The Jordanian parliament is exerting pressure on the government in a bid to send Gaza Strip refugees living in the Hashemite kingdom back to Gaza, the London-based al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper reported Thursday.
There are about 200,000 Gaza refugees in Jordan. Refugees and their descendants are not eligible for a Jordanian identity card and have no political rights in Jordan.
After meeting with Jordanian Prime Minister Adnan Badran, Parliament Speaker Abdul Hadi al-Majali said the government would do all it could to assist Gaza refugees return. At the same time, the prime minister reportedly asked for a delay on the matter.
Al-Majali also noted that the government intends to raise the matter on the international stage and take it up with countries involved in the Middle East peace process. Jordan is willing to move forward on the issue, but not at this time, he said, noting the Palestinian Authority has not yet been awarded sovereignty over Gaza and citing fears that Israel may not complete its Gaza exit.
Road map discussed
Apart from refugee return, al-Majali also discussed the government's commitment to strengthening border security, in order to prevent "negative elements" from entering the country, and said the government has decided to step up checks on individuals entering Jordan, in order to identify the business of each and every individual entering the country.
During a meeting with Prime Minister Badran, al-Majali also said the pair agreed that Israel's withdrawal should be incorporated into the U.S.-sponsored road map peace plan.
They also discussed several other issues facing Jordan, including the idea that Jordan could become an alternate Palestinian homeland.