King, Crown Prince receive cables on 52nd Karamah Battle anniversary, occasion of Al Israa wal Miraj

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah has received cables from senior officials and officers on the occasions of the 52nd anniversary of the Karamah Battle, which falls on March 21, and Al Israa wal Miraj, which falls on Sunday, Rajab 27 the seventh month of the Islamic lunar calendar.

HRH Crown Prince Hussein received similar cables on the two occasions, according to a Royal Court statement.

In their cables, the officials praised the victory and sacrifices of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF) in the 1968 Karamah Battle.

They commended King Abdullah, the Supreme Commander of the JAF, for his efforts towards Jordan’s progress and to ensure the Kingdom’s security and stability.

On Saturday, King Abdullah took to Twitter to commemorate the 52nd anniversary of the Karamah Battle.

“On the morning of the Karamah Battle 52 years ago, our soldiers showed the highest values of sacrifice, devotion and heroism,” His Majesty said.

He added: “Today I see their grandchildren standing high to defend the values of dignity and protect our people from the coronavirus pandemic. I am so proud of you; you made all Jordanians proud.” 

On March 21, 1968, Jordanian soldiers countered an Israeli attack on a small town in the Jordan Valley, the name of which, Karamah, translates to “dignity”. Several Jordanian soldiers lost their lives in the battle as the Jordanian military launched an artillery barrage against Israeli tanks, resulting in significant Israeli losses.

In the cables marking Al Israa wal Miraj, the officials stressed the importance of the occasion and noted Prophet Mohammad’s sacrifices to spread the message of Islam, according to the statement.

According to Muslim beliefs, Al Israa wal Miraj was the night journey of Prophet Mohammad from the Grand Mosque in Mecca to Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, from where he ascended to heaven.

They paid tribute to His Majesty’s efforts to defend the values of Islam and highlight its true image, as well as his role in safeguarding Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem as the Hashemite Custodian, the statement said.