Fighting between Israel and pro-Iranian groups in the region “puts Arab countries in a dilemma”

In the Jordanian capital, Amman, the streets are witnessing frequent gatherings of hundreds of people raising slogans in support of armed groups supported by Iran, which is an example of the situation that some countries Arab suffering, as a result of increasing tension and danger. of a wider war in the Middle East.

According to a report published by the organization,Bloomberg“There are fears that the war will escalate, with Israel threatening Tehran after it was targeted by Iranian ballistic missiles, following the killing of the head of the Lebanese Hezbollah group, Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli attack about a week ago.

A year ago, Israel began a military campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, but recently expanded its operations to include an increase against Hezbollah, killing hundreds in Lebanon and its ‘ exterminate nearly a million people, according to United Nations statistics.

The continuous missile attacks from Hezbollah to Israel over a year pushed tens of thousands of Israelis to flee the borders.

The regional conflict increased after the death of Nasrallah, because his killing increased anti-Israel sentiment in some Arab countries, especially in Jordan, according to the American organization.

Nasrallah’s killing cast a shadow over the region, as analysts believe the situation has become more complex, and a wider conflict is more likely.

Jordan between Western allies and “popular anger”

Jordan, which signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994, is suffering from growing internal pressure, due to growing support for Islamist movements and armed groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. , who are both on terrorist lists in the United States and other countries.

However, Jordan’s monarch, King Abdullah II, maintains close relations with the United States and Israel, despite growing opposition.

Jordan hosts large numbers of Palestinian refugees, as 60 percent of its 11 million population is of Palestinian origin, which makes the situation more difficult, according to Bloomberg.

The country’s economic and political crisis is increasing the state of popular unrest, as “many Jordanians feel frustrated with the government’s performance and the apparent lack of progress in solving the Palestinian issue,” according to Bloomberg.

In his recent speech before the United Nations General Assembly, King Abdullah II expressed Jordan’s condemnation of Hamas attacks, but at the same time condemned the “unprecedented Israeli escalation” against Strife Gaza.

The King insisted that it was necessary to establish a “defense mechanism” for the Palestinians, as this mechanism would guarantee the safety of Palestinians and Israelis alike.

Bloomberg said in his report that terrorist movements are benefiting from popular anger towards Israel and the growing support for the Palestinian cause, noting that these movements , “whether it was political or armed groups, were able to take advantage of that anger to increase their popularity and influence. ”

In this context, the Islamic Action Front party, which is the political branch of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan, won a great victory in the recent parliamentary elections, winning an unprecedented number of seats.

This success reflects the growing level of popular support for Islamic groups that see support for “armed resistance” as a solution against Israel, according to the American organization.

At the same time, the party is popular among Jordanian youth, who believe that “Islamic movements are the most capable of achieving real change.”

Hamad Al-Qatbi, a Jordanian medical student in his twenties, explained that he and 20 of his friends voted for the Islamic Action Front in the recent elections because of its “pro-Hamas stance”.

On the other hand, this Islamic party seeks, as experts say, “to work from within the regime to achieve gradual reforms, and they want it to put link with Israel and that he will remove foreign forces from Jordan.”

Party leaders believe that “internal pressures could lead to radical changes in the country’s policies, especially due to the worsening economic situation. “

“Gulf Aid”

Despite this “popular unrest”, Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE are trying to provide “financial support” to Arab countries such as Jordan and Egypt, “to prevent unrest” inside.”

Bloomberg gave the example of the UAE, noting that it had “invested billions of dollars in development projects in Egypt and Jordan, in an attempt to support the economies of these countries and prevent internal unrest.” . ”

Last November, Abu Dhabi announced a $5.5 billion investment in Jordan, while Saudi Arabia invested nearly $24 billion in several projects in Arab countries, including Jordan.

But despite these investments, the average Jordanian does not feel that they have made a big difference in their daily lives, according to Murad Odeili, the director of the Islamic Action Front.

Odeili believes that “the political and economic reforms that are needed” have not yet been achieved, and that Jordanians “do not feel that they are partners in decision-making.”

With “popular anger” on the rise in Jordan and the region, there are warnings that a new wave of protests could resemble the so-called “Arab Spring,” according to Jordanian political analyst Oraib Rantawi.

Al-Rantawi said, “All the factors for new protests are present, namely poverty, unemployment, corruption and political repression,” noting that they are “added to the growing support for the Palestinian cause, which could be the impetus for a new wave of protests.”