King Abdullah and the future of Jordanians of Palestinian origin

Jordan's King Abdullah II has talked about the future of Jordanians of Palestinian origin who carry Jordanian passports and live in Jordan in case a final status agreement is reached, especially concerning the refugees and the evacuees from 1948 and 1967.

In a written lecture he delivered on Saturday at the political sciences faculty at the US Harvard University and published by the Jordanian dailies on Sunday, King Abdullah said the "majority of the Palestinian refugees, who are residents in Jordan will choose to stay in Jordan. This matter is left to them, and it is their own choice to decide."

The Jordanian king added that "we" consider the refugees in Jordan as Jordanian citizens.

"We believe that Jordan has settled those refugees and we want them to stay in the country where they lived for long years. The Jordanian stand is with the right for the return back. However, it is the Palestinians, residents in our country, who are to decide on that," he said.