Jordan Times
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Jordan seizes Hamas-smuggled arms, postpones Zahar's visit
AMMAN (Petra) — The government on Tuesday said it postponed a visit by Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar after authorities recently seized weapons and explosives that were smuggled by Hamas into Jordan.
“The government considers this as a proof that the Hamas movement was exercising a dual approach in dealing with Jordan,” Government Spokesperson Nasser Judeh said.
“In light of the recent developments, including the seizure of weapons and explosives that elements from the Hamas movement had brought into Jordan, Zahar's visit, scheduled for today, was postponed indefinitely.”
According to Judeh, security services observed several attempts by Hamas elements to smuggle various types of weapons into Jordan and store them.
“Such extremely dangerous weapons included missiles, explosives and machineguns,” Judeh added.
Security services also observed at different stages activities by Hamas elements in Jordan, including surveillance of vital targets in Amman and other cities, he said.
“Such practices contradicts the nature of the Jordanian-Palestinian ties as well as the repeated positive affirmations by the new Palestinian government, which pledged not to use the Jordanian arena for any purposes that would jeopardise the security of the Kingdom or interfere in its internal affairs,” Judeh said.
He said “the government emphasises the deep relationship between Jordan and the Palestinian people and the Palestinian Authority.”
“Such actions do not serve this relation or the higher interest and the cause of the Palestinian people. Jordan historically considered supporting the Palestinian cause as one of its political constants.”
Judeh said the government congratulated Hamas for its victory in the legislative elections and was keen to enhance ties with the new government to support the Palestinians' rights and help them establish their independent state.