Jordan Times
Monday, April 27, 2005
Badran reiterates Kingdom's support for Palestinians
AMMAN (Petra) — Prime Minister Adnan Badran on Sunday discussed developments in
the Middle East and Jordanian support for the Arab population in Israel with a
delegation of Arab Israelis.
Badran reiterated the Kingdom's support for the Palestinian people and their
elected leadership in their pursuit to regain their legitimate rights, end the
occupation and set up their independent state.
The premier stressed the need to implement the roadmap to Middle East peace,
adding that the planned Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip must be part of
this blueprint.
Abdul Wahab Darawsheh, president of the Arab Democratic Party and the head of
the Arab bloc at the Israeli Knesset, Talab Sanea, headed the Palestinian
delegation.
Talks covered Hajj facilities for Arab Israelis and students from the Arab
community in Israel studying in Jordanian universities.
Following the meeting, Darwasheh said they discussed ongoing developments in the
Palestinian National Authority, Israeli-Palestinian relations and the ties
between Jordan and the Arabs in Israel.
Sanea said Arab Israeli party leaders are making regular contacts with Jordanian
officials to exchange views, especially in light of the election of PNA
President Mahmoud Abbas and Israel embarking on its plan to withdraw from
settlements in Gaza and the northern West Bank.
On April 14, Badran met with a delegation from the Arab Movement for Change, a
political organisation working among 1948 Palestinians. The delegates, headed by
Arab Israeli Knesset Member Ahmad Tibi, presented Badran with an appeal to
increase the number of university seats allocated for Arab Israeli students in
the Kingdom.
Arab political parties in Israel are allocated a quota of seats in Jordanian
universities in accordance with a Royal makruma. They also presented Badran with
requests related to the temporary passports Jordan issues for Arab Israelis
transiting through the Kingdom to perform Hajj and Umra.
Jordan has historically facilitated the pilgrimage for this category of
Palestinians who hold Israeli passports.