![King Abdullah II of Jordan gives a joint press conference following talks on economic issues and the bilateral relationship between Jordan and Germany at the Chancellery, Berlin, Germany, Sept. 17, 2019.](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/2021-10/GettyImages-1168809962.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=mrs2yFmP)
Osama Al Sharif is a veteran journalist and political commentator based in Amman who specializes in Middle East issues. He can be reached at alsharif.osama@gmail.com. On Twitter: @plato010
![King Abdullah II of Jordan gives a joint press conference following talks on economic issues and the bilateral relationship between Jordan and Germany at the Chancellery, Berlin, Germany, Sept. 17, 2019.](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/2021-10/GettyImages-1168809962.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=mrs2yFmP)
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Osama Al Sharif
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Osama Al Sharif
![Jordanian King Abdullah meets with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (unseen) at Bayt al-Urdon, Amman, Jordan, May 26, 2021.](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/2021-07/GettyImages-1233118759.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=l1xS5Umd)
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![Thousands of Jordanians hold a giant national flag during a demonstration to demand regime reforms, a day after Prime Minister Maaruf Bakhit rejected calls for a constitutional monarchy, March 4, 2011 in Amman, Jordan, March 4, 2011.](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/2021-06/GettyImages-112128715.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=r-LYQpNh)
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Osama Al Sharif
![A photo montage of Jordan's King Abdullah (R) and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas shaking hands in front of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is seen on a building during a welcome ceremony of the Jordanian king in Ramallah, West Bank, Aug. 7, 2017.](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/2021-05/GettyImages-827188876.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=OZy52nOP)
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![A policeman holds a stop sign in an almost deserted avenue in the Jordanian capital Amman, during a lockdown due to the coronavirus panemic, on February 26, 2021. (Photo by Khalil MAZRAAWI / AFP) (Photo by KHALIL MAZRAAWI/AFP via Getty Images)](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2021/03/GettyImages-1231393841.jpg/GettyImages-1231393841.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=Oj3ghm-1)
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Osama Al Sharif