Islamic Opposition Wins Significant Number of Seats in Jordan’s Election

Jordan’s Islamist opposition party made significant gains in parliamentary elections on Tuesday due to growing anger over Israel’s war with Hamas.

Under a new electoral law, political parties receive 41 seats in Jordan’s 138-seat parliament. All other seats are dominated by tribal and pro-government factions. According to preliminary election results from Wednesday, the Islamist Action Front, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, won 31 of those 41 seats.

Anger: The party’s popularity is believed to be caused by the general public’s sympathy for Palestinians and anger against Israel for the war in Gaza.

In the run-up to the elections, the Muslim Brotherhood led large anti-Israel protests in Jordan to demonstrate support for Palestinians and Hamas. Palestinians make up nearly half of Jordan’s population.

The elections reflect the desire for change, and those who voted were not necessarily all Islamists but wanting change and had become fed up with the old ways.
—Murad Adaileh, Islamist Action Front secretary general

What does this mean? While Jordanian King Abdullah ii bin al-Hussein maintains ultimate decision-making power, the Parliament serves to introduce and pass laws to accelerate political reform.

The next House of Representatives must be robust in confronting the extreme Israeli right, which may, in the future, align with the extreme American right if [Donald] Trump wins the U.S. elections.
—Murad Adaileh

Prophecy: Jordan maintains diplomatic relations with Israel, but its people have strong anti-Israel sentiments. The Bible prophesies that these sentiments will lead Jordan to turn against Israel.

Learn more: Read our free booklet Jordan and God’s Church in Prophecy.