In July 2015, a story about an alleged Hezbollah cell in Jordan showed up in the international press: “Jordan jails 8 for plots against US troops, Israel.” The story details plans for “terrorist acts” against US troops at the military base in Al-Moaqar in 2006 and the Israeli embassy in Amman in 2008. The alleged leader of the cell was convicted of affiliation with Hezbollah, with a sentence from Jordan’s State Security Court of ten years hard labor.

The day before, a headline in the Jordan Times read, “12 defendants sentenced to prison in ‘Hamas case’.” Here also the State Security Court (SSC) sentenced the defendants under newly amended “terrorism” laws that criminalize association with armed organizations. The latter story quotes the Muslim Brotherhood asking the pertinent question: “[I]n in whose interest it is to try those who support the Palestinian Hamas movement?”

In both cases the groups have done nothing to threaten the Jordanian government. Hamas has been clear in restricting its military actions to the colonial occupiers of Palestine. Hezbollah has historically focused its activities on defending the territory of Lebanon — both winning battles against the United States and delivering Israel humiliating defeats in 2000 and 2006.