Jordan Times
Friday, January 27, 2006
Peace process should not stop — King
By Mohammad Ben Hussein and Feisal Malkawi
AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday hoped that the results of the
Palestinian elections will “boost unity and rearrange internal affairs in the
territories,” stressing that the peace process should not stop.
“The elections should be a step towards building effective institutions that
will be able to achieve people's aspirations and leading to the establishment of
an independent Palestinian state,” the Jordan News Agency, Petra, quoted King
Abdullah as telling Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in a telephone
conversation.
The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, won a massive 76 of 132 seats in the
Ramallah-based parliament, while the long-dominant Fateh faction won just 43.
Earlier, King Abdullah told a visiting French parliamentarians that no matter
the results of the Palestinian elections, the two-state solution remains the
logical and reasonable way to establish stability and security in the region and
achieve the aspirations of the people for a better future. The Monarch urged the
Palestinians and the Israelis to return to the negotiation table, saying the
next two years will be decisive for the Palestinian issue, according to a Royal
Court statement.
Meanwhile, Government Spokesperson Nasser Judeh said “Jordan respects the choice
of the Palestinians and congratulates them on their smooth election process.”
Judeh added that the Kingdom was closely monitoring Palestinian political
developments and awaiting the formation of the new government, which “will
directly effect the peace process.”
Another government official was quoted by Reuters as saying that “the Hamas
victory could have enormous implications for the peace process and Hamas must
now act responsibly to ensure the Palestinians don't lose more.”
Politicians called on the international community to “respect the Palestinian
will.”
“The Palestinians are aware of their best interest. They have the right to
change their leadership,” said Abdul Latif Arabiyat, head of the Shura Council
of the Islamic Action Front, Jordan's most influential political party.
In a phone interview with the Associated Press, Damascus-based Mousa Abu Marzouk,
the deputy leader of the Hamas political bureau, said Hamas' victory ushers in a
new era and called on the US and European countries to deal with the new facts
on the ground.
Mazen Riyal, spokesman of the National Coalition of Jordan's opposition parties,
called on Hamas to form a “national unity government to meet the aspirations of
the Palestinian people.”
Hamas officials held out the possibility of a coalition with Fateh and other
parties. A Hamas statement said Khaled Mishaal, its politburo chief, telephoned
Abbas to affirm “a commitment to partnership with all the Palestinian forces,
including the brothers in the Fateh movement.”
On Jordan's relations with Hamas, Riyal said the Kingdom will deal with Hamas as
part of a Palestinian government.
“Jordan has always supported the Palestinian leadership and will continue its
support,” he said.
Marwan Dudin, a former minister of occupied territories affairs, said the
Islamic movement will have to prove its ability to lead the Palestinian people.
“Now the flexibility of Hamas and their political experience will be put to a
difficult test,” Dudin said.
Jawad Anani, a former minister of finance and now an analyst based in Dubai,
told Reuters that the recent comments by US officials setting conditions for
dealing with Hamas showed that a negotiating process had already started.
“The Palestinian voters have answered Israeli extremism with a Palestinian
counterpart and I believe only those more extreme sides will produce peace,”
said Anani.