It is very difficult to separate an article that spoke about the “Israeli trap,” written by the former Minister of Interior, General Hussein Majali, which was published on the eve of the Eid al-Adha and Independence holidays, from the context of the general regional situation or from the context of the “Kingdom’s apprehensions” in general.
Author's website
There is a political message at play, especially as Jordanians celebrate the 80th anniversary of their independence. The author is a member of the Senate, a former Minister of the Interior, and a military commander. He previously distributed flowers to citizens during the street protests of the Arab Spring, in his capacity as Director of Public Security at the time. Furthermore, he is considered one of the closest figures to decision-making circles and a leading candidate for a prominent position in the near future. Some even believe the article is a stepping stone that will propel its author into positions of power, in one way or another.
Time
In addition to noting the writer’s position, it is necessary to note the timing of the article, which received record follow-up rates, coming after the conditional release on bail of prominent opposition Islamic figures who were detained in prison on several charges, including 3 accused of belonging to the “Hamas” movement, amid a breakthrough in the crisis with the Islamic movement.
Regardless of the writer's position and timing, the scenario presented in the article is alarming and unprecedented. Its premise is that the current Israeli government is setting a trap by aiming to resolve the conflict in the West Bank at the expense of Jordan and the Jordanians. This means a rise in the level of risks, and it has reached the point where decision-making circles are considering the sensitive internal situation.
The article hints at an Israeli tendency to stir up anxiety within Jordan, including allowing identity conflicts to infiltrate and promoting suspicions.
The article hints at an Israeli tendency to stir up anxiety within Jordan, including allowing the infiltration of identity conflicts and promoting suspicions, including the possibility of Israeli intervention, which cannot be confronted militarily, and playing on the strings of dubious projects, such as federalism or confederation.
The article's warnings gain their importance from directly linking the warnings and indicators of concern to the center of gravity of Jordanian decision-making.
This is a formula that a statesman of Majali’s stature would not use on his own initiative or without prior arrangement or carefully considered green lights, which suggests that the author of the article is likely to join a new team managing priorities and challenges.
Besides the fact that the title of the article, “Royal Concern and the Obsession with the West Bank,” sends signals, the most important of which is “the direct expression of the concern of strategic decision-making circles” regarding the Israeli right-wing scenarios of creating a problem on the borders, which Majali described as soft, or of displacing a huge population bloc to impose facts on the ground.
What Majali said about the “Israeli trap” was already being said by the country’s political opposition. But, for the first time, these concerns are being voiced by a key official, very close to the decision-making process. This lends absolute importance to the cautionary article, whose title is the rare acknowledgment that the peace agreement with Israel does not end Jordan’s concerns, a point previously made by Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in a discussion with Al-Quds Al-Arabi.
Returning to the timing, the article was published at the same time as the extremist Israeli minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, continued his challenges to the Jordanian custodianship in Jerusalem, amidst what the decision-making chamber in Jordan says was “permitted by Benjamin Netanyahu.”
The anniversary of Independence Day arrived amidst political controversy surrounding the risks and concerns stemming solely from the geopolitical shifts taking place in the region.
It was also published concurrently with a draft memorandum recorded in the minutes of the ruling Israeli coalition, signed by the extremist minister Bezalel Smotrich, which puts to the table a proposal that those holding Jordanian citizenship and yellow cards in the West Bank should leave for their Jordanian homeland, weeks after the Knesset voted on a resolution to cancel the “absentee property” files and freeze Jordanian legislation in the West Bank.
We are talking about hundreds of thousands of people and a massive population affected. Prominent union activist Ahmed Abu Ghneima captured the essence of an article about the “Israeli trap” and posted a tweet calling for measures to protect the homeland, most importantly swift national reconciliation and strengthening the home front.
It could be said that the anniversary of Independence Day arrived amidst political debate surrounding the risks and anxieties stemming solely from the geopolitical shifts unfolding in the region. General Majali's warnings were seen as a significant step forward in official discourse, moving away from a policy of "denial of risks," and signifying this shift was a call for Jordanians to unite, remain vigilant, and stand by their institutions.
In conclusion, concerns about the challenges facing the Palestinian people have increased significantly, and based on data, evidence, facts, and information, it is very likely that General Majali is aware of them.
