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20 Dec 2017
20 Dec. 2017 <br />
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Amman- Former Prime Minister Taher al-Masri said that the Jordanian state must not fear its own citizens or their demands and must seize the opportunity of the unified popular-official position against the decision of U.S. President Donald Trump to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem to put its house in order and launch political and economic reforms. Half reform is no longer acceptable; Jordanian citizens have offered a lot and are always ready to defend their country and the future of their children.<br />
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In a lecture titled "U.S. Decision on Jerusalem," at the Jordan Media Institute (JMI), the former Senate president said that the region, specifically the Palestine question, is going through its most dangerous stage. He said: "Over the past decade, alliances and societies have changed. Conflicts have increased with no end in sight. There is fertile ground for more conflicts and upheavals."<br />
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On the Jordanian position vis-à-vis the U.S. decision, Al-Masri said that the Jordanian position is strong and bold. It is based on the Jordanian commitment to the just cause of the Palestinian people and Hashemite custodianship over Jerusalem. There is a threat to Jordan's national security in light of the talk about the Jewish character of the state and the attempt to displace the population of the West Bank toward Jordan, though they will not accept that. The people of the West Bank adhere to their land and rights.<br />
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Al-Masri said that several former prime ministers had addressed a message to His Majesty King Abdullah II to express their support for the leadership in its practical steps against the decision. They called for reconsidering our foreign policy and relations and diversifying alliances, especially since Jordan is currently facing scarcity of aid, an adamant position by Netanyahu against Jordan, and huge financial and economic problems.<br />
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Al-Masri said that the U.S. decision to relocate the embassy to Jerusalem is not confined to the transfer only; it means that Jerusalem, legally, will be under Israeli sovereignty as capital of that state and that Israel will be a Jewish state and will impose its sovereignty on its capital. Consequently, around 300,000 Jerusalemites will turn into residents, and not citizens, on their own land. This also entails an attempt to displace the population of the West Bank and Jerusalem toward Jordan in particular and bring about demographic changes on the ground.<br />
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Al-Masri also referred to other dangers and dimensions of the U.S. step. Israel has been planning for this since the Basel Congress in 1897 to establish a state for the Jews with Jerusalem as its capital. It will now start seeking to build the alleged Temple.<br />
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According to Al-Masri, he met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas after the latter's return from Riyadh. He noted that "Abbas told Saudi officials that Israeli intransigence had closed all files that should be raised at the negotiating table. Israel does not accept negotiating over Jerusalem, the right of return, or the two-state solution."<br />
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He added that President Abbas was bold when he announced his rejection of the United States as a broker in the peace process. However, there is currently no broker in the peace process. He pointed out that Abu Mazen is facing a predicament and his hands are tied because all powers had abandoned the Palestinians. The Arabs have not responded to Palestinian demands as they should.<br />
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On the proper Palestinian reaction to the decision, Al-Masri said that the Palestinian position is difficult. There are not many alternatives. The Palestinian Authority has to reach a genuine understanding with Hamas and hold legislative elections as soon as possible in the West Bank and Gaza. The threat to dissolve the Palestinian Authority is fraught with dangers whose outcome is difficult to predict. This is despite the fact that these are nothing more than threats.