Spanish diplomat and academic Juan José Escobar Stemmann has written an article titled “The Crossroads of Muslim Brothers in Jordan” which discusses the basis for what the author calls a change of attitude by the Jordanian government toward the organization. According to the article synopsis:
As former allies of the monarchy, the Muslim Brothers have played a key role in Jordanian political life at times when the regime has engaged in political openness. However, their moderation in domestic politics has been accompanied by a growing radicalization on foreign policy issues, as a result of their refusal to accept the peace treaty between Israel and Jordan and their staunch opposition to the military intervention in Iraq. Hamas’s victory in the Palestinian elections have prompted a change of attitude on the part of the government, which has opted to restrict the Brotherhood’s social activities and lessen its capacity for mobilization. Manifestations of Islamic activism are abundant in Jordan. The country’s Islamist movement has played a key role in political life almost since independence. As traditional allies of the monarchy, the Muslim Brothers have participated in politics when the regime has engaged in political openness. However, their moderation in domestic politics has been accompanied by a growing radicalization on foreign policy issues as a result of their refusal to accept the Israel-Jordan peace treaty and their staunch opposition to the Western military intervention in Iraq. Hamas’s victory in the Palestinian elections followed by its seizure of the Gaza Strip along with the growing presence of Palestinian militants in the Jordanian organization have prompted a change of attitude on the part of the government, which has restricted the Brotherhood’s social activities and lessen its capacity for mobilization.
Recent posts have discussed the political turmoil within the Jordanian Brotherhood.