March 16, 2004

Jordan Times

Conflict Resolution Commendable

Editorial

The efforts of 20 deputies to withdraw the Lower House's vote of confidence in the ministers of education, planning and international cooperation, and higher education because they took part in the Wadi Araba ceremony that launched the Bridging the Rift Centre may end up being nothing more than a tempest in a teacup. 

The "rebellious" deputies know well that a vote of no confidence in the three ministers is tantamount to a vote of no confidence in the government of Prime Minister Faisal Fayez. The three ministers are part of a team and a Cabinet and were not likely to take part in such a symbolic event without Cabinet approval. 

Jordan never endorsed the belief that it should boycott Israel and its officials altogether because of Israel's dismal track record in the occupied territories. Jordanians continued to meet with their Israeli counterparts in efforts to influence Israeli foreign policy and practices vis-ý-vis the Palestinians. 

Palestinian officials have a similar stance, as do Egypt and other Arab countries. So why would the 20 parliamentarians seek to make an issue out of the Wadi Araba event? 

It seems that the real bone of contention is the educational dimension of the centre, especially in the wake of the controversy about educational reforms in Jordanian school curricula and the fears that some persons and groups have expressed about imposing external educational standards on the Kingdom. 

They also interpret the participation of the ministers in the event as a normalisation step, distinguishable from official contacts. But these interpretations and concerns are off the mark. We have in place a peace treaty with Israel and this treaty imposes on Jordan certain obligations to cooperate with Israel. The decision to sign the treaty was not taken lightly, but viewed as a strategic decision, despite all our strong opposition to the continued Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. 

The Bridging the Rift Centre itself is an educational establishment whose goal is to explore new avenues for peace and development in the Middle East. Such endeavours, whether at the political or educational level, do not always allow for the parties involved to select their counterparts in the process of dialogue or negotiations. So, although objections to the timing of the cornerstone-laying ceremony and the Israeli parties to it are understandable, it has to be recognised that the process of conflict resolution, if that is the ultimate goal, has never been known to be painless.