Jordanian King Abdullah, worried over mounting opposition protests, warned Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak to ease up on counterterrorist operations in Gaza and to open Gaza crossings. The two leaders flew secretly to Amman in separate helicopters Tuesday night, and the trip was confirmed by senior government sources.
King Abdullah also told the government that it must offer more concessions to Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas in talks towards creating a new Arab country within Israel's current borders.
King Abdullah fears unrest, and approximately 1,000 people this week protested the closing of Gaza crossings, a measure that Israel has taken because of the resumption of massive rocket and mortar attacks on the western Negev. Islamic Action Front, the political arm of the radical Muslim Brotherhood, staged the demonstration and urged Hamas to escalate attacks against Israel. 
Islamic Action Front, the political arm of the radical Muslim Brotherhood urged Hamas to escalate attacks against Israel.
The group also plans to bring supplies by boat in another effort to break Israel's control of movement of goods into Gaza, according to the Jordan Times. The planned action is similar in style to that of the Free Gaza activists who have broken Israeli sovereignty over Gaza's coastal waters. They attracted media attention by using a positive name for the group and bringing European legislators as well as medical supplies.
The Jordanian opposition group stated, "By dispatching the ships, Jordan will become the first Arab country to take such an initiative." Campaign coordinator Rhayyel Gharaibeh added, "The idea is to have all segments of society, officials, civil society organizations, activists and professional associations work together to aid the Palestinians in Gaza."
He encouraged other Arab countries to follow suit.
International politicians and media have portrayed the Israeli "siege" as the cause of a reported humanitarian crisis in Gaza that, according to the de facto Hamas government, has existed since shortly after Israel restricted supplies into Gaza following its coup more than year ago.
Israel took the action following numerous terrorist attacks, including strikes against the crossings.
The Foreign Ministry this week angrily responded to United Nations Human Rights Commission charges that Israel
is to blame for the crisis in Gaza and put the blame squarely on Hamas's shoulders.
