA did not register on the radar screens of security bodies in Europe and the United States where most of its radical members reside. Nonetheless, Hamzah’s terror plot for a Jordanian regime change surfaced only in January 2020, when German resident and member of the Jordanian Opposition Coalition (JOC) Mohammed Btaibet, first reported that one of the CJA’s key terror indicators raised red flags when the latter decided to visit Germany. The first red flag was Alaa Al-Fazaa. Al-Fazaa is one of the most outspoken figures of the terror group. Al-Fazaa was then residing in Sweden as a political refugee, where he was front and centre in the campaign against Abdullah and Jordan’s Palestinian majority. Al-Fazaa was also known then for calling for the death and destruction of the United States and Israel.
13. According to JaFaJ sources, the story started to unfold when Btaibet noticed that Al-Fazaa was using Twitter to call for murdering American soldiers. When he announced that he would be visiting the German city of Munster close to an American military base, Btaibet reported this to the German police and Mudar Zahran, the JOC’s leader. Zahran, in writing, passed the warning information to the US Defense Intelligence Agency. In the letter, Zahran warned them that radical Al-Fazaa was arriving in Germany and choose to stay near an American base. This happened just two days after his thousands of followers read on social media that he “would like to see 80 American soldiers killed.”
14. Being the first to report this to authorities, Btaibet was approached by German authorities and counterterrorism bodies, including those of Munster. The German Counter Terrorism Task Force, along with Munster Police and the US Defense Intelligence Agency as observers, met with Btaibet where he told them on the record of Hamzah’s terror plot to take over the throne in Jordan. This information was passed to other intelligence bodies in the US and UK, as well as the Jordanian Military Intelligence. According to confidential sources, they began monitoring Hamzah’s movements and communications in late January 2020.
15. During his discussions with authorities, Btaibet provided full accounts of Hamzah’s plot, including his intentions to carry out a coup and incite Jordanian tribes against the Palestinian majority. Btaibet warned that “Hamzah was plotting a coup and harboring Islamist radicals with a network that stretches across Europe and has connections inside the Jordanian army itself.” Btaibet’s warnings were not taken seriously by the Jordanian intelligence community, and in the beginning, they were not even aware of Hamzah’s plot.
16. This is when the American intelligence establishment began to monitor Hamzah and his actions. They even notified their Jordanian counterparts to observe Hamzah’s actions. This was confirmed by JaFaJ sources when the plot came out in April 2021. At the time, the Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi said in a televised press statement that, “Prince Hamzah had been under surveillance for a year.” The Guardian, a British daily paper, revealed in May of 2020 that “The American Embassy in Amman had revealed Hamzah’s plot to the Jordanian intelligence” was it not for the Americans finding out about the plot, the Jordanian intelligence establishment would not have taken any of Hamza’s activities seriously.
17. According to confidential JaFaJ sources, Btaibet also warned authorities that Al-Fazaa was leading a radical group in the West and provided the German authorities with a full account of the latter’s radical activities. The German counterterrorism police arrested Al-Fazaa along with two of his associates in Munster. Eventually, the other two were let go as Al-Fazaa remained in custody for questioning in the presence of German intelligence officers. American intelligence officers were also “observing.” After his detainment, Al-Fazaa provided a treasure trove of information about the terrorist Hamzah network in Europe and even admitted to his interrogators that he was working with Hamzah. He went as far as to tell them that they needed to contact specific Jordanian intelligence officers “to confirm that he is not a terrorist and was working with the Jordanian intelligence.”
18. Eventually, Al-Fazaa was later deported back to Sweden, where Mudar Zahran kept communicating with him. In Sweden, he spoke with Swedish Authorities, particularly the Ministry of Justice and the Swedish Intelligence. During the conversation, he urged them to seek the transcripts of the interrogation that he had with the Germans. Eventually, the Swedish obtained them and revoked Al-Fazaa’s refugee status.
19. Since then, Hamzah, Awadallah and Sheriff Bin Zaid have not been seen or heard from. Nonetheless, JaFaJ can confirm that Hamzah is no longer in Jordan. According to an American intelligence source, “Hamzah had no prayer in the first place, and his supporters have always been few. Now they are even fewer.” The source added that “Yes, Hamzah might have had some support within the rankings of the Jordanian security and military apparatus, but there were very few at best, numbering less than a dozen.” The source concluded by saying that “Hamzah is no longer a threat, nor has he ever been a viable alternative to the King.”
Hamzah Has No Prayer
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20. Despite the extensive effort by Hamzah’s remaining loyalists to portray him on social media as a leader, it is clear that Hamzah has no public support. The majority of Jordanians of Palestinian heritage have a sincere disdain for Hamzah and his mother because they symbolize racism and hatred toward Palestinians. Some of the most racist and anti-Palestinian East Bankers have been portraying Hamzah as the messiah who would “restore Jordan to Jordanians and kick out the Palestinians.” This by itself has made it impossible for Hamzah to secure any approval or any form of support from Jordan’s majority.
21. As for Jordan’s East Bankers, the majority of them have developed disdain and resentment towards the Hashemites. This has become the most apparent in the slogans and chants by the demonstrators. In them, the demonstrators do not exhibit any love for Hamzah, and the handful who do are suspected of being directly connected to Hamzah himself. According to a Jordanian military intelligence source, “some of them have received payment from Hamzah, therefore they do not represent the majority.” A major at the Jordanian General Intelligence Department confided to JaFaJ, “Hamzah has been under house arrest for almost two years now, so his so-called followers have not been able to stage a single protest in his support. This clearly shows us that he does not have any public backing”.
22. In addition, the Jordanian Major confirmed that, “Hamzah’s former loyalists within the Jordanian intelligence and military apparatus have been exterminated.” A Western military intelligence source stationed in Amman reported to JaFaJ that, “There were a few dozen officers in the army and the Mukhabarat [intelligence department] on Hamzah’s payroll, but they all have been exterminated.” The source continued by saying that “Our boys and the Britons military intelligence guys have exposed all of those and all of them have been fired from their jobs or forced into early retirement.
Conclusion
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23. As the unrest and demonstrations continue to grow larger in Jordan every day, and as the economic crisis deepens, the King’s recklessness handling of the situation is likely to threaten the political survival and stability of his regime. At this point, it is safe to say the next three Winter months will push the Jordanian people to their limits, and will harshly test the King and his regime beyond any threshold ever experienced, even to the breaking point. At the same time, the King is unlikely to risk passing the throne to his very unpopular Crown Prince, Hussein. [See JaFaJ report on this matter: https://acuitywebtechnologies.com/jafaj/afraid-and-confused-jordans-king-embarks-on-a-public-relations-crusade/] Nonetheless, the King’s brother is not an option as successor because he lacks public support and has no access to the powers that be within the Jordanian military and intelligence.

1. Summary: JaFaJ has learned that Chinese President Xi Jinping has asked the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman (MBS) to consider reconciliation with Iran, noting that China could serve as a mediator. Nonetheless, MBS did not seem to be thrilled and requested evidence of Iran’s change in behavior. China has a lot of vested interest in Iran, with four undisclosed Chinese military locations in Iran, including a military base on Kish Island in the Persian Gulf and another one on the Island of Salkah. Salkah is situated near the United Arab Emirates. Hence, China’s recent warmth towards Arab Gulf states is a loss for the Iranian Government because enhanced ties between Beijing and Arab states may come at the expense of Iran’s growing ties with China.
2. JaFaJ has learned from a Gulf State intelligence source that Chinese President Xi Jinping has asked the Government of Saudi Arabia (GSA) to “re-consider reconciliation with Iran.” This reportedly came during President Jinping’s visit to Saudi Arabia last week. During the visit, President Jinping attended the Saudi-Chinese summit, the Arab-Chinese summit and a summit between China and the head of Arab Gulf States.
3. According to sources, President Jinping conveyed a message of peace on behalf of Iran to the Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salaman (MBS). The Chinese President reportedly spoke with MBS and confirmed that Iran would consider serious concessions in exchange for peace with Saudi Arabia. The source added that China was willing to broker peace between the parties. According to JaFaJ intelligence sources, MBS responded by saying that “Saudi Arabia had never sought aggression towards anyone.” The source added that MBS said “he would like to see Iran’s behavior change first before reconsidering his country’s position on Iran.”
China Has a Sizable Military Base in Iran
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4. It isn’t clear if China is determined to push for peace between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Nonetheless, China clearly has a vested interest in Iran, especially since Iran is one of China’s key oil supplier. Additionally, cooperates with China carries out military and intelligence operations with Iran. Their cooperation started when President Jinping visited Iran in 2015. Today, China carries out military operations through the Kish Island Airport, a facility that they have leased from the Iranian Government for 25-years. Additionally, they have three undisclosed military bases on Iranian soil across the Persian Gulf, one of which is on the Island of Salkah, close to the United Arab Emirates.
5. Saudi Arabia is not likely to change its position on Iranian policies anytime soon. Still, with China making a historical breakthrough in the Middle East region in general, and Saudi Arabia in particular, they may be able to somewhat control Iran’s aggressive behaviour. Nonetheless, the Saudis are unlikely to buy any promises from Iran, regardless of any potential guarantor Iran may bring. At the same time, China’s policies of seeking expanded and enhanced ties with Saudi Arabia, as the leader of Arab Gulf States, is a huge loss to the Iranian Government. This is especially true because the Gulf States are economically and politically warming up to China, which in the long run, may wind up making Iran less relevant to Chinese interests.

1. Summary: For the past three weeks, Jordan’s King Abdullah has embarked on a massive public relations campaign aimed at Western governments. Rather than reaching out to his disgruntled and economically strained public, Abdullah seems mostly concerned with his image abroad, with the focus being the “West.” In an effort to prop up his regime, King Abdullah and his wife, Queen Rania, have been meeting with every western leader who will listen to them. At the same time, Abdullah is desperate for information about what would be the next “big moves” in the Middle East region, suspecting “A plot between Arabs, Americans and Israelis to depose him and replace him with a Palestinian.” Abdullah’s paranoia is not new but has intensified recently with public opposition to him becoming more vocal as Jordan’s economy becomes more and more strained. The King’s confusion and lack of interest in his subjects, clearly exhibits the state of dysfunctionality Jordan is in. Jordan itself has become so fragile that a regime change is no longer an impossible event.
2. In November 2022 alone, Jordan’s King and Queen visited the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Algeria, and Italy. For Royals who rule a country of 10 million, they spend the majority of their time away from their home country. While gone, they approach other governments and leaders, with hat in hand, begging for aid money, and do so claiming that Jordan is broke, or seeking “footage with the world leaders,” which the Hashemite royals often use to show off to the Jordanian public as evidence to of the regime’s prominence on a global scale. These visits are nothing new for the King, but these recent ones were different.
3. An Italian official who was a member of a delegation that met with Abdullah during a recent visit, reported to JaFaJ that, “The King seemed confused and incoherent despite his attempts to keep a straight face. He was keen on saying that he was there, it was like hello, I am here and still alive”. The source added that, “This is not the Abdullah I have come to know over the past decade [at an Italian government position connected to foreign affairs]”.
4. A Western intelligence source in Amman recently confided to a European diplomat reporting to the European Commission on Foreign Affairs, that “officials from the King’s Royal Hashemite Court have been very candid about the King’s purpose for visiting Italy.” The source added, “He wanted to be seen with Italian officials to raise his stature and convince the world that he is relevant.” The source continued by saying, “His second purpose was to meet with his close Vatican friends, as well as some less-known influential Italian political figures and members from the Order of the Knights of Malta. During the meetings, the King was asking questions about his future and the next big moves in the Middle East.” [COMMENT: Jordan’s Kingdom is one of the very few countries in the world to recognize the Order of the Nights of Malta as an official state, and is one of the very few countries in the Middle East that allows them a fully recognized embassy. The order is more or less a “brotherhood” that operates under the Vatican umbrella and includes influential figures Abdullah is connected with. END COMMENT].
Paranoid, Abdullah is Desperate for Information
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5. A Western official confirmed to JaFaJ sources that the King and his wife have been repeating the same questions to world leaders during their meetings. The source stated that the “questions raised by the king were mainly about Jordan’s future and the likelihood of regional military action against Iran”. He added that both Abdullah and Rania have warned anyone who will listen against a strike on Iran, while demanding a tougher Western position against Israel. The source added that “the King has become obsessed with the illusion that the Israelis are colluding with the United States, the UAE and Saudi Arabia against him”.
6. JaFaJ sources have confirmed that Abdullah has been going through an extreme phase of unjustified paranoia. Sources close to the King have said that “He feels something is afoot” and he is convinced that “Arabs, Americans, Israelis and World Jewry are all plotting against his regime in an effort to topple him and place a Palestinian in his position.” Further, the King claims to “Have evidence to support his claim.” And when asked to share it, the King responds by saying that, “Only he can see it because it is classified.” Furthermore, JaFaJ intelligence sources with proximity to the King’s inner circle have confirmed that, “He is not one bit concerned about the Jordanian people.” He added that, “The King believes that no one in Jordan is capable of doing anything against him, let alone topple him. His concern is what he calls “the Outside,” – a word he often uses to refer to Westerners.”
7. Described by most who have worked closely with him as “not the brightest bulb in the box” or “not the most sophisticated world leader,” Abdullah’s paranoia has been inflamed by Firas Bin Raed, his senior intelligence advisor and second cousin. Bin Raed heads the King’s “Special Office.” The Special Office is the King’s private intelligence desk. According to JaFaJ sources, “Bin Raed is convinced that something bad is being plotted against the King and the rest of the ruling Hashemites, and has devised a plan to revive Abdullah’s image”. The source continued by saying that “Bin Raed himself has been getting the cold shoulder treatment from major Western intelligence agents.” Hence, Bin Raed believes that they are keeping operational information from him. As a result, he translates Western intelligence caution in dealing with him personally, into the West not being sure of the regime’s survival.”
8. An American intelligence source has dismissed any alleged fears from the Jordanian Royals that there is a “lack of cooperation” from the US side. The intelligence source added, “Jordan is an important ally and any claims we are [Government of the United States] scaling back our cooperation or support are unfounded”. Nonetheless, a Western intelligence officer operating in Iraq and who previously served in Amman, reported to JaFaJ that, “If anyone is keeping intel from the Jordanians, it’s because of their shortcomings.” The source added “They have done some good work for us, but they have also made numerous mistakes, mistakes that we cannot overlook.” The source continued by saying that “Their capabilities remain limited and therefore we are inclined to give them as much cooperation as we need and not an inch more.” The source continued by saying that “We cannot trust the Jordanians at the same level as we did four or five years ago, and they should blame themselves for this, not us”.
The King’s Biggest Concern
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9. What has fuelled the King’s paranoia is the neutral, non-involving position most Western countries have exhibited towards his Crown Prince Hussein. Abdullah and Rania have been propping up their son to succeed his father earlier than expected [See JaFaJ report: https://acuitywebtechnologies.com/jafaj/a-new-american-ambassador-to-jordan-reactions-from-the-King-and-opposition/]. The Queen has been avidly trying to secure pre-guaranteed support from Western leaders for her son’s succession to the throne. For example, she has tried several times to get Arab and Western leaders to meet her son instead of the King. Rania has also requested Western officials to make statements openly confirming their support for Hussein’s succession. The Royals believe this is needed to ensure a proper and peaceful transition within the family. Nonetheless, she has received responses ranging from “mild to negative”. A source close to the Queen complained to British officials that the “Biden administration’s position on Hussein’s potential succession to the throne was this: It’s a Jordanian affair, we cannot make any statements before events as they may be misunderstood.” This dashed the Queen’s hopes and pride that her son will replace her husband when the time comes.
10. This lack of a passionate Western endorsement concerns the Hashemite Royal Family, especially the King, who remains uncertain about Jordan’s future, especially when many of the nation’s subjects are angry with the royals’ lavish lifestyle while people face horrible economic conditions.
Conclusion
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11. The Hashemite Kingdom remains wobbly, and all signs point towards growing instability within the country, with clear signs of zero genuine reforms or change of policy on the King’s behalf. At the same time, Jordan’s King has huge support within European governments, despite declining support from his Arab brethren, particularly in the Gulf. Nonetheless, the support and influence of European royals and decision makers cannot be overlooked. As such, it is safe to say that a negative event in Jordan, such as a royal scandal, a drop in the value of currency or growing food shortages may prompt a revolution. For now, the country is in a delicate and fragile position, and is broken politically, socially and economically, and therefore open to unexpected changes. As such, a regime change in Jordan is not impossible, and the odds of one happening are growing daily. As a result, King Abdullah’s paranoia is unlikely to disappear any time soon, exhibiting just how dysfunctional Jordan’s Royalty and government have become, which clearly helps explain why the country has rapidly deteriorated in the last few years.

1. Summary: The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terror group made two major announcements in the past week – the death of its Caliph, Abu al-Hasan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, and the appointment of his successor, Abu Al-Hussein Al-Husseini Al-Qurashi. Very little is known about how al-Hashimi al-Qurashi died, nor about the new terror leader Al-Husseini Al-Qurashi and how he was selected. Through our investigations, JaFaJ has confirmed that Al-Husseini Al-Qurashi is Iraqi, was born in the Baghdad area, is in his mid-40s and is a member of the Hashemite clan whose members claim to be direct descendants of Prophet Muhammad. For the time being, the position of the Caliph is rather symbolic because ISIS no longer controls any significant areas in either Iraq or Syria. Nonetheless, ISIS remains a potential threat as both countries remain unstable and the ISIS roots have stretched around the world.
2. On the 30th of November 2022, the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq (ISIS) posted an online audio message through its media arm, Al Furqan Group. In the message, ISIS spokesman Abu Omar Al Muhajir announced the death of the terror group’s “Caliph”, Abu al-Hasan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi in battle “fighting the enemies of God”.
3. Without providing any details about the terror leader’s death, Abu Omar Al-Muhajir declared a successor, Abu Al-Hussein Al-Husseini Al-Qurashi, as the new Caliph.
Who is Al-Qurashi?
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4. ISIS spokesman did not disclose any details about Al-Qurashi other than him being a “veteran jihadist”. This has caused all forms of speculations about ISIS’s actions, specifically for not parading their “Caliph” as usual. Some even went as far as claiming Al-Qurashi did not exit.
Some Confirmation About Al-Quraishi
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5. While not much information is available about the new ISIS Caliph, JaFaJ has confirmed what several Western intelligence agencies know to date: that he is an Iraqi national born and raised in the central area around Baghdad, is in his mid-40s and has was captured and imprisoned by the US troops during the US occupation of Iraq sometime between 2005 and 2006. Additionally, he is a Hashemite, and thus claims to be a direct descendant of The Prophet Muhammad. [COMMENT: Millions around the world claim to be Hashemites. This claim is a general sense of entitlement, with the Hashemites being “the preferred” rule of Muslim nations. This is why the Kings of Jordan and Morocco highly publicize their Hashemite heritage. END COMMENT]
Nothing Unexpected
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6. JaFaJ has confirmed that the selection of the mystery ISIS leader is not surprising, because both of the previous ISIS “Caliphs” were Iraqi Sunnis, in their 40s, and grew up around the Iraqi capital Baghdad, as well as belonging to the Hashemite clan. [COMMENT: The two previous ISIS leaders were Hashemites, including Abu Baker Al-Baghdadi and Abu Ibrahim al-Hashemi al-Qurashi who was killed in an American military operation last March in northwestern Syria. END COMMENT]
A Caliph of Nothing
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7. Al-Quraishi’s claim for Caliphdom is rather symbolic, because ISIS does not currently control any significant territories thanks to a series of crushing defeats at the hands of US-backed Syrian and Iraqi troops. Even so, they are active in a variety of nations, either directly or through the support of other terrorist organizations, and if allowed to flourish, can (and will) cause problems. As a result, security in both Syria and Iraq remains fragile, a situation that ISIS will not miss to exploit when the window of opportunity presents itself.

1. Summary: Jordanian media has recently leaked news about the nomination of a new American Ambassador to Jordan Yael Lempert. A veteran diplomat, Lempert currently serves as the Acting Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs. The Jordanian media has been welcoming Lempert’s nomination with a “song and da nce”, as a sign of Jordan’s king trying to over-welcome and perhaps impress the new ambassador. JaFaJ sources confirm this is all a part of the attempt by the king and queen to secure western support for their son to become King as Abdullah is contemplating early retirement to defuse the restless and angry Jordanian people. The Jordanian opposition on the other hand is more sceptical of the new Ambassador and sees her as just an implementor of Biden’s policies which they see as “unconditional support for Abdullah” at the expense of Jordanians. Despite the drama the Jordanian regime is trying to attach to Lempert’s appointment, she is not expected to trigger any major changes as it will remain business as usual at the US Embassy in Amman.
2. Jordanian news sites have leaked the news Yael Lempert is the incoming United States Ambassador to Jordan. JaFaJ sources in Washington DC confirm this to be true and claim Lempert was hand-picked by the Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and recommended to President Biden. A veteran diplomat, Lampert has served in some of the most challenging posts, including Iraq shortly after the American invasion and Egypt. For the Jordanian job, Lempert will leave her current position as Acting Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs. She will be replacing Henry Wooster, the outgoing US Ambassador who was appointed by Trump barely three years ago.
Favored by the King and His Wife
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3. The state-controlled Jordanian media has been celebrating Lempert’s nomination as US Ambassador to Jordan. Several sites reported “Known for her love for Jordanian shawarma”, with a photo of her eating the traditional Arab meat sandwich from Reem shawarma, the most famous shawarma joint in Amman. Jo24.net, a Jordanian site known to be close to the Jordanian intelligence department, described Lempert as “extremely cautious, silent, and reserved”. According to those same sites, “It is likely that Lempert supports the Democratic Party and that she engages in her tasks with the utmost craftsmanship and professionalism, and without arrogance and fuss.”
4. This passionate, early welcome from the Jordanian regime’s mouthpiece, exhibits profound approval by the Hashemite Royal Court and the King’s office. A Jordanian intelligence source confirmed with JaFaJ that “The King didn’t like the old [ex] Ambassador because he applied Trump’s policies.” The source went on to add that “you also must remember who the real boss of this country is: the Queen is the boss, and she hopes that the new ambassador will help her son become king”.
5. JaFaJ has learned from sources within the Hashemite Royal Family that Queen Rania is avidly rounding up global support for her son, Crown Prince Hussein, to replace his father as King. King Abdullah II is apparently “fully supportive of the move” because it is a way to defuse the Jordanian public and open a new chapter with his son.
6. Nonetheless, the royal couple has been facing substantial obstacles in making their son a king. The first obstacle is the public’s anger toward the royal family, from both, the Jordanian Palestinian heritage and the Bedouin community as well. Both sides blame the royal family’s lavish and flamboyant lifestyle for the extreme economic hardship and the heavy security hand the king has been treating his opposition and the systematic discrimination against the Palestinian majority which has become more intense in the past few years.
7. Additionally, the Crown Prince’s lifestyle could be a major obstacle to his parents’ plans. While there is widespread national ‘conversation’ that Hussein is a homosexual, someone from Rania’s inner circle reported to JaFaJ that “He is definitely bisexual, but not strictly homosexual”. True or not, both claims have made the Crown Prince unacceptable the in eyes of a very conservative Jordanian society.
7. With the King and Queen openly desperate to crown their son Hussein, Western political sources close to Queen Rania’s Office have reported that she is betting that she will be able to recruit the new American ambassador in the hopes of securing political and economic support for her son. The source added, “Rania has a perception that personal connections to influential individuals may change the situation on the ground, but she does not necessarily understand that Western countries have government bodies that require due process”. The source continued, “She is delusional in the sense that she thinks she could turn things around with one phone call to what she believes is the right person – she has even called Sarah Netanyahu asking her for support for her son [the Crown Prince]”. [COMMENT: Sarah Netanyahu is the wife of the Israeli Prime Minister elect Benjamin Netanyahu. END COMMENT]
Jordan’s Opposition is Not Thrilled
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8. Unlike the Hashemite regime, the Jordanian Opposition does not seem to be very happy with the new appointment. An example of this was a tweet by Mohammad Btaibet, a senior member of the Jordanian Opposition Coalition (JOC), Btaibet wrote: “Abdullah II and Rania Antoinette of the Arabs are playing a game they can’t play, they are trying to change the American ambassador to Jordan”
[https://twitter.com/btaibet/status/1593414729590099968?s=20&t=taV8vmANe0_w74Z66MhjYw]
9. An Israeli source who is familiar with the JOC reported to JaFaJ, “The Opposition is convinced that the King should have been overthrown long ago, and was saved by the Democrats, particularly President Obama”. The source continued by saying that “They blame the Democrats for giving more years to the king’s iron fisted rule, and say that they cannot trust this Ambassador, Blinken and or the Democrats”.
10. A British politician who has a working relationship with the de facto leader of Jordan’s opposition, Mudar Adnan Zahran, quoted him as saying “I served in a senior position for the US Embassy Amman and I have come to believe Ambassadors aide policies, they do not make policy. Policies are made in Washington, the incoming Ambassador will only follow Biden’s policies which appear to be identical to Obama’s; unconditional support for Abdullah, and that the support came at the expense of the Jordanian people’s freedom and livelihoods”. He added that, “Sadly, the Dems don’t seem to understand that regimes come and go and that the people remain and it appears that they have gone all in on a King who is in a very fragile position and is losing credibility with those who matter, minute by minute, including the USA, and his own subjects – the Jordanian people”.
Her Jewish Heritage A Non-Issue
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11. Lempert is Jewish, though her upbringing is rather secular. Despite this, there does not seem to be any evidence of public resentment of her Jewish faith. Comments made by Jordanians on social media did not refer to her Jewish heritage despite her first name is very Hebrew. Instead, comments made by Jordanians over Twitter and Facebook ranged between welcoming her and questioning Jordan’s ties to America. Nonetheless, few comments joked about her being “the new American boss for Jordan” and the “the US Embassy being the real Jordanian government”.
Business as Usual
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12. Despite the melodramatic and unprecedented welcome from Jordan’s King-controlled media and the apparent anger from Jordan’s opposition, Lempert is not expected to launch any drastic changes in the way the Government of the United States (GUS) deals with Abdullah or his opposition. Lempert will not be anybody’s messiah. As for Hussein’s ambitions for the throne, this call is far above the pay rate and power of the new ambassador. Hence, it is safe to say that the GUS will not do anything differently in Jordan unless a drastic event is to take place, for example, a massive revolution or an ailment by the king, or his death. Hence, it will only be business as usual.