Grapevine

Jordan divided on Hezbollah, but united against Israeli attacks on Lebanon

Jordanians remain divided on their support for Hezbollah but express solidarity with the Lebanese people.

Amman, Jordan – Over the weekend, an unusual calm filled the square outside al-Husseini Mosque in the bustling downtown area of Jordan’s capital.

The location, sandwiched between a commercial thoroughfare and a busy intersection, has been the site of weekly raucous pro-Palestinian protests since the beginning of Israel’s war on Gaza.

Ahmed, a 50-year-old bookkeeper who runs a shop located on the route protesters usually traverse, told Al Jazeera that the subdued atmosphere was due to the “shock and despair” caused by Israel’s attacks on Lebanon and the death of Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah.

However, this coming weekend, he said, after Friday prayers, this sentiment will have given way to anger and frustration, resulting in what he expects to be a huge turnout.