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The crisis had laid bare divisions in a pro-Western country usually seen as a bulwark of stability in the Middle East
Jordan s King Abdullah II broke his silence Wednesday to tell his nation that the worst political crisis in decades sparked by an alleged plot involving his half-brother Prince Hamzah was over.
The monarch appeared to be doubling down on the allegations against Prince Hamzah, a former crown prince, while at the same time trying to reassure Jordanians that the nation was returning to business as usual.
But even if the current crisis is eventually defused, major challenges loom for the Western-allied monarchy as it confronts growing internal dissent.
King of Jordan says ‘sedition’ of his brother has been dealt with
Jordan’s king has addressed the public feud with his half-brother, Prince Hamzah, portraying it as an attempted “sedition” that caused him shock, anger and pain.
By SARAH EL DEEB and JOSEPH KRAUSSAssociated Press
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BEIRUT Jordan’s king Abdullah II addressed the rare public rift within the royal family for the first time on Wednesday, saying the “sedition” that caused him anger and pain has been buried, but major challenges loom for the Western-allied monarchy as it confronts growing internal dissent.
The statement marked the first time the king has addressed the internal crisis that erupted over the weekend when Prince Hamzah, his half-brother and former crown prince, was confined to his home and accused of being part of a plot to destabilize the kingdom.
Jordan papers over royal feud, but major challenges loom timesofisrael.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from timesofisrael.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
By SARAH EL DEEB AND JOSEPH KRAUSS | Associated Press | Published: April 7, 2021 BEIRUT Jordan s King Abdullah II addressed the unprecedented public rift within the royal family for the first time Wednesday, portraying it as an attempted sedition involving his half-brother that had been nipped in the bud, but caused him anger, pain and shock. The monarch appeared to be doubling down on the allegations against Prince Hamzah, a former crown prince, while at the same time trying to reassure Jordanians that the nation was returning to business as usual. But even if the current crisis is eventually defused, major challenges loom for the Western-allied monarchy as it confronts growing internal dissent.
President Joe Biden sent words of support for Jordan s King Abdullah II after the monarch accused his half-brother Hamzah of sedition.
Biden s came after days of rocky developments in Jordan, who signed a peace treaty with Israel back in 1994, after days of rocky reports of palace intrigue.
The president spoke at the end of a speech on his infrastructure plan, responding to a shouted question. Asked what his message would be for Abdullah, whose stable reign has provided a foothold for U.S. Middle East policy in the turbulent region, Biden responded: I would tell him that he has a friend in America.