Jordan strengthens ties with Israel despite opposition

Jordanian Minister of Trade and Industry Hani al-Mulki is to visit Israel tomorrow. He will discuss trade and economic cooperation between the two sides in the context of the Wadi Araba agreement.

Issues relating to imports between the two sides through Haifa port will be high up on the agenda. The subject is of concern to some Jordanian commercial circles as it reduces import operations through Aqaba port. Al-Mulki said the decision taken by Jordanian traders to import from Haifa was an attempt to reduce Jordan's costs from Europe and North America.

Meanwhile, former Jordanian Prime Minister Ahmad Obeidat said growing Arab and Muslim demands to cease all forms of normalization with Israel are an expression of the strong Arab belief in the implausibility of peace negotiations and giving Israel new chances to deceive the world.

In a statement to the BBC broadcast on Monday, Obeidat asserted the importance of blocking deals with Israel and of freezing normalization with it, so long as the Likud government led by Benjamin Netanyahu is not serious about achieving a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.