Jordanian circles: Israel tries through Jordan to penetrate Arab region, economically

Jordanian parliamentary and economic circles have opposed the signing of an agreement proposed to establish a free trade zone between Jordan and Israel proposed by Israel to Jordan, SANA reported.

The reply of the Jordanian government was that the issue needs detailed studies to find out its possible consequences. Jordanian parliamentary circles described the establishment of such a free zone as not being in the interest of the Jordanian economy. It stressed the need to fostering Jordan's relations with the Arab states.

Jordanian economist Mazin Marji stressed that heavy losses will be inflicted on Jordan if such a zone is established.

Munir Hamarenah, a economics professor at the Jordanian university, said that Israel seeks though establishing such a zone with Jordan to ensure the creation of channels to penetrate the Arab region economically, starting by saturating the Jordanian local market as a preliminary step towards the neighboring Arab markets.

Hamarenah added that such a measure when made would lead to isolating Jordan in the Israeli attempt to establish a Middle Eastern bloc.