Jordan summons its ambassador from Doha
Jordan-Qatar, Politics, 8/12/2002

The Jordanian- Qatari crisis has been escalated following the decision taken by Amman to summon its ambassador from Doha.

Meantime, the Qatari government kept silent regarding the open crisis between Doha and Amman over a program broadcast by al-Jazeera satellite station which was considered as hostile.

No comment was yet taken from the foreign ministry in Doha as most of the officials are in their Summer vacation.

The Qatari media also gave no comment on the crisis or on summoning on the Jordanian ambassador from Doha for consultations.

The Qatari foreign minister Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jaber al-Thani has been exposed to strong criticism as he is being accused of being responsible for what had taken place in the program.

Amman had banned the activity of "al-Jazeera" in Jordan because of the program which was considered as an insult to the royal regime as it was accused of "being a traitor to the US and to the Zionist movement." On Saturday Jordan summoned its ambassador in Qatar for consultation following the crisis which was opened between Jordan and Qatar.

The Jordanian news agency said the Jordanian government summoned "the Kingdom's ambassador accredited in the state of Qatar Omar al-Amed, for consultation." No other explanations were given.

A commentator for the Jordanian TV said on Friday evening that "Sheikh Hamad, the partner in owning the island ( Qatar) gave his instructions that this program ( opposite director ) should be damaging in order to please his Zionists friends in Israel." The Jordanian TV recruited a retaliation campaign and dedicated a long discussion attended by two Jordanian journalists and former member of Jordanian parliament Mahmoud al-Kharabeshah who was one of the two guests of ( the opposite direction program). Al-Kharabeshah said by the end of the program "I was a witness on a telephone call made by Sheikh Hamad to the introducer of the program in which he ( Hamad) blamed him for the long time he gave me to defend the Jordanian positions."

Al-Kharabeshah said that the program was " a trap " and several Jordanian viewers could not express their views because their telephone calls were frozen.

Jordanian journalist Areeb al-Rantawi said that Qatar is a friend " for Israel," noting that Sheikh Hamad has visited Israel many times and has been there very recently. al-Rantawi added that " Sheikh Hamad's children spend their vacations in Israel and are linked to strong friendship with Sharon's son." During the discussion of the Jordanian TV which was broadcast live several Saudis, Jordanians and Qatari expressed their condemnation of the Qatari leadership. N.

Previous Stories:
  Jordan summons Qatar's ambassador over criticism in a TV program   (8/9/2002)
  Jordanian, Qatari crisis continues   (7/17/2001)
  Qatar threatens Jordan to resort to the law   (6/24/2001)

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