'The Muslim Brotherhood has told the press that they would not allow the king to fall. If he falls, they fall with him. Period.'
Mudar Zahran is a prominent Palestinian-Jordanian opposition leader that supports secular democracy and peace with Israel.
His parents were born in Jerusalem and moved to Jordan during the Hashemite occupation of Judea and Samara (commonly referred to as the West Bank). His family is one of the most influential within Jordan’s Palestinian majority. An entire part of Amman is officially named “Zahran Area” in their honor.
Before being forced into exile in the United Kingdom, Zahran was serving as the Economic Specialist and Assistant Policy Coordinator at the U.S. Embassy in Amman. He also served the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
During his work with the U.S. Embassy, Zahran covered sensitive matters regarding Jordan, reporting to two U.S. Ambassadors. His reports were forwarded to the U.S. State Department, CIA, Department of Homeland Security, Treasury Department and, occasionally, to the FBI.
He was a civil rights activist in Jordan and stood against the Jordanian government’s discriminatory policies towards Palestinians. He fled Jordan in 2010 and is a regular commentator for Middle Eastern media outlets. Zahran envisions a future Jordan that is an “armless welfare state that secures the rights of Jordanians from all heritages and origins and maintains the peace agreement with Israel.”
The following is Mudar Zahran’s interview with Clarion Project National Security Analyst Ryan Mauro:
Ryan Mauro: How do you reconcile your support for Israel with your Islamic beliefs?
Mudar Zahran: In Islam, unlike what many believe, we are not told by the Quran to hate Jews, nor are we told they are the enemies of God, etc. In fact, all of the prophets of the Jewish faith are prophets we follow and we do actually fast in remembrance of the Exodus. Moses is described as God’s friend.
The anti-Semitism is new and came into existence after Israel became independent in 1948, and those who spread it were so-called secularists like Nasser in Egypt. The Quran states that “God will not blame you for being touch and in touch with those Christians or Jews who do not harm you or fight you.”
In practice, Muslims have serious problems with one another so it is only natural that they have problems with Jews.
Mauro: You are described as a leader of the Jordanian opposition. Aren’t you afraid that the alternative to the current Jordanian regime is the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamists?
Zahran: I have just published an article in the Jerusalem Post newspaper about that titled, “Jordan’s King and the Islamists, In One Boat.” Jordan’s Muslim Brotherhood are partners with the king, and they have been for the last 50 years, since his father’s days.
In 1970, during the civil war, the Muslim Brotherhood declared fighting on the king’s side against the Palestinians to be a “jihad” and they are 100% supporting the king. In fact, they stood against all attempts to topple him. This is documented. This is stuff they have said in public.
For example, on November 17, the Muslim Brotherhood stood out to tell the press that they would not allow the king to fall. If he falls, they fall with him. Period. Nonetheless, we, the popular secularists, are ignored by the media and the U.S. government.
In fact, I am a former senior staff member of the U.S. Embassy-Amman and I know for a fact that they have been communicating with the Muslim Brotherhood. This was leaked through Wikileaks, too. All the while, they would not even bother talk to someone secular like me.
Mauro: Do you believe that Jordan should become the Palestinian state? Do you foresee Palestinians and Arabs ever accepting that?
Zahran: I never said Jordan should be a Palestinian state. I am proud of my country, and I am a Jordanian. I am just stating facts here: Jordan is 88% Palestinian. When the king falls, and I know he will, the Palestinian majority will elect a Palestinian president.
Besides, how many states are you going to give to the Palestinians: One in Israel, one in Gaza, and one in Jordan—how about one in New Jersey, too?
How many Palestinians agree with me? Just read a U.S. Embassy-Amman cable that states that Palestinians in Jordan would give up the controversial right of return to Israel in exchange for civil rights in Jordan, let alone having a president of their own. This is just the reality of a Palestinian state manifesting itself east to the river Jordan.
Mauro: Many readers will appreciate what you’re doing, but won’t be optimistic that your view will prevail in the Middle East. Are there any concrete reasons for optimism, or is it likely that the Arab world will always want to see Israel gone?
Zahran: In short, Arabs will always fight one another, sadly. And they will fight Israel as much as they have an opportunity. The only guarantor of Israel’s security is its weaponry and strength.
Israel’s peace agreements were established with those who could not defeat it, not those who wanted peace. At the same time, Israel must realize that the ground is changing around its borders, and Jordan is no exception. Unless we, the secularists, get help, you will end up with Hamas running Jordan soon.
Honestly, I doubt anyone will listen to us now. Maybe when they see the disaster in the making, they will jump to help, but right now, many are cheerleading for the King of Jordan and hoping he will not fall. There’s bad news for them: He told two senior U.S. officials that he does not expect to be in power a year from now. Dark days are ahead.
Ryan Mauro is the ClarionProject.org’s National Security Analyst, a fellow with the Clarion Project and is frequently interviewed on top-tier TV stations as an expert on counterterrorism and Islamic extremism.