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| Jordan prepared to swap terrorist convict for pilot captured by Islamic State | Jordan prepared to swap terrorist convict for pilot captured by Islamic State |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| AMMAN, Jordan — Jordan said Wednesday that it was prepared to swap an Iraqi prisoner sentenced to death in Jordan for her role in a string of 2005 Amman hotel bombings in exchange for a Jordanian pilot who was captured by Islamic State fighters after his plane went down in Syria last month. | |
| The sensational offer to free the suicide bomber, whose device failed to explode, illustrates the tremendous pressure that has mounted on Jordan’s King Abdullah II and his government over the pilot’s capture. | The sensational offer to free the suicide bomber, whose device failed to explode, illustrates the tremendous pressure that has mounted on Jordan’s King Abdullah II and his government over the pilot’s capture. |
| An exchange of prisoners would be a first for the Islamic State, which has beheaded a number of captives including U.S. and other Western journalists and aid workers. Previously, the group had reportedly released European captives in exchange for ransom. | An exchange of prisoners would be a first for the Islamic State, which has beheaded a number of captives including U.S. and other Western journalists and aid workers. Previously, the group had reportedly released European captives in exchange for ransom. |
| The offer could undermine the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State by encouraging more hostage-taking. The Islamic State, a radical al-Qaeda offshoot also known as ISIS or ISIL, has seized large swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria in its bid to create a Muslim caliphate. | The offer could undermine the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State by encouraging more hostage-taking. The Islamic State, a radical al-Qaeda offshoot also known as ISIS or ISIL, has seized large swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria in its bid to create a Muslim caliphate. |
| Information Minister Mohammad al-Momani said in a statement Wednesday, “Jordan is ready to release the Iraqi prisoner, Sajida al-Rishawi, if the Jordanian pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, is released unharmed.” | Information Minister Mohammad al-Momani said in a statement Wednesday, “Jordan is ready to release the Iraqi prisoner, Sajida al-Rishawi, if the Jordanian pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh, is released unharmed.” |
| Momani did not offer additional details and did not say whether the government was talking directly with Islamic State leaders or whether the swap was scheduled. | Momani did not offer additional details and did not say whether the government was talking directly with Islamic State leaders or whether the swap was scheduled. |
| Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser S. Judeh tweeted later Wednesday: “We asked for evidence about the health and safety of our hero but it did not come.” | Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser S. Judeh tweeted later Wednesday: “We asked for evidence about the health and safety of our hero but it did not come.” |
| According to a Jordanian National Police official, authorities earlier Wednesday transferred Rishawi from her jail cell in the Juweideh prison in southern Amman to an “undisclosed location” pending her potential release. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to give statements to the press. | According to a Jordanian National Police official, authorities earlier Wednesday transferred Rishawi from her jail cell in the Juweideh prison in southern Amman to an “undisclosed location” pending her potential release. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to give statements to the press. |
| The Jordanian military and intelligence agency are fighting alongside U.S.-led coalition partners seeking to turn back the Islamic State advances in Iraq and Syria. | The Jordanian military and intelligence agency are fighting alongside U.S.-led coalition partners seeking to turn back the Islamic State advances in Iraq and Syria. |
| The Jordanian public, however, has been outraged over the capture of the pilot, whose family and friends have made emotional appeals for his release and have criticized Jordan’s participation in the war against the militants. | The Jordanian public, however, has been outraged over the capture of the pilot, whose family and friends have made emotional appeals for his release and have criticized Jordan’s participation in the war against the militants. |
| The U.S. government has vigorously opposed paying ransom for kidnap victims held by the Islamic State. Some of those victims have been decapitated by Islamic State militants, who have threatened the life of the Jordanian pilot. | The U.S. government has vigorously opposed paying ransom for kidnap victims held by the Islamic State. Some of those victims have been decapitated by Islamic State militants, who have threatened the life of the Jordanian pilot. |
| The announcement that Jordan was ready for a deal came less than a day after the Islamic State issued a 24-hour ultimatum on Tuesday, threatening to execute Kaseasbeh and another captive, Japanese journalist Kenji Goto. | The announcement that Jordan was ready for a deal came less than a day after the Islamic State issued a 24-hour ultimatum on Tuesday, threatening to execute Kaseasbeh and another captive, Japanese journalist Kenji Goto. |
| Momani made no mention of Goto. | Momani made no mention of Goto. |
| In Tokyo, Goto’s mother, Junko Ishido, pleaded with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to save her son, and Japanese news media were abuzz with rumors that Goto would be included in the swap. | In Tokyo, Goto’s mother, Junko Ishido, pleaded with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to save her son, and Japanese news media were abuzz with rumors that Goto would be included in the swap. |
| The exchange, should it occur, would mark a reversal in policy for Jordan, which has long rejected negotiating with jihadist and other militant groups. | The exchange, should it occur, would mark a reversal in policy for Jordan, which has long rejected negotiating with jihadist and other militant groups. |
| Rishawi is currently on death row for her involvement as a co-conspirator in suicide bombing attacks by al-Qaeda operatives against three Amman hotels in 2005. More than 60 people were killed in the attacks. | Rishawi is currently on death row for her involvement as a co-conspirator in suicide bombing attacks by al-Qaeda operatives against three Amman hotels in 2005. More than 60 people were killed in the attacks. |
| Rishawi was captured after a suicide belt she wore failed to detonate during an attack with her husband on the Radisson Hotel in Amman. Her husband was killed in the blast, which occurred in the midst of a wedding in the hotel. She was sentenced to death in September 2006. | Rishawi was captured after a suicide belt she wore failed to detonate during an attack with her husband on the Radisson Hotel in Amman. Her husband was killed in the blast, which occurred in the midst of a wedding in the hotel. She was sentenced to death in September 2006. |
| The attacks were masterminded by Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, whose group, al-Qaeda in Iraq, was the ideological and organizational precursor to the Islamic State. Rishawi is the sister of a former close aide to Zarqawi, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike in Iraq in 2006. | The attacks were masterminded by Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, whose group, al-Qaeda in Iraq, was the ideological and organizational precursor to the Islamic State. Rishawi is the sister of a former close aide to Zarqawi, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike in Iraq in 2006. |
| These connections have made Rishawi a highly prized detainee for the Islamic State. | These connections have made Rishawi a highly prized detainee for the Islamic State. |
| “Time and time again, the Islamic State has made clear its desire to see the release of Rishawi,” said Mohammed Shalbi, known as Abu Sayyef, head of a hard-line Jordanian salafist movement. His group maintains ties to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. | “Time and time again, the Islamic State has made clear its desire to see the release of Rishawi,” said Mohammed Shalbi, known as Abu Sayyef, head of a hard-line Jordanian salafist movement. His group maintains ties to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. |
| “This may be the one and only demand that can lead to Muath’s release,” he said. | “This may be the one and only demand that can lead to Muath’s release,” he said. |
| Jordan has jailed more than 60 suspected members and supporters of the Islamic State over the past three months. According to members of the jihadist movement, those detainees were never part of discussions for the pilot’s release. | Jordan has jailed more than 60 suspected members and supporters of the Islamic State over the past three months. According to members of the jihadist movement, those detainees were never part of discussions for the pilot’s release. |
| The Jordanian government has come under growing popular pressure to obtain the pilot’s safe return. | The Jordanian government has come under growing popular pressure to obtain the pilot’s safe return. |
| The protests have been led by Kaseasbeh’s family, members of an influential tribe from the southern city of Karak, who have sought to swing public opinion against Jordan’s role in the war against the Islamic State. | The protests have been led by Kaseasbeh’s family, members of an influential tribe from the southern city of Karak, who have sought to swing public opinion against Jordan’s role in the war against the Islamic State. |
| “To this date, we have not seen a real effort by any official to secure Muath’s safe return or to keep our sons out of harm’s way,” Joudat Kaseasbeh, the pilot’s brother, told The Washington Post. | “To this date, we have not seen a real effort by any official to secure Muath’s safe return or to keep our sons out of harm’s way,” Joudat Kaseasbeh, the pilot’s brother, told The Washington Post. |
| “The government’s dithering has cost us time and maybe even Muath’s life. Our only choice is to remain in the streets and show the true opinion of the Jordanian people of this war.” | “The government’s dithering has cost us time and maybe even Muath’s life. Our only choice is to remain in the streets and show the true opinion of the Jordanian people of this war.” |
| In Karak on Wednesday, about 200 of Kaseasbeh’s relatives rallied at the governor’s office, blocking roads with burning tires. Referring to the king, they chanted, “Abdullah, son of Hussein, we want Muath back in the light of day.” | In Karak on Wednesday, about 200 of Kaseasbeh’s relatives rallied at the governor’s office, blocking roads with burning tires. Referring to the king, they chanted, “Abdullah, son of Hussein, we want Muath back in the light of day.” |
| In a series of protests in the capital, supporters of Kaseasbeh demonstrated in front of the prime minister’s office and the country’s royal court late Tuesday, chanting, “This is not our war!” | In a series of protests in the capital, supporters of Kaseasbeh demonstrated in front of the prime minister’s office and the country’s royal court late Tuesday, chanting, “This is not our war!” |
| Muath’s father, Safi Kaseasbeh, and other tribal leaders issued a statement late Tuesday calling for Jordan’s immediate withdraw from the U.S.-led coalition, questioning why Jordanian treasure and blood was being spent in Syria. | Muath’s father, Safi Kaseasbeh, and other tribal leaders issued a statement late Tuesday calling for Jordan’s immediate withdraw from the U.S.-led coalition, questioning why Jordanian treasure and blood was being spent in Syria. |
| The hostage crisis has given birth to a new anti-war movement, with a Twitter hashtag and a series of Facebook groups and campaigns calling for Amman to withdraw from the coalition and detailing the growing number of civilians caught in the bombings. | The hostage crisis has given birth to a new anti-war movement, with a Twitter hashtag and a series of Facebook groups and campaigns calling for Amman to withdraw from the coalition and detailing the growing number of civilians caught in the bombings. |
| Even if the swap takes place, the crisis has clearly weakened a key U.S. ally and coalition member. Because of Jordan’s proximity to neighboring Iraq and Syria, its airbases have been used to launch strikes by coalition warplanes. | Even if the swap takes place, the crisis has clearly weakened a key U.S. ally and coalition member. Because of Jordan’s proximity to neighboring Iraq and Syria, its airbases have been used to launch strikes by coalition warplanes. |
| No matter how the hostage crisis is resolved, opposition to the war will remain at high levels in Jordan, some residents say. | No matter how the hostage crisis is resolved, opposition to the war will remain at high levels in Jordan, some residents say. |
| “The war against the Islamic State was never our war to begin with,” said Mohammed Hussein, a shopkeeper in downtown Amman, as he attended a cash register. | “The war against the Islamic State was never our war to begin with,” said Mohammed Hussein, a shopkeeper in downtown Amman, as he attended a cash register. |
| “We are all Muath, and we are all against sending our sons to fight.” | “We are all Muath, and we are all against sending our sons to fight.” |
| Kaseasbeh, 26, was captured after his warplane crashed during a bombing run over Syria as part of coalition airstrikes against the Islamic State. The militants claimed to have shot down his F-16, but the U.S. Central Command said the incident “was an aircraft crash and not the result of enemy action.” | Kaseasbeh, 26, was captured after his warplane crashed during a bombing run over Syria as part of coalition airstrikes against the Islamic State. The militants claimed to have shot down his F-16, but the U.S. Central Command said the incident “was an aircraft crash and not the result of enemy action.” |
| The pilot ejected from the plane and was seized by militants near the north-central Syrian city of Raqqa, an Islamic State stronghold. Kaseasbeh was the first known military member of the coalition to be captured by the Islamic state since the airstrikes began last summer. | The pilot ejected from the plane and was seized by militants near the north-central Syrian city of Raqqa, an Islamic State stronghold. Kaseasbeh was the first known military member of the coalition to be captured by the Islamic state since the airstrikes began last summer. |
| Booth reported from Jerusalem. William Branigin in Washington contributed to this report. | Booth reported from Jerusalem. William Branigin in Washington contributed to this report. |