Jordan Times
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Muasher says no
plans now to repatriate Gazans
By Mahmoud Al Abed
AMMAN — A senior official on Monday said Jordan has no plans now to repatriate
Gazans living in the Kingdom following the Israeli withdrawal from the Strip.
Deputy Prime Minister Marwan Muasher told a weekly press briefing that it was
"too early to talk about this issue."
"The timing of the return of the Gazans to their land will be decided in light
of the developments and emerging circumstances and in coordination with the
Palestinian Authority," Muasher, also government spokesperson, said.
Lower House Speaker Abdul Hadi Majali said last week the government "was ready
to tackle the issue" of some 118,000 Gazans living in the Kingdom once the
Palestinian Authority assumes full control of the Strip.
Majali did not elaborate further on the issue.
Palestinians, who were displaced from Gaza after the 1967 Arab-Israel war, hold
two-year temporary Jordanian passports, but do not enjoy citizenship.
Recently, the government issued special identity cards for these residents to
use for official transactions in response to appeals by Gaza notables in Jordan.
Most of them live in refugee camps, particularly the Jerash camp, or the Gaza
camp, which was set up as an "emergency" camp in 1968 for 11,500 refugees and
displaced who left the Gaza Strip as a result of the 1967 war, according to
UNRWA sources.