JERUSALEM (AP) – Jordan’s Prince Hamzah made his first public appearance on Sunday since being placed under house arrest last week, reciting Qur’anic verses with King Abdullah II at the graves of their ancestors. The gesture appeared to be an attempt to demonstrate unity in a major Jordanian holiday.
Abdullah has been trying to signal in recent days that the situation is under control. But Sunday’s event made it unclear whether the king and his popular stepbrother really put their differences aside. The conflict has grown into the worst public rupture in the ruling family in decades, although Hamzah has denied any wrongdoing.
Hamzah joined members of the Jordanian royal family marking the centenary of the founding of the Emirate of Transjordan, a British protectorate that preceded the kingdom. The royal palace released a photo and video of Abdullah and Hamzah joining other dignitaries at the graves of their father, the late King Hussein, and the late King Talal, their grandfather.
A photo and a video showing the family together reciting the opening chapter of the Qur’an seemed to aim to send a message of unity at a sensitive time for the kingdom. The chapter, known as Fatiha, is traditionally recited at people’s graves.
It was the first time Hamzah had been seen in public since being placed under house arrest on April 3, following allegations that he was involved in a “malicious plot” to destabilize the kingdom.
In statements to the press, Hamzah denied the allegations and accused the country’s government of corruption and incompetence. Hamzah said his actions were out of love for the country. But his previous criticisms of government policies and, more recently, his communication to strong tribal leaders critical of the government, were seen as threats to the king.
Abdullah later said authorities thwarted a coup attempt involving his half-brother and about 18 suspects, while saying he was upset and shocked. Abdullah also suggested that control over Hamzah’s movements be continued, saying that the prince is “with his family at his palace, under my care”.
The authorities have imposed a gag order on any coverage of the royal dispute, as a sign of how sensitive they are to the way it is perceived. The gag order and the king’s willingness to punish his own brother also reaffirmed what the Jordanians understand as the “red line” – an absolute ban on criticizing the monarch or the royal family.
Hamzah’s appearance on Sunday showed he was safe, but it remained unclear whether he came voluntarily or was released from traffic restrictions. Hamzah, wearing a suit, a traditional hat and a blue surgical mask, joined his relatives in prayer, but did not comment in public.
There were also no signs that authorities had released up to 18 other detainees, including members of one of the powerful tribes on which the monarchy was historically 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. Prolonged complaints about corruption and mismanagement have fueled widespread protests in recent months.
At the same time, the region’s strategic landscape is changing as the strong Gulf states pursue closer ties with Israel, potentially undermining Jordan’s role in the Middle East peace process.
The United States, along with regional allies, gathered behind the king. Jordan has long been seen as a relatively stable Western ally in the Middle East in a turbulent region. But the latest year of coronavirus has shaken the country’s economy, which is largely dependent on tourism.
Abdullah and Hamzah are both sons of King Hussein, who ruled Jordan for almost half a century before his death in 1999 and remains a much-loved figure. Abdullah appointed Hamzah as Crown Prince after his succession, but stripped him of his title in 2004 and gave him his eldest son the title.
Jordan has a large Palestinian population, including more than 2 million refugees from past wars with Israel and their descendants. The monarchy granted the majority full citizenship, but historically viewed them with suspicion. Its main support base is the powerful tribes east of the Jordan River, which dominate security forces.
For decades, the monarchy has cultivated close ties with the United States and other Western nations, which it used to push for the creation of a Palestinian state, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which Israel captured from Jordan in the war. 1967.
This strategy has hit a wall in recent years as the peace process has come to a halt. Israel and Jordan concluded peace in 1994 and maintain close security ties, but relations have worsened amid a series of recent diplomatic backlash.
At the same time, the Gulf countries are cultivating closer ties with Israel over their common antipathy to Iran, relations made public last year, when the United Arab Emirates agreed to normalize relations with Israel through a negotiated agreement with the United States. Sometimes Saudi Arabia seems to weigh in on a similar move.