Jordan's King Abdullah
Photo: AP
Jordan restores relations with Hamas
Newspapers in kingdom report of 'positive meetings' between Amman officials, Hamas delegation, say Jordanian intelligence chief demanded Palestinian movement refrain from taking sides in Jordan's political issues
The Hamas
movement on Friday released a statement welcoming the restoration of its ties with Jordan, following a series of meetings held over the past weeks between a Hamas delegation and representatives of the Jordanian government.
Jordanian newspapers reported that the meeting was positive and that the two sides managed to resolve many of the disagreements between them.
The Hamas delegation, headed by member of the group's political bureau Mohammed Nazzal, met Thursday with Jordanian Intelligence Director Mohammed Zahabi in order to discuss the relations between the parties and the restrictions on the movement's activity in Jordan.
Another New Alliance
Damascus says boundaries of disputed Shebaa Farms will not be drawn until Israel withdraws from them
Zahabi demanded that the Palestinian movement refrain from taking sides in Jordan's political issues. Amman's main claims against Hamas are that Hamas is politically involved in Jordan, mostly by supporting the Jordanian Muslim Brothers and attempting to take control of the kingdom's trade unions.
About two years ago, Jordan accused Hamas of a mass weapon smuggling attempt into the kingdom using a ship, a claim which the movement has strongly denied.
At the end of the second meeting between the sides Thursday, it appeared that the Jordan-Hamas relations were about to be restored, although it was unclear whether Hamas would reopen its offices in the kingdom at this stage.
Fauzi Barhum, a spokesman for Hamas, said that the decision marked Jordan's recognition in the Palestinian legitimization and Hamas' legitimization. He said that the meetings between the sides were held as part of the Arab and Islamic world's attempt to open up to Hamas and remove the siege and isolation imposed on the movement.
According to Barhum, the move would help strengthen the Palestinian people's unity and the support for the Palestinian people in the face of all challenges.
"We need all the Arab and Muslim support in order to help our people," he said.
