Hamas and Jordan
Jordan, Politics, 10/29/1999

The general observer of the Muslim Brothers group in Jordan, Abdul Majid al-Zneibat, told the Lebanese daily al-Nahar that the Hamas resistance movement should not oppose the transfer of its political office from Amman to any other Arab or Islamic capital and is expecting that this proposal will push the Jordanian government to give concessions relating to the existence of the movement and its activities in Jordan.

Al-Zneibat added, "Hamas has become convinced of the need to transfer its political bureau from Jordan, but under the condition of having a representative in Amman," he added that this point "of having a representative" is still under dialogue between the Jordanian government and the group, which is in charge of debating Hamas' views with the Jordanian government for reaching a settlement to the Hamas question which Jordan suspends chief of its political bureau Khaled Mashaa; and its spokesman Ibrahim Ghoshe as well as 19 Hamas members.

Meantime, a well-informed Jordanian source told the Lebanese daily al-Nahar said, "The government's concessions depend on the extent of understanding shown by the movement to the principle of being far as a Palestinian organization from the Jordanian arenas."

He stated that the "Jordanian government is committed to the need that Hamas is to take off the representation titles of its leaders in Amman as a precondition for having them stayed in Amman."

He considered that the demands raised by Hamas "to amend the previous agreement with the government which goes back to 1993 is not realistic, because such an understanding is no more valid today."

Islamic sources in Amman reported that the existence of Khaled Mashaal, in particular, is the center of disputes between the government and the "Muslim brothers."

The Jordanian sources added that the "government views Mashaal as the mind for the armed wing activities of the movement in the Palestinian territories, but it cannot expel him because he carries the Jordanian nationality and that the government wants Mashaal to leave Jordan and not to return it back on his own ( his return back to be at the consent of the government). This matter is viewed by the Muslim Brothers that this man ( Mashaal) can preside over the movement's political bureau in any other country, and at the same time be permitted to freely move inside and outside Jordan but while abstaining from making statement while he is in Jordan.

Tomorrow ( Saturday) the Jordanian government and the Muslim brothers group will resume dialogue to settle the crisis. Then, al-Zneibat, together with a delegation from the Muslim Brothers will meet with King Abdullah who stressed one week before that "through objective dialogue Jordan will find out the best framework for this question."

Previous Stories:
  Hamas says it did not refuse Muslim Brothers' mediation to solve their case   (10/28/1999)
  Report: Sharon pays secret visit to Jordan   (10/27/1999)
  Recession in Muslim Brothers' mediation between Hamas, Jordan's government   (10/27/1999)

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