April 3, 2021, brought shocking news of the arrest of top Jordanian officials (opens in a new tab)for “security reasons,” including former finance minister Bassam Awadallah (opens in a new tab) and Prince Hassan bin Zaid. Prince Hamzeh, son of the late King Hussein’s fourth wife and half-brother of current King Abdullah II, was also placed under house arrest, allegedly for “actions targeting Jordan’s security. (opens in a new tab)” Jordan’s government quickly called it an attempted coup, backed by unspecified “foreign entities” (opens in a new tab) threatening to destabilize the kingdom.
The news that this was allegedly a coup with foreign support led to an immediate pointing of fingers. One Israeli outlet claimed that this was an attempt by Prime Minister Netanyahu (opens in a new tab) to undermine the Jordanian monarchy after recent spats. Others pointed to potential Gulf involvement; Israeli media claimed that the UAE and Saudi Arabia were involved (opens in a new tab) in the attempt. Moreover, Basem Awadallah, arrested as part of the alleged plot, is seen as a conduit to the Saudi Crown Prince (opens in a new tab), Mohammed bin Salman, and Saudi officials were allegedly insistent (opens in a new tab) that he be released. All of these seemed plausible. Jordan has historically maintained custody of the Muslim holy sites in East Jerusalem, but since the US recognition of an undivided Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in late 2017 rumors have swirled that Saudi Arabia may be interested in a pro-Israel peace deal (opens in a new tab) that would grant the Saudi monarchy control of al-Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock. Israel had clashed with the Hashemite royal family weeks prior, when Crown Prince Hussein abruptly cancelled a visit (opens in a new tab) to the al-Aqsa mosque over a dispute over his security detail. Frustration from Israel and the Gulf states over Jordan’s refusal to back the recent peace plan (opens in a new tab), which garnered support from Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, may have motivated any or all of these states to seek a friendlier regime.
But while uncorroborated speculation swirled surrounding potential foreign involvement, the government’s narrative seemed to fracture. The day of the arrests, Jordan’s news agency initially denied reports (opens in a new tab) that Prince Hamzeh was under house arrest, but the prince put out an English-language video (opens in a new tab) asserting that he had been placed under house arrest by the military and that his Internet and phone lines had been cut. Hamzeh asserted that he was not involved in any conspiracy or criticism of the king but decried “the corruption and … the incompetence that has been prevalent in our governing structure for the last 15 to 20 years.” (opens in a new tab) The video, contrasted with the official statements, indicated that this was not an attempted coup. This was bolstered by who was—and who was not—arrested: no military leaders were arrested for plotting a coup, but members of the influential Majali tribe (opens in a new tab) were. Additionally, a legitimate coup attempt seemed to run contrary to tribal interests (opens in a new tab).
Indeed, this may have been little more than an attempt to clamp down on opposition and rein in a popular politician. Hamzeh himself is quite popular among Jordanians, especially among those who support the monarchy, in no small part due to his resemblance to his father (opens in a new tab), the late King Hussein. Additionally, he is seen as more in-touch (opens in a new tab) with the Jordanian people than his older half-brother and has regularly decried corruption (opens in a new tab) in the public sector. Hamzeh may have been viewed as a palatable and popular alternative to the current system, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic and Syrian refugee crisis have laid bare problems within the country’s government.
The Royal Family has made a show of reconciliation. King Abdullah appointed his uncle (opens in a new tab), Prince Hassan bin Talal, to resolve the royal dispute. Shortly thereafter, the Royal Court published a statement (opens in a new tab) signed by Prince Hamzeh affirming his support for the current monarch and saying that “the interests of the homeland must remain above every consideration.” (opens in a new tab) A few days later, the two royals appeared in public (opens in a new tab), signaling an anticlimactic end to a public dispute that drew international attention. Still, Jordan issued a gag order (opens in a new tab) prohibiting publication of information associated with the prince, and the whereabouts of the other detainees (opens in a new tab) are unknown as of publishing.
King Abdullah has assured the public that there is no ongoing threat to the nation or the government. The public reconciliation between the monarch and his half-brother indicates that there is at present no immediate threat to Abdullah’s reign. But this public dispute indicates the fragility of a nation that has typically been viewed as an island of stability. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic (opens in a new tab), which has hit the country hard in recent months, and concerns about peace deals upsetting the Palestinian demographic (opens in a new tab) mean that the king is desperate to maintain his legitimacy. This brief family feud may have been a way to remind the country’s key internal supporters and regional neighbors just who is in charge.