Jordan backs middle east economic summit

Jordan’s Prime Minister Abdul Salam al-Majali yesterday vowed support to a planned Middle East and north African economic summit in November, to be attended by Israel despite opposition from several Arab countries.

"By attending, we will be able to promote our rights, particularly on the economic, water and refugee issues," Majali told a press conference at the end of a three-day visit to Tunisia.

Qatar plans to hold the summit, but the move was criticized by several Arab countries who promote the boycott of Israel because of the freeze in Israeli-PLO peacemaking, following Israel’s ground breaking in March on a new Jewish settlement in Arab East Jerusalem.