In the streets of Amman, slogans are displayed on illuminated signs: "No to displacement," "No to resettlement." This is a reference to Donald Trump's plan to empty Gaza of its inhabitants and force Egypt and Jordan to take them in. Jordanian society overwhelmingly supports King Abdullah II's refusal of such a forced population transfer. Several declarations of support, from the left, Islamists and civil society, preceded the monarch's delicate visit to Washington on Tuesday, February 11. His meeting with the American president was eagerly awaited.

Abdullah II's contortions in front of the cameras, anxious to avoid a public confrontation with the White House tenant, caused embarrassment in the kingdom. "It was a very humiliating moment. The king did the best he could, because he wanted to respect protocol. Trump, with his entourage, forced his hand with this press conference. They knew that the king wouldn't be able to contradict him head-on," said Samer (a pseudonym). This 40-year-old, who works for an NGO, oscillates between the terror that "American support for the deportation of Gazans and the expansion of Israel is destabilizing the entire Middle East," and the desire to believe that Trump's plan will remain a dead letter.

You have 81.63% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.