Indictments have been brought against a Jordanian lawmaker on charges of transporting weapons into the West Bank through an Israeli-controlled crossing. The charges against Imad al-Adwan relate to the smuggling of at least 200 weapons into the area last month. Al-Adwan has been charged with four counts of illegally exporting weapons and actions that breach security and threaten community peace. His actions have put Jordan’s pro-Western and moderate monarchy at risk of being accused of supporting Palestinian militancy.

The Shin Bet security service of Israel said that al-Adwan successfully ran the weapon smuggling operations at least a dozen times since the start of 2022, in exchange for money and goods such as electronic cigarettes. Israeli authorities caught him on April 22, and he was handed over to Jordanian officials last month. Ali Mubaideen, al-Adwan’s lawyer, confirmed that his client was indicted last week by a state security court in Amman.

Violence has erupted in the occupied West Bank, reaching levels not seen in two decades. Illegal weapons, including those smuggled from Jordan, are said to be prevalent in the territory, according to Israeli military officials. Much of the violence is the work of young Palestinians, who often use rifles to attack Israeli security forces. Many militants are among the 112 Palestinians and 20 Israelis who have been killed so far this year in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

Israel and Jordan’s relationship has been strained due to issues surrounding the security of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the expansion of Israeli settlements in the area. Tensions have escalated due to the failure of the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. Before the 1967 Middle Eastern conflict, Jordan had control of the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem.

Imad al-Adwan belongs to one of Jordan’s most extensive tribes and has served as a legislator with Irada, one of Jordan’s newest political parties, for the past three years. The party aims to change the country’s political system.