Jordan Times
Sunday, December 4, 2005
Premier reiterates support for Arab Israelis
AMMAN (Petra) — Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit on
Saturday said Jordan is keen on maintaining contacts with the Arab community in
Israel.
He said the Kingdom would continue to keep track of the needs of Arabs in
Israel, also known as 1948 Palestinians, and offer them all facilities possible.
The premier made his remarks at a meeting with a delegation of Arab members of
the Israeli Knesset representing the National Democratic Assembly Party led by
MK Azmi Bishara.
Bakhit reviewed the Kingdom's efforts towards resuming Palestinian-Israeli peace
talks, implementing the roadmap to Middle East peace and bringing an end to the
Israeli occupation.
He stressed that the emergence of an independent Palestinian state was “in the
interest of Jordan as well as the Palestinians.”
The delegates congratulated Bakhit on his appointment as prime minister.
Meanwhile, Bishara told Jordan TV that they believe Bakhit “is capable, by
virtue of his qualifications and experience, of meeting the challenges” facing
Jordan.
He said the delegation members used the opportunity of their visit to Jordan “to
express solidarity with the Jordanian people” after the recent terrorist attacks
in Amman.
The delegates expressed their appreciation for the assistance Jordan extends to
Arabs in Israel, citing facilitation of the Hajj and Umra trips and a quota of
seats for Arab Israeli students at local universities, ordered by His Majesty
King Abdullah.
On the role of Arabs in Israeli domestic issues, Bishara said the target now is
to engage as many Arabs as possible in the upcoming parliamentary elections in
Israel. He said the percentage of Jewish participation in polls ranges between
75 and 80 per cent, but no more than 60 per cent of eligible Arab voters go to
the ballots. An increased participation, he said, would ensure more Arab
influence in Israeli politics.