JERUSALEM (AP) – Prince Hamzah of Jordan made his first public appearance on Sunday since he was placed under house arrest last week, reciting Koranic verses along with King Abdullah II at the graves of his ancestors. The gesture appeared to be an attempt to demonstrate unity at major Jordanian festivals.
Abdullah has tried to point out in recent days that the situation is under control. But Sunday’s stage act made it unclear whether the king and his popular half-brother have set aside their differences. The conflict had become the most serious public breach of the ruling family in decades, although Hamzah has denied any offense.
Hamzah joined members of the Jordanian royal family on the occasion of the centenary of the establishment of the Emirate of Transjordan, a British protectorate that preceded the kingdom. The royal palace posted a photo and video with Abdullah and Hamzah joining other dignitaries at the tomb of their father, the late King Hussein, and the late King Talal, their grandfather.
A photo and video showing the family together reciting the opening chapter of the Qur’an seemed aimed at sending a message of unity at a sensitive time for the kingdom. The chapter, known as the Fatiha, is traditionally recited at people’s graves.
It was the first time Hamzah had been seen in public since he was placed under house arrest on April 3 following allegations that he was involved in a “malicious plot” to destabilize the kingdom.
In statements released to the media, Hamzah denied the allegations and accused the country’s government of corruption and incompetence. Hamzah has said his actions are for the love of the country. But his old criticisms of government policies and, more recently, his spread to powerful tribal leaders critical of the government, have been seen as threats to the king.
Abdullah later said authorities had thwarted an attempted sedition involving his half-brother and about 18 suspects, saying he was angry and in a state of shock. Abdullah also suggested that Hamzah’s movements continue to be monitored, saying the prince was “with his family in his palace, under my care.”
Authorities have imposed a large gag order on any coverage of the royal dispute as a sign of their sensitivity to how it is perceived. The gag order and the king’s willingness to punish his own brother also reaffirmed what the Jordanians understand as his “red line,” the absolute ban on criticizing the monarch or the royal family.
Hamzah’s Sunday appearance indicated he was safe, but it was still unclear if he had come voluntarily or if he had been released from the restrictions of his movement. Hamzah, dressed in dress, traditional headdress and blue surgical mask, joined her relatives in prayers but made no public comment.
Nor is there any sign that authorities have released up to 18 more detainees, including members of one of the powerful tribes on which the monarchy has historically been based.
Even before the palace drama, Jordan was facing an economic crisis exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, with one in four people out of work. Long-standing allegations of corruption and misgovernment have fueled widespread protests in recent months.
At the same time, the region’s strategic landscape is changing as powerful Gulf states pursue closer ties with Israel, which could undermine Jordan’s role in the Middle East peace process.
The United States, along with regional allies, has rallied behind the king. For a long time, Jordan has been seen as a relatively stable Western ally in the Middle East in a turbulent region. But the last year of the coronavirus has shaken the country’s economy, largely dependent on tourism.
Abdullah and Hamzah are sons of King Hussein, who ruled Jordan for nearly half a century before his death in 1999 and remains a much-loved figure. Abdullah had appointed Hamzah as Crown Prince after his succession, but removed the title from him in 2004 and gave the title to his eldest son.
Jordan has a large Palestinian population, which includes more than 2 million refugees from past wars with Israel and their descendants. The monarchy has granted them the majority of full citizenship, but has historically viewed them with suspicion. Its main base of support are powerful tribes east of the Jordan River, which dominate the security forces.
For decades, the monarchy has cultivated close ties with the United States and other Western nations, which used to push for the creation of a Palestinian state that included the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 war.
This strategy has impacted against the walls in recent years as the peace process has come to a halt. Israel and Jordan made peace in 1994 and maintain close security ties, but relations have worsened amid a series of recent diplomacies.
At the same time, the Gulf countries have been cultivating closer ties with Israel over their shared antipathy towards Iran, relations made public last year when the United Arab Emirates agreed to normalize relations with Israel in a concerted agreement. for the United States. At times, Saudi Arabia seems to weigh in on a similar move.