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.

1. Summary: Having been heavily focused on the war in Ukraine, Western intelligence agencies have made an unexpected find: Hussain Tlesh. Hussian Tlesh is a Libyan Islamist who manages a Ponzi scheme out of the Ukraine with his two sons. The proceeds from this “venture” are used to finance terrorism in Libya at the grassroots level. Tlesh is a retired USSR-trained fighter pilot. Intelligent, calculating, organized and very secretive his hidden low approach to live has helped him and his sons fly under the radar. Tlesh is helped most by his connections with the Muslim Brotherhood-dominated government of Western Libya. A native of Tripoli, Tlesh sustains connections with known members of the Islamic State terror group, which has gone into hibernation in Libya but remains dangerous and enjoys extensive support across Western Libya. Tlesh uses his position as Executive Director of the Al Ahli Club soccer team as cover for his financial operations, including providing money to terrorists in the forms of “Assistance” and “grants”. He also has been serving as a cash handler for radical Islamists in Libya thanks to his Club travels. Thanks to the war in Ukraine, Tlesh and his sons surfaced on the radar screens of several security US and European agencies, as well as the Ukrainian military intelligence. Additionally, because of his “business”, both his sons who also reside in the Ukraine, are under very heavy surveillance by their counterterrorism bodies. The significance of this case is this: Tlesh represents a textbook case of “terrorist evolution”, the evolution of terrorists who have become accustomed to settling for small, consistent successes rather than major yet short-lived achievements.
2. JaFaJ has confirmed that Libyan national Hussian Tlesh is an active financier of small time terrorists and radicals. JaFaJ sources added that “Tlesh has surfaced lately on the radar screen of two different Western security agencies, and has connections to Ukraine where two of his children reside.” The source added that Tlesh came to the attention of Western Intelligence Agencies shortly after the war in Ukraine began thanks to the actions of his son Mahmoud Tlesh. Mahmoud was spotted making, receiving and distributing large sums of money in what can only be considered “shady transactions”. The ongoing surveillance of Mahmoud has led to counterterrorism agencies focusing in on his father, Hussian.
3. In his early 60s, Hussian Tlesh is a native of Tripoli and is publically known to be very close to the Muslim Brotherhood led government of Western Libya. His position as “Senior Administrator” of the popular soccer team, Al Ahli Club, has fortified his image as a community figure and allowed him access to several Libyan officials, including the Libyan Sports Minister, Abdul Shafee Al Juaifi. [COMMENT: Since the toppling of Qaddafi, Libya has been split between two governments, the Muslim Brotherhood Wefaq Government which controls Western Libya and the moderate Khalifa Haftar Government which controls most of Eastern Libya with Benghazi as its capital. All of the Wefaq’s top officials are Muslim Brotherhood members and many have had open ties to the Islamic State in Libya. END COMMENT]
4. A former Russian Mig 25 fighter pilot, Hussian Tlesh received his training in the 1980s in the former Soviet Union. Disciplined, calculating and a steadfast organizer, Hussain is known to effectively “fly under the radar”, despite his popular position as leader of a popular soccer team. As such, he maintains a low profile and operates his financial connections with terrorists without fanfare or noise. Recent communications surveillance has shown him to be very discreet when using his phone and online communications, especially when he speaks to Mahmud, who resides in Kyiv.
5. An Islamist radical in ideology, Hussain Tlesh is not reluctant to breach radical views within the ranks of players and administrators of the Al Ahli Club. According to inside sources, Tlesh is known to have facilitated the hiring of a former Islamic State jihadist within the club, and openly brags to his subordinates and players about Jihad and his network of grassroots terrorists who are loyal to him.
A Low Roller, A High Achiever
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6. According to JaFaJ sources, Hussian Tlesh never deals in massive money transactions. The largest amount of money he has received from abroad was USD $28,000. Careful to remain untouchable, he receives smaller amounts of money through multiple transactions, transactions that are laundered through various questionable ventures. To increase his profits while hiding more money, he uses his cover as the Senior Al Ahli Club Executive to travel to multiple countries, sometimes more than once a month. JaFaJ sources have confirmed that surveillance of the subject shows that two of the trips he made in 2022, were to collect money from Islamists and suspected Jihadists. He then brought the money back to Libya where he delivered it to known Islamists, including what the intelligence sources have described as “Active Islamic State members who have been recently relocated to Tripoli after having been released from the jails of Haftar government”.
7. Describing the rather humble amounts of money Hussian Tlesh has been funnelling to Libya’s radical elements is very dangerous. A Western intelligence source who is involved in counterterror financing in North Africa has confirmed to JaFaJ that “Terrorism is a cheap crime, a few thousand dollars worth of TNT could kill 100 people, therefore we cannot overlook any amount of money trickling down into the hands of terrorists”. When asked about Hussian Tlesh, the source responded, “He and others are on our radar screen”.
8. A Libyan intelligence source from the Haftar led government reported to JaFaJ “We can’t take people like Hussain Tlesh lightly, the Wefaq Government is ISIS [the Islamic State] with make up on its face”. The source added, “Terrorists like Tlesh bring money to the small terrorists, and this helps keep sleeper cells keep alive”.
9. The Libyan source noted that “His position as a leader of a sports team gives him some kind of protection. And if we call him out, the Muslim Brotherhood will make fun of us and call us paranoid. Nonetheless, we’re looking closely at him because he cooperates with questionable Arab agencies. The source concluded that “he is not the only financier of terrorism in the Wefaq government – remember the entire government there is Muslim Brotherhood”.
The Tlesh Terror Money Factory
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10. JaFaJ sources have confirmed that the flow of Hussian Tlesh’s terror money starts in Ukraine, with his son Mahmoud. A Libyan national who resides in Kyiv, told JaFaJ that Mahmoud runs an extensive Ponzi scheme, and that the scheme generates upwards of USD $30,000 a month. To do so, Mahmoud facilitates this scheme by targeting Arab victims over social media, and does so by begging them to help his wife, a Ukrainian Muslim convert named Hayat Tlesh. Using several fake names and shell companies to hide the money and themselves, the couple operates from a flat near Independence Square on Khreshchatyk Street in Kyiv. They reside there with their three children Amina, Larin and Adam. The said property’s location coordinates: 50.45000° N, 30.52361° E. One of Mahmoud Tlesh’s sales pitches to his victim revolves around his unique way of using cryptocurrency, and on occasion, baits his hook by giving prospects with small amounts of money to sweeten the deal. He primarily uses a specific ATM to make transfers and receive money, located at Buybank.io, Exchange Bitcoin in Antonovycha St, 45, Kyiv, Ukraine, 02000.
11. To perfect his Ponzi scheme, he sustains extensive outreach to Arabs residing in Europe, with a focus on Germany and the United Kingdom. For this, he uses the Facebook account https://www.facebook.com/tlesh.tlesh and an Instagram account, https://instagram.com/papa_mahmoud?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= . He also uses a British issued burner phone, with the number +44 7724 690010, and keeps his communications strictly to WhatsApp.
12. According to JaFaJ sources, Mahmoud Tlesh has enlisted the help of his 25-year-old brother, Mohaned Tlesh. Mohaned also resides in Ukraine, yet makes regular trips to Dusseldorf, Germany driving a Hyundai Elantra with the Ukrainian licence plate AA5341KM. In Germany, he deposits his illegally obtained money. Mohaned also uses his social media accounts to recruit victims of the Ponzi scheme. These are Facebook accounts https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003341269283
and Instagram account https://instagram.com/mohaned_tlesh?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
13. Despite their illegal money making schemes, both of Hussian Tlesh’s children harbor very radical views about Libya, Islam, and non-Muslims. Recent surveillance has shown the younger brother to be openly supportive of the Islamic State. He has made claims to fellow Arabs in Ukraine that Libya was “much better off when it was under the Daesh [Islamic State] ruler”.
14. Both men have sustained a good quality of life for themselves while at the same time wiring substantial money to their father in Tripoli. The father has used the money to finance terror fighters who are not employable because of their connections to the Islamic State in Libya. He has provided money to Libyans connected to terrorism, some known to have directly engaged in battles against the Benghazi based Libyan Government. Tlesh has also used some of the money to finance events for radical preachers in Libya which he uses to target young people.
The Big Boys Are Watching
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15. Several American and European counter-terrorism bodies know of Hussian Tlesh’s terror financing activities. JaFaJ has confirmed that the EU S Department of Treasury, Federal Bureau of Investigations, the US Department of Homeland Security, and the US Defence Intelligence Agency are already aware of this individual, and further measures are in the works against Hussian Tlesh. They include barring entry into 2 Arab countries including Egypt which he has entered under the cover of the soccer team he manages. Additionally, further measures are already in place to monitor both his sons with potential prosecution in the works.
Conclusion
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16. Hussian Tlesh is a textbook case of the terrorist evolution. Evidence clearly suggests that terrorists in general (and terror financing in particular), have adapted to the stricter post 9-11 world. This “evolution” is exhibited in Mr. Tlesh’s operations, operations that fly under the radar, which focus on small and consistent transactions that are made with humility rather than a mother of all successes like previous orthodox tourists do. Additionally, instead of having a head on collision with the government where he lives, he operates within the government hierarchy. What helps him (and those like him), is the fact that many Islamist governments have been empowered over the past two decades. Examples of this are found in Libya, Iraq, Jordan and Yemen, and not from more traditional countries like Germany and Belgium. In other words, the Tlesh’s avoid strict regulations found in those countries by utilising the Internet. This by itself is an exhibit of how the internet has brought down barriers and neutralized the significance of borders.
17. As you read this, terror financier Tlesh is scamming individuals in France for money that he eventually to Libya where it is used to support the Islamic State. At the same time, he targets Arabs and Muslims residing in Europe with his Ponzi scheme, making them co-financiers of terror without even realizing it.
18. Instead of going big and going in a bang, new age terrorists like Tlesh seek to secure consistency and avoid being hunted down by much stronger adversaries like the United States. While the terrorists have evolved, counterterrorism bodies across the world have failed to catch up, and that’s because they have been outsmarted by terrorists while they are still playing by the old rules.

1. Summary: It appears that the President of the Palestinian Authority (PA) – Mahmud Abbas – has an heir apparent: Hussein Al-Sheikh, Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). At 61, Al-Sheikh is agile, professional and maintains good working ties with the United States and Israel. Nonetheless, he is facing the PLO’s “old guard” who have more credentials, tribal and public support, and access to resource than he does. The future of a post-Abbas Palestine remains in question and Al-Sheikh cannot embody a certain answer to that at the time.
2. In May 2022, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas appointed Hussein Al-Sheikh as Secretary of the Executive Committee of the PLO. The position is more of “an everything Minister” in the PLO, and is considered one of the strongest position within the organization. The general feeling within the ranks of the PLO and the Israeli establishment is that Abbas had informally declared Al-Sheikh his heir apparent.
3. An Israeli official has confirmed with JaFaJ that “Al-Sheikh is the most likely candidate to serve as Abbas’s successor”. He added “Abbas has expressed this to us, the Americans don’t seem to mind him, and we won’t argue”. The source added, “All we want is for the security coordination to remain and not to see the territories [the West bank] ruled by Hamas.” The source continued by saying, “we don’t care who fills the job as long as these issues are secured”. On whether Al-Sheikh could survive as the PA’s president, the official said, “We won’t interfere in their internal affairs, we know and they know it’s in our mutual interest to keep the cooperating going, or they will lose”. An American with connections to intelligence operations in Jerusalem told JaFaJ sources: “Leading the Palestinians is a hard and dangerous job, what else do you think is the reason Abbas won’t pass it to one of his sons?”
4. At 61, Al-Sheikh is agile, intelligent, well-spoken, very organized and somewhat open about his political aspirations. Despite not being the most famous or well known Palestinian official, Al-Sheikh has been the Chief of the Higher Civil Affairs Committee (CAC) since 2007. This committee oversees all sorts of civil needs of the Palestinians from Israel. This has made Al-Sheikh a very influential man. Be it treatment at Israeli hospitals, special permission to visit Jerusalem, or a work permit in Israel, Al-Sheikh is the gatekeep for all of these. This shows the level of confidence Abbas had in Al-Sheikh by giving him this very sensitive position at an early stage of Abbas’s presidency.
5. Additionally, his position at CAC has required sustaining good ties to both the Israeli civil government bodies and the military. Therefore, Al-Sheikh is quite respected and trusted by several Israeli officials and high-ranking service men.
6. In addition, being the czar of Palestinian access to civil services from Israel has won him many favors with many Palestinians. For example, a work permit to Israel is considered a golden ticket for the average Palestinian, and Al-Sheikh has facilitated the issuance of thousands of these over the years.
Al-Sheikh’s Weaknesses
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7. While nobody expects Al-Sheikh’s succession of Abbas to be easy, Al-Sheikh is facing problems that may make such a move rather very hard, if not impossible. The first is his relatively young age and combat history. At almost 62, Al-Sheikh is considered a “kid” by the mainstream PLO dinosaurs, including the big names like Abbas Zaki, Ahmed Qurei and Jibreel Al-Rjoub. While most of those strong men are in their eighties, they remain influential and are apparently clutching to their positions of power, seemingly to the last breath. And even in death, their children are deeply rooted inside the PLO establishment and the PA government bodies. To them, Al-Sheik is an outsider and amateur.
8. Furthermore, the PLO dinosaurs question Al-Sheikh’s credentials as a “freedom fighter”. His history of activities against Israel including being a member of the coordination committee of the first intifada which landed him a decade behind bars of Israeli jails. Nonetheless, having spent all his life in the West Bank, Al-Sheikh never took part in the PLO’s armed battles against Israel, which the PLO old guards wear as a badge of honor. For example, Al-Sheikh never participated in the Lebanese Civil War. In other words, they will never see Al-Sheikh as “combat tested” and therefore are less likely to accept him as their leader.
Lack of Tribal Connections
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9. Additionally, Al-Sheikh does not belong to any major Palestinian tribes. Unlike some of his potential adversaries, his family tree is rather small, numbering a few hundred at best. In addition, born in Ramallah, Al-Sheikh does not belong to any of the Palestinian towns known for tribal concentration and loyalty to natives. For example, residents of Hebron are made up of very large tribes who are known to favor and support all PLO officials who are natives of the city. Al-Sheikh does not enjoy any of this.
Accusations of Corruption and Nepotism
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10. Like all Palestinian officials, Al-Sheikh has been accused of corruption. A fan of fancy imported suits and German cars, Al-Sheikh’s lifestyle remains within the norm of the average Palestinian official. Nonetheless, his enemies can mobilize these accusations to launch a campaign against him if he succeeds Abbas. Traces of it can already be found in the Palestinian media. Al-Sheikh does not have either the connections, the public support or the muscle to counter such a campaign.
Lack of Media Exposure, the New York Times Failure
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11. Additionally, Al-Sheikh does not have any media backing under his belt. The Palestinian media is controlled by either the PLO old guard or Hamas. Both are his rivals. Furthermore, Arab media is controlled by the Gulf States, and they don’t seem to pay a lot of attention to him. He had one run with Western Media upon advice from one of his friends who had a connection to the New York Times (NYT) correspondent, Patrick Kingsley. Despite having given Kingsley an exclusive and being too accommodating to him, the NYT story turned out to be negative, focusing on Al-Sheikh’s “liaison to Israel”, noting that some critics call him a “spokesman for the occupation”.
12. The NYT’s description of “liaison to Israel” was not exactly accurate because Al-Sheikh coordinates civil affairs and facilitates Palestinian access to Israeli services. By using the word “liaison” or “coordination with Israel”, the Palestinians usually refer to security cooperation which they hold responsible for the death and imprisonment of thousands of Palestinian militants. Nonetheless, this incident exhibits Al-Sheikh’s lack of experience when it comes to Western media, which would be happy to chew him up and spit him out alive if he becomes president.
Abbas is Rooting for Al-Sheikh
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13. JaFaJ sources who are close to the Presidential Office in the PA have confirmed that “Abu Mazen [Abbas] is lobbying hard for Al-Sheikh”. A source who is also very close with the Palestinian Intelligence Department, has confirmed that “Abu Mazen has already informed the Israelis, the Americans and the Britons that he wants this man as his successor, and is rallying support for him”. The source added that he should not expect any serious opposition from abroad, and that “the only trouble he may receive are those from Mohammad Dahlan who wants to be the next [Palestinian] President. [COMMENT: Mohammad Dahlan is a former senior PLO member and senior PA Security Official. His differences with Abbas over PLO policy, have forced him into the role of a dissident. Dahlan resides in Dubai where is considered “wanted” by Abbas. END COMMENT]
Conclusion
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14. Despite his agility, effectiveness and Abbas’s tremendous support for him, Al-Sheikh lacks public support to become the leader of the Palestinian people. Not only are odds stacked against him, but Abbas will be leaving him with a very heavy inheritance of public dismay, economic hardship, deep routed corruption and widespread unruliness within the different PLO factions. It is unlikely that Al-Sheikh will be able to control the West Bank or bring peace to it. For now, Abbas certainly remains without an eligible successor.

1. Summary: The most trusted intelligence officers of Egypt’s President Sisi have confirmed to him that senior army generals were plotting to topple him allegedly in a coup disguised as a public revolution. At the same time, Egyptian activists in exile have been calling for the mother of all revolutions to topple Sisi. They have set November 11th as the day to inaugurate the revolution. Some of those activists are indeed tied to certain elements of Egyptian military intelligence. It is reported that Sisi became frantic after hearing the warning, and has been on a conquest to “identify the traitors”. The call for a November 11 revolution has gained substantial momentum. It is unlikely though that a revolution could topple Sisi unless it received the backing of the Egyptian army itself.
2. JaFaJ sources have confirmed that Egyptian President Sisi’s trusted intelligence officers have advised him that “Senior army officers are contemplating a military coup disguised as a revolution in November”. The news came to light during a cabinet level security meeting held by Sisi and his son, Mahmud, who serves as his de facto “everything minister”. The meeting was attended by a few of Sisi’s trusted intelligence officers.
3-Those in attendance briefed Sisi on the issue, claiming that top-ranked Egyptian generals and Military Intelligence officers are involved in the recent revolutionary calls against Sisi. According to the sources, they reported to Sisi that rouge generals are “in cahoots with foreign powers who allegedly want to get rid of Sisi and put someone more tolerated by the Egyptian public”. Mahmud then told those in attendance that the specific date of the planned coup was November 11th, 2022. This is the exact date the Egyptian opposition has set for the launch of a mother of all revolutions.
4. JaFaJ sources have learned that President Sisi’s reaction to the reports was dramatic. He passed the bad news to his wife, Entesar, who is usually the last person to whisper in his ear. Entesar has become frantic since then and has been pushing her husband and son to hit the rouge elements within their regime very hard. As a result, Sisi immediately began meeting privately with selected army and military intelligence officers to intimidate them, while both Sisi and his son, Mahmoud, being “convinced they will be able to identify traitors”, and are turning over every stone to find them.
5. An intelligence officer himself, Mahmud has a history of providing faulty intelligence to either impress his father or invoke certain actions from him. Therefore, it is not clear how accurate the intelligence gathered by Mahmoud Sisi and his loyalists has been; it is clear though that the allegations come at a time when there are sweeping calls on social media by Egyptian opposition activists in exile, for change. Activists are calling on the Egyptian public to take action and join them in changing the Sisi regime through a public revolution. They all seem to promote the line that “there is no solution with Sisi, he must go”. The major twist comes from this: they also have a launch date for their action on November 11th.
6. At the moment, there is no mistake in saying Sisi has been alienated by Western and Arab leaders alike, and also at home by the most senior members of the Egyptian military regime which has ruled Egypt since 1952. This divide, and resentment of Sisi and his actions, has spread throughout the ranks of the military regime itself. Even his most senior generals are concerned about his recklessness and heavy handed actions with the public, actions which have included executions, arrests and mass detentions. Additionally, his generals are very concerned that Sisi’s actions might result in the demise of the Egyptian military regime itself [Comment: for more information on this, please see our report and this matter dated January 2022. [https://acuitywebtechnologies.com/jafaj/egypts-army-fed-up-with-sisi-global-powers-eyeing-mubaraks-son-for-succession/ End Comment]
The Nermeen Adel Syndrome
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7. The calls for a “sweeping revolution” to topple Sisi have been led by an Egyptian dissident residing in Canada named Nermeen Adel. Adel has captivated Egyptian social media for months by revealing secrets of the Egyptian state and Sisi. She is particularly ruthless in her criticism of Sisi’s son Mahmud and openly admits that she has connections within the ranks of the Egyptian military regime. Notably, she has been promoting the rhetoric that the Egyptian army and police would not attack protesters and in fact, would “support them” if they take to the streets against Sisi. She maintains that Egypt’s army is “honorable” and “good people are commanding it”. Adel has recently joined forces with outspoken Egyptian opposition activist and former Egyptian government insider, Mohammad Ali. Ali hit fame in the Arab world when he fled to Europe and began leaking inside information about Sisi’s personal life and lavish lifestyle.
8. JaFaJ intelligence sources within the Egyptian army confirm that Nermeen Adel is an independent oppositionist who bears sincere hatred for Sisi’s regime. At the same time, Adel is in touch with members of Egyptian military intelligence who have been feeding her information. The sources reported that Adel has been assured that she “would be protected” by the Egyptian intelligence officers and that “she was not breaking any Canadian laws by seeking to depose Sisi by peaceful means”. A confidential Egyptian military source told JaFaJ that “She is the big guys’ mouthpiece, she’s decent with no spots on her records or private life, she can’t be blackmailed, she is not ugly looking, she’s well-spoken and gets the message across. I also can feel she genuinely hates what Sisi has done to the people of this country”. He added, “Sisi knows the big guys in here [the military establishment] are behind this girl [Adel], but what can he do – lock all of the generals up? If he did that, he surely would be toppled the next morning – but he would if he could”.
Conclusion
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9. It is not clear if the call for a full-blown revolution on November 11 will come to fruition. Even so, the widespread rhetoric over Egyptian social media has gained unprecedented public momentum. Nonetheless, in this case, no actual “revolution” could take place without the complete involvement of the Egyptian military. JaFaJ has confirmed that Egypt’s most senior military leaders are in favor of deposing Sisi. Nonetheless, it is not clear if they can currently pull off such a move. On one hand, on November 11, Egypt may witness some serious local events. But on the other hand, if they do occur, they are not expected to knock Sisi off his throne unless the army chooses to carry out a coup. As a result, Egypt will remain under the tight Sisi regime for as long as the army is not invoking serious action against him. This could shift rapidly thanks to Egypt’s inflation, a ravaged economy that has diminished the value of the Egyptian Pound, and an Egyptian military elite who are growing restless because of the actions of Sisi and his family.

1. Summary: Israel is deploying troops and artillery along its northern borders with Lebanon at a scale unwitnessed over the past 10 years. This is not new, Israel has done this many times before. Nonetheless, it comes when tensions are high between all parties and Iran is negotiating a nuclear deal with the United States. Israel considers the deal to be threat to her existence. Adding fuel to the fire, Iran is likely to benefit from any confrontation between its puppet – Hezbollah – and Israel. They will use the confrontation as a bargaining chip. Full-scale war is not unlikely at this moment.
2. JaFaJ Intelligence Solutions has learned that even with negotiations between Lebanon and Israel over the Northern Gas Fields, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) is preparing for the worst – full-scale war with Lebanon, Hezbollah and Iran. A pre-set plan was enacted on Friday 20th August 2022. The Plan includes moving armored tanks, artillery and soldiers to Israel’s Northern Border. The movements have been documented visually by Israeli motorists.
3. JaFaJ’s top Israeli sources noted that “deploying troops and preparing for a war with Lebanon is nothing new”. The sources then went on to explain that the hostilities between Israel and the Lebanese based terror group – Hezbollah – have been the norm since the early 2000’s. The source added that “This is not the first time such a major deployment has taken place”.
4. JaFaJ, through a top Israeli government source, has confirmed that as the Biden Administration and Iran are moving closer and closer to signing a new nuclear deal, and the Israelis have made it clear to everyone: “We [Israelis] will not sit on our hands”. The source added that, “We need to be proactive, and take the initiative, even if this means going after Iran’s proxies in Lebanon, Syria, or anywhere else, we are prepared to fight”
5. Comment: Israel regularly deploys troops on the Lebanese border in an effort to thwart any potential attacks by Hezbollah. Recent history shows that Iran utilizes proxies to launch small wars with the US, Israel or Saudi Arabia. They then use this ‘dust up’ as a bargaining chip. Therefore, Israel must be expecting Iran to use the same strategy this time around in an effort to enhance its negotiating position as the talks near their end. One thing is different in this instance, the ongoing negotiations will probably result in Iran securing nuclear weapons in the near future, and as such, it will likely provoke a strong reaction by Israel in Lebanon or elsewhere.