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Source: http://jcpa.org/jordans-queen-rania-has-become-a-lightning-rod/
Jordan's Queen Rania Has Become a Lightning Rod
(Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Yoni Ben Menachem - Queen Rania of Jordan has posted an open letter to the Jordanian public in which she denies all of the defamatory allegations made against her in an effort to neutralize the widespread criticism of King Abdullah and his wife in light of the difficult economic situation in Jordan. Queen Rania, 50, was born in Kuwait and is from a Palestinian family from Tulkarm in the West Bank. She has been accused of promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees at the expense of the Bedouin residents of Jordan, and robbing the kingdom by taking long holidays abroad. Even among the Bedouin tribes who are faithful to the palace, demands have been heard over the past two years for a change in the monarchist regime and a limitation of the king's authority. Criticism has grown among the Beni Hassan tribe, the largest tribe in Jordan, which serves as the traditional base of support for the royal family. Joined by the Beni al-Abbad and the Beni Hamida tribes, they have called for the king and queen to be deposed and for a change in the system of government. The writer is a veteran Arab affairs and diplomatic commentator for Israel Radio and Television.