Tensions between Jordan and Israel continued from last quarter into this quarter as Israel continued its transgressions on the Haram al-Sharif compound (see Palestinian-Israeli Conflict). In the beginning of April, the U.S. proposed to mediate between Jordan and Israel to resolve the conflict between the 2 countries regarding the Israeli transgressions. This was promptly rejected by Jordan, as they saw the U.S. as preferential to Israel, citing the U.S.’s moving its embassy to Jerusalem and recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The conflict between Israel and Jordan regarding Haram al-Sharif remained unresolved by the end of the quarter as Jordanian officials sustained their objections to Israeli settler raids on the compound and Israeli restrictions on the work of the Islamic Waqf employees.
Internally, King Abdullah II fired several senior officials, including his intelligence chief and advisor on policy in late April and beginning of May as reports were circulating about a plot to destabilize Jordan. Officially, the senior officials were fired because of shortcomings in the intelligence system and findings that some officials were advancing personal interests over those of the country. Shortly after King Abdullah II fired the senior officials, all Jordanian ministers resigned their positions in order for the King to reshuffle the government.