Jordan Times
Thursday, February 2, 2005
Kingdom's relations with
Hamas will depend on agenda of future Palestinian gov't — Bakhit
By Mohammad Ben Hussein
AMMAN — Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit said on
Wednesday that Jordan's relations with Hamas would “depend on the agenda of the
future Palestinian government.”
“We will thoroughly analyse the Palestinian government's programme, to see how
harmonious it is with Jordan's higher interests and future cooperation will be
dictated accordingly,” Bakhit said at the Lower House of Parliament yesterday.
“We hope Hamas will be able to form a Palestinian government capable of meeting
the Palestinian people's ambitions and that will succeed in living up to the
great responsibility it shoulders,” he added.
The premier described the Palestinian elections as a “cornerstone” towards the
establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
He said that Jordan would deal with the Palestinian National Authority with all
its executive and legislative institutions “irrespective of the political
backgrounds of Palestinian factions.”
Also on Wednesday, Government Spokesperson Nasser Judeh said that Hamas leaders
outside the Palestinian territories, who are Jordanians and have been expelled
from the Kingdom, “had not filed a request to return to the country” following
the movement's victory at the Palestinian legislative elections.
In his weekly press briefing yesterday, Judeh said “some of the Hamas officials
outside the Palestinian territories were facing legal problems in the Kingdom.”
The Jordanian government launched a crackdown on Hamas in 1999, shutting the
movement's offices that had have operated for years under commercial and media
banners and rounding up 21 activists.
Four of its leaders who hold Jordanian citizenship were expelled, including
Hamas Politburo Chief Khalid Mishaal and Spokesperson Ibrahim Ghosheh.
The charges levelled against the group included membership in an illegal group,
carrying out military activities on Jordanian territory and illegal possession
of weapons and explosives for illicit use, a crime punishable by death.
Despite several mediation efforts from politicians inside and outside the
Kingdom, the government insisted that none of the movement leaders would be
allowed back unless they renounce political activities in the country.
Ghosheh was allowed to return, but only after he pledged not to speak on behalf
of the movement.
Reiterating the Kingdom's support for the Palestinians in their struggle to
establish an independent state, Judeh said Jordan respects “the Palestinian
choice in the recent elections.
“The Kingdom's representative to the Palestinian territories visited Hamas in
Gaza and offered Jordan's congratulations on its election victory. We are
waiting for the formation of the Palestinian Cabinet and the government's policy
orientation, which should take into consideration the roadmap for peace,” he
said.
“We are in an ongoing coordination process with the Palestinians over common
political issues,” he added.
Earlier this week, His Majesty King Abdullah held a telephone conversation with
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and congratulated him following the
successful conclusion of the election process.
Also on Tuesday, he told Abbas at a meeting in Amman that “Palestinians should
enhance their national unity and build on what they achieved to help establish
an independent state.
“The Hamas victory was the choice of the Palestinian people and we respect
that,” the Monarch said.
Responding to a query on recent comments by Islamic Action Front (IAF) officials
in Amman on their “readiness to take charge of the government,” Judeh said, “The
Islamic movement in Jordan is part of the system. They are Muslims in a Muslim
country with allegiance to the Hashemite leadership. They never work outside the
system and history proves their credentials.”
Earlier this week, Azzam Huneidi, head of the IAF bloc at the Lower House,
criticised the authorities for their “continuous marginalisation of the
movement,” saying that it was “mature enough to take over government
responsibilities.”
Meanwile, Judeh said the government was committed to introducing amended
elections and municipalities laws during the current session of Parliament.
He said that the government was currently revising final details of an amended
Municipal Law.
In his policy statement, Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit pledged to carry out the
most important legislative changes recommended by the National Agenda including
amendments to the elections, municipalities, public gathering and political
parties laws.