Jordan’s King Abdullah inaugurated a newly elected parliament on Monday, where the representation of Islamist members significantly increased, reflecting a shift in the political landscape of the US-allied nation. In his opening address, the monarch emphasized Jordan’s resolute position on Israeli-Palestinian tensions, underscoring the kingdom’s efforts to mediate peace and stability in the region.
Amid a backdrop of widespread protests against Israel across the Middle East, including within Jordan—a nation with a substantial Palestinian population—the government has managed internal dissent with caution. The ongoing conflict in Gaza and tensions in the West Bank have fueled public outrage, with the potential of escalating displacement into Jordan posing a long-standing concern for the kingdom.
Jordan’s future will not be dictated by policies that undermine our national interests,” King Abdullah affirmed to the newly assembled lawmakers, a statement met with enthusiastic applause. He reiterated Jordan’s condemnation of the violence in Gaza and the West Bank, stating, “We remain steadfast in opposing aggression and are committed to international and Arab efforts to halt this war.
The recent parliamentary elections marked a significant turning point. Adjustments to electoral laws allowed for a more diverse representation of political views, enabling the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood to secure approximately 20% of parliamentary seats. This marks a dramatic increase in their presence, making them the largest single bloc in the legislature, though traditional tribal representatives and government-aligned centrists still hold the majority.
King Abdullah characterized the elections as a step toward “progress and modernization,” but the evolving political environment signals growing challenges to Jordan’s pro-Western orientation.
The Muslim Brotherhood, buoyed by public anger over the Gaza conflict, campaigned on a platform openly supportive of Hamas. They have vowed to contest Jordan’s peace treaty with Israel, signed in 1994, and advocate for a recalibration of the nation’s foreign policy priorities.
As regional tensions persist, the strengthened Islamist bloc is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the debate on Jordan’s domestic and international policies.
