Alerts

Internal Tensions in Jordan Reflect Unrest among Bedouin Tribes

The “Jordanian Rift” Is Not Only Topographical, It Is also Political
Share this
Jordanian Royal Family visiting the Royal Hashemite Cemetery
On April 11, 2021, the Jordanian Royal Family visited the Royal Hashemite Cemetery to mark the Kingdom’s centennial and in remembrance of former kings. Closest to the wreath are King Abdallah, his uncle Prince Hassan, and his son Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II (in uniform). Relegated to the back row were other princes, including the former Crown Prince Hamzah bin Hussein. (Jordan King’s office)

Table of Contents

As the news about Jordan’s royal family becomes more evident, it is apparent the Kingdom’s internal rift is not only within the royal family but also in the internal cohesion of Jordan’s tribes, reflecting those loyal to King Abdullah and those loyal to his half-brother, Prince Hamzah.

When the Jordanian Army’s chief of staff, General Yousef Huneiti, came to Prince Hamzah’s home to warn him against talking to tribal leaders and to place him under house arrest, Huneiti said he was representing the security forces and not the King.1  There was a clear message that the Jordanian Army was loyal to the King and would not be dragged into a military coup.

From the outset, however, there was no intention of a military coup but rather to trigger the Bedouin tribes to pressure King Abdullah to resign, keeping their loyalty to the Hashemite crown but led by Hamza. The purpose was a “Jordanian Spring” led by the Bedouins.

The Jordanian Fissures

The concern of the Jordanian High Command was and still is that once Bedouin demonstrators appear in Amman, the Jordanian Army will disintegrate into its tribes, which is a concern Israel shares.

Already, there are differences in attitudes among the Bedouins. The southern tribes in the provinces of Karak, Ma’an, and Tufeila, which provide soldiers to the infantry, have been restive for several years. They have been rioting against the government installations, setting fire to government offices, police stations, and officials’ cars. The tribes of the center and the north do not exhibit this unrest.

King Abdullah II at the Karak Public Hospital
King Abdullah II inaugurated a new section of the Karak Public Hospital to “improve medical services in the southern region” in 2019. (Office of King Abdullah II)2

The Jordanian Army tries not to concentrate members of one or another tribe in any single unit but mixes them all so that there is no military concentration of one tribe.

However, there was a situation in which the ground corps was manned by the Howeitat, Banu Hassan, and Banu Sahar tribes in the south. The tribes of the north were often assigned to specialized units and the Air Force.

While the southern tribes have connections to neighboring Saudi Arabia, the northern tribes are part of the tribes in Syria and have cooperated with the Jordanian government in managing the Syrian crisis for the benefit of the Syrian Daraa tribes.

Members of the Shamar tribe, dispersed from northern Saudi Arabia to Jordan, Syria, and Iraq, issued this statement after the arrest of one of their retired officers:

Retired Colonel Emad Arabiyat was arrested for unknown reasons on April 3, 2021, without mentioning any reason. We know that we are faithful countrymen, and we had a history before [in Jordan]. And now we see that our children are being arrested unjustly, and this affects the personal dignity of every member of the clan.3

The tribes near Amman are indisputably loyal to King Abdullah II, but the northern tribes have grievances over the treatment of Princess Basmah, the wife of Prince Hamza, who belongs to the Bani Ahmad tribe of the north. Over the weekend, these tribes issued calls for the government not to involve the princess in the events, and the words were written in a menacing language with barely a word of support for King Abdullah.

Princess Basmah’s tribe sternly condemned deputy prime minister Ayman Safadi’s remarks that hinted that Princess Basmah was involved in the intrigues against the state and its institutions. “The tribes of Bani Ahmed denounce [the raising of] the name of the Jordanian Princess Basmah Bani Ahmad in the events in our beloved homeland, especially the way her honorable person was addressed by the Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister,” the tribe released on Facebook. “We categorically reject any allegations or hints of Her Highness the Princess’ communication with any internal or external authorities, neither from near nor far. The tribes of Kafrakh warn against addressing these heroes and circulating them from near or far under the legal and tribal responsibility, and we reserve our legal and tribal right to prosecute any individual or side that had any role to play in [insulting] Jordan’s daughter, Princess Basma Bani Ahmed. At the same time, the tribe expresses loyalty to the homeland and the Hashim family led by King Abdullah II.”4

If the tribes really appear in the capital Amman, the problem will be not just between the tribes but within the military, and that is a great danger. This is what should be of great concern to Israel. 

* * *

Notes

Pinhas Inbari

Pinhas Inbari is a veteran Arab affairs correspondent who formerly reported for Israel Radio and <em>Al Hamishmar</em> newspaper, and currently serves as an analyst for the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs.
Share this

Subscribe to Daily Alert

The Daily Alert – Israel news digest appears every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

Related Items

Stay Informed, Always

Get the latest news, insights, and updates directly in your inbox—be the first to know!

Subscribe to Jerusalem Issue Briefs
The Daily Alert – Israel news digest appears every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

Notifications

The Jerusalem Center
Canada investigating Israeli-Canadian IDF soldiers?
JCFA senior researcher, Amb. Alan Baker slams the probe as a “political PR stunt with no legal basis.” “This isn’t justice—it’s a betrayal. Canada is siding with PLO propaganda over facts.”
11:29am
The Jerusalem Center
What makes a child believe killing a #Jew is justified?

In PA textbooks, Jews are called liars and frauds; their fate: elimination. This is #indoctrination—not #education. But change is happening. On East to West, @IMPACT_SE CEO Marcus Sheff exposes how #UNRWA-funded schools are fueling extremism—and what real reform looks like.  Listen now on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/2JHqh973U  Watch on YouTube: youtu.be/8OkJTGNfVUc

11:43am
The Jerusalem Center
Highlights from the @Jerusalem_Post Annual Conference in NYC:

Dr. @Dan_Diker, President of the JCFA: “October 7 wasn’t just an attack on Israel — it was a blow to the U.S. on Israeli soil. It demands moral clarity and a united front between Israel and the U.S. to defeat jihadist terror.”

2:20pm
The Jerusalem Center
@XAVIAERD says it like it is

Well, @XAVIAERD says it like it is: If you’re part of “#Queers for #Palestine,” he’ll pay for your flight to #Gaza. Go see for yourself how they treat LGBTQ+ people over there. Don’t miss this bold take on the Israel-Hamas war and the woke right.

2:32pm
The Jerusalem Center
“This isn’t Israel vs. Hamas — it’s the frontline of the free world.”

“This isn’t Israel vs. Hamas — it’s the frontline of the free world.” On Our Middle East by @JNS_org, @Dan_Diker@KhaledAbuToameh (JCFA/@GatestoneInst) break it down: If Hamas isn’t crushed, Iran wins. The jihadis—from #Gaza to your campus—get the green light. Diker: “This war is for the West.” No fluff. No filters. Just raw insight from two insiders who actually know what’s going on.  Watch: youtu.be/4Aq_zcbb4Yo

2:15pm
The Jerusalem Center
5/5 Lt. Col. Kalo on East to West with @smartinezamir:

“This operation showcases Israel’s strategic intelligence superiority both regionally and globally. It demonstrates the moral commitment to recovered soldiers and also strengthens Israel’s position with allies.” youtube.com/watch?v=nIvNNi

2:07pm
The Jerusalem Center
4/5 The operation built on intelligence gathered during the 2019 #Baumel recovery

#Mossad agents operated under cover in #Syria for years, visiting a graveyard multiple times under fire to collect remains for DNA matching. The intelligence community’s evolution combines technology, big data analysis, and human intelligence capabilities.

2:02pm
The Jerusalem Center
3/5 This recovery coincided with the release of Israeli hostage Edan Alexander

This recovery coincided with the release of Israeli hostage Edan Alexander from #Hamas in #Gaza, significantly boosting national morale amid an ongoing conflict now stretching over 18 months. The dual successes demonstrate #Israel‘s unwavering commitment to bringing all soldiers home.

1:58pm
The Jerusalem Center
2/5 The operation used the power vacuum following #Assad’s fall from #Damascus

Lt. Col. Avi Kalo, former head of IDF Prisoners & Missing Persons Division, calls it “an outstanding event that brings hope and new spirit to the people of Israel.” The operation utilized the power vacuum following #Assad‘s fall from #Damascus, allowing #Israeli intelligence to deploy ground capabilities in #Syria.

1:56pm
The Jerusalem Center
1/5 Israeli forces recovered the remains of Sergeant First Class Zvi Feldman

In an unprecedented operation, Israeli forces have recovered the remains of Sergeant First Class Zvi #Feldman, missing since the 1982 Battle of Sultan Yacoub. The complex #Mossad mission was conducted deep within #Syrian territory, 43 years after his disappearance. This follows the successful 2019 recovery of Zachary #Baumel from the same battle.

1:54pm
The Jerusalem Center
A molotov attack on a bus = a “barbecue party”?

That’s what #Palestinian kids are being taught under @UNRWA  — from grade school to graduation. This isn’t education. It’s indoctrination. Marcus Sheff of @IMPACT_SE  breaks it down with @smartinezamir

12:51pm

Close