Protests in Jordan over Israel's help in fending off Iranian attacks

Deutsche Welle

There have been massive protests against the government in Jordan for supporting Tel Aviv in Iran's attacks on Israel. Iran launched more than three hundred drone and missile attacks on Israel last Saturday. Jordan tried to prevent them from reaching Israel.

  The Jordanian government claimed in a statement that this initiative was taken in self-defence. "They were a threat to our people and populated areas," the statement said.

But Jordanian citizens protesting against Israel for weeks protested the government's actions. A man from the country named Hussein said, "I am very upset with the way Jordan has defended Israel." Many here do not accept it. We do not support Iran and believe that Iran has a major role in what is happening in Gaza. But we are with any action that hinders Israel's activities in Gaza.'

A university student in Amman named Mariam said, "Iran is not popular in Jordan." But I reject Jordan's interception of missiles launched by Iran and its unwitting involvement in this war.

Mahmoud Ridasad, a military analyst in Amman, said that the incident that happened could not be said to have been done to protect Israel; Rather, it was done to protect Jordan's sovereignty and airspace. Because it is not known where the drone or missile will fall.

Ridasad said of the Israeli media's joyous reports that Jordan had helped, it was nothing more than Israeli propaganda.

Tahani Mustafa, a Palestinian analyst at the Brussels-based think tank International Crisis Group, said that Jordanian citizens are divided over Iran's attack on Israel. Because people do not know the details of Jordan's economic, diplomatic and security relations with the United States and Israel. Because these issues are not written much here.

A defence cooperation agreement was signed between the United States and Jordan in 2021. But in this case, there is criticism that the approval of the Jordanian parliament was not taken. Under the agreement, members of the US military will be able to enter and travel in Jordan without transportation and air restrictions.

Tahani Mustafa said that after the protests started in Amman over Gaza, many people started talking about expelling the Americans from Jordan.

Hundreds of thousands of locals have been protesting in front of the Israeli embassy in Amman for weeks. They also called for the annulment of the peace agreement signed between Israel and Jordan in 1994.