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Al-Ahram Weekly 28 Jan. - 3 Feb. 1999 Issue No. 414 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 28 Jan. - 3 Feb. 1999 Issue No. 414
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Focus Economy Opinion Culture Features Living Travel Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Thrones and nations
By Salama Ahmed Salama
The event that gripped the Arab world's attention last week was not the meeting of Arab foreign ministers, but rather the return of King Hussein of Jordan. After his prolonged stay abroad, the king flew his own plane home; Amman reported that, as he crossed Israeli airspace, he was escorted by a fleet of Israeli fighters. The Israeli press reported quite arrogantly that the gesture had been made in response to a request of the commander-in-chief of the Royal Jordanian Airforce.
The other surprise was the king's decision to modify the line of succession to the Hashemite throne. The king has now appointed Prince Abdullah instead of his own brother, Prince Hassan, the former heir to the throne. The court had predicted that the candidates would be either Prince Abdullah, the king's eldest son by his English wife, or Prince Hamza, his eldest son by Queen Nour.
Accession to power in the Arab world is still a process fraught with risks and expectations, although the power struggle takes place behind closed doors and within a restricted circle. In countries ruled by monarchs or princes, the restricted circle is mostly composed of members of the royal family. In countries that call themselves republics, the conflict also takes place within a restricted circle, but here the contenders make up the political elite. The concerns of rulers are vastly different from the worries of their subjects, but the Arabs generally accept whatever changes take place in the highest echelons. This is only logical, since such changes occur without their being consulted; but they are indifferent only so long as the change does not compromise their rights and freedoms, nor their chance to improve their quality of life.
The Jordanian throne is no different from other thrones. There is no clear reason for the king's change of mind after more than 30 years. Polygamy, however, will remain one of the major causes of disputes over succession in the Islamic world, regardless of considerations of the most efficient, just or suitable candidate for the job.
None of the justifications for the change make even a passing reference to the well-being of the Jordanian people, or claim that it would alleviate the country's economic problems, or check the soaring unemployment levels that threaten the kingdom's stability. Nor have any pundits claimed that the change will guarantee Jordanians the exercise of their civil and political rights.
Some commentators said the king's prolonged illness had given him the opportunity to ponder Jordan's future, and to realise that important modifications had to be introduced in state administration. Others added that, during the king's absence, Prince Hassan had taken steps to assert the primacy of the crown prince as an institution in his own right. He had established closer ties with Jordan's powerful tribes, and paid several visits to the armed forces. All this seems to have fuelled old grudges and driven the king to criticise his brother indirectly, by stating in an interview that the crown prince was not entitled to play an active role in ruling the country.
According to a slightly different version, Queen Nour's presence at her husband's side throughout the months of treatment gave her the opportunity to voice her fears that the line of succession would thereby be removed from their offspring forever, and be perpetrated in the line of Prince Hassan. This, too, may have prompted the king to revise his previous decision regarding his successor.
Whatever the reason for the king's change of heart, Israel was direct and forthcoming in its reaction. Officials stated a number of times that regional stability and the peace process were linked to the health of four Arab rulers, the first of whom is King Hussein. The Israeli media discretely mentioned that he had completely recovered and his chances to remain on the throne for many years to come were very real. This, of course, was before he announced that he would be returning to America to continue treatment.
