Jordan Times
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Jordan condemns Gaza attack as protesters take to streets
By Mohammad Ben Hussein
AMMAN - Jordan condemned the Israeli naval attack on an international aid flotilla in international waters near the Gaza coast as protests flared up in the Kingdom to protest the deadly attack.
The government condemned the attack and described it as a “crime”, holding Israel responsible for the safety of Jordanian activists on board some of the ships.
Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications and Government Spokesperson Nabil Sharif called an impromptu press conference in which he said the government summoned the Israeli charge d’affaires and expressed “condemnation with the strongest words over the unjustified attack”.
“What the Israeli military did is a heinous crime that we condemn and reject; this crime has violated all legal and humanitarian codes. Nothing justifies the use of force against civilians in this humanitarian mission,” said the minister.
“Jordan has followed all the developments related to this crime since the early hours of this morning. And we consider Israel completely responsible for the safety of our citizens who are on board these ships. At the same time, in the name of Jordan, I extend condolences to the families and the countries of the martyrs who fell as a result of this crime,” he added.
There are conflicting reports to the number of Jordanians on board the ships, but officials confirmed none has been hurt in the attack.
Later in the day, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, quoted Sharif as saying the Jordanian embassy in Tel Aviv received confirmation from the Israeli authorities that all Jordanians who were on board the ship were safe and sound until yesterday afternoon.
In a statement, Sharif added that the Kingdom’s embassy in Tel Aviv requested its representatives be allowed to visit the Jordanian nationals who were detained by Israeli authorities.
One of the Jordanian activists is Ismail Nashwan. The 81-year-old is the oldest participant in the campaign to break the siege on Gaza. His son, Mustafa, is also taking part.
Nashwan’s eldest son, Mohammad, told The Jordan Times over the phone that they have no information about the condition of their father, who is taking part in the flotilla for the second time, except through the media.
“We are not worried about his health. My father is a strong man,” said the 48-year-old son.
Sharif called on the international community to work on ending the embargo on Gaza, imposed after Hamas took over the enclave in a deadly confrontation with its rival faction, Fateh.
Jordan also plans to take part in the Arab League meeting in Cairo to discuss the development, said Sharif.
The Arab League will hold an urgent meeting today to discuss the attack on the Gaza-bound aid convoy. Jordan’s ambassador to Egypt and its permanent representative at the Arab League, Hani Mulki, will head the Kingdom’s delegation to the meeting.
The Arab League yesterday denounced the heinous crime, which killed and wounded scores of innocent civilians (see reaction story on page 4).
Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Judeh on Monday said Jordan is making contacts within the international community to shoulder its responsibility towards the bloody Israeli attack waged by the Israeli commandos on the Freedom Flotilla in international waters near Gaza.
Also, the Kingdom’s Ambassador in Tel Aviv Ali Ayed presented a strongly worded letter from the Jordanian government on the heinous attack which killed and wounded scores of Palestinian supporters, Judeh said.
The Kingdom held the Israelis responsible for the safety of all Jordanians who were on board the convoy, Judeh said.
“We hold Israel responsible for their safety and security,” he said.
The Senate condemned the Israeli attack on an international aid flotilla, describing the act as a barbaric crime, Petra reported.
The statement issued by the Upper House said Israeli actions are a clear challenge to international laws, calling on the international community and organisations to shoulder their responsibilities to force Israel to comply with international legitimacy principles.
The Senate also called for halting the Israeli crime against Palestinians and for ending the blockade on the Gaza Strip.
Also on Monday, the visiting European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle expressed the EU’s condemnation for the Israeli attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla.
During a joint press briefing with Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Jafar Hassan in Amman, Füle called for investigating the incident saying: “We are against any use of excessive force.”
“We are aware of the situation in the Middle East and we hope to bring things back to the negotiations table,” he added, noting that the EU condemns any attack that targets civilians and will maintain such position.
The European official is on a two-day visit to Amman, during which he met with several senior officials and discussed means to enhance relations between Jordan and the European Union.
Meanwhile, hundreds of activists gathered at the headquarters of the Jordan Professional Associations Complex in Shmeisani to condemn the attack.
Following a brief sit-in, demonstrators walked the streets leading to the Prime Ministry, where they burnt Israeli flags and chanted slogans expressing support for Hamas and Gaza.
Protesters held banners in support of Gaza and urged Egypt to end the embargo on the coastal enclave.
“This is the answer to the Arab regimes that want to make peace with Israel. It is time they realise peace talks are fruitless,” said Hamzah Mansour, former president of the shura council at the Islamic Action Front.
Other protests also took place in Baqaa refugee camp, home of the largest concentration of Palestinian refugees in Jordan.
Khaled Neimat contributed to this story.