About Us

IMRA
IMRA
IMRA

 

Subscribe

Search


...................................................................................................................................................


Sunday, May 8, 2005
Excerpts: Jordanian diplomacy.UNRWA funding. Hamas' impressive showing.8 May 2005

Excerpts: Jordanian diplomacy.UNRWA funding.Hamas' impressive showing.8 May
2005

+++JORDAN TIMES 8 May '05:
" 'Jordan and Saudi Arabia support Iraqi efforts to eradicate terrorism' "
QUOTES FROM TEXT:
" 'We are also against all incitement attempts, which are exercised by
some
on media, political or religious platforms, against the Iraqi
people.' "

"King Abdullah said Jordan appreciates Saudi Arabia's assistance"

"a just solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict would achieve peace
and
security in the Middle East"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXCERPTS:
AMMAN (Petra) - ... King Abdullah on Saturday held separate talks with Iraqi
President Jalal Talabani and Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah on bilateral ties
and regional issues.
During a Raghadan Palace meeting, King Abdullah and Talabani said that the
Jordanian-Iraqi ties were "on the right track," stressing that they were
determined to remove obstacles facing such relation.
. . .
"... Jordan, will not allow ... targeting the Iraqi people and their
political leadership," the King emphasised, saying that the Kingdom firmly
stands by Iraq in fighting terrorism.
"We are also against all incitement attempts, which are exercised by some on
media, political or religious platforms, against the Iraqi people." The King
noted that Jordan is training Iraqi security personnel and that he ordered
the return of the ambassador to Baghdad as soon as possible after the Iraqi
side was ready to protect the embassy there.
Talabani was accompanied by Ambassador Ata Abdul Wahab, who was returning to
Amman after a six-week absence for consultations.
The two leaders stressed the importance of activating the work of the joint
higher committee to boost cooperation, particularly Jordan's contribution to
rebuilding Iraq. For his part, Talabani said the new Iraqi government was
determined to enhance bilateral relations, adding that his visit to the
Kingdom is to help strengthen the Amman-Baghdad ties.
The Iraqi leader ... commended Jordan's stand against terrorism, which is
affecting the entire region, saying that the Iraqi government is fighting
terror and needs the backing of country's neighbours ... .
. . .
Meanwhile, the King and Crown Prince Abdullah stressed the need for
continuous consultation between the two countries on bilateral relations and
pan-Arab issues.
King Abdullah said Jordan appreciates Saudi Arabia's assistance over the
past years to support the Kingdom's development and economic programmes.
. . .
On regional issues, the two leaders reiterated that finding a just solution
to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict would achieve peace and security in the
Middle East
[IMRA: the same old panacea.]
and help establish an independent Palestinian state.
They said the roadmap offers a basis for a such solution which, they added,
should guarantee the rights of all sides. The two sides also urged a
resumption of the peace process on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks.
Jordan and Saudi Arabia support the Iraqi people and their efforts to
eradicate terrorism that target the stability and security of their country,
the two leaders agreed. . . .
[IMRA: Not a word regarding financial assistance for refugees.]

+++JORDAN TIMES 8 May '05:"
"International donors to review UNRWA budget"
QUOTE FROM TEXT:
"appeals have so far attracted minimal response"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------EXCERPTS:AMMAN (Petra) - Amman will host a two-day meeting ... to review a $362million budget for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in2005.The meeting... on May 18, will include representatives from donor nationssuch as the European Union, US, Japan and Canada, in addition to refugeehosting countries and UNRWA officials. [iMRA: How about Saudi Arabia and the other oil-wealthy Arab countries?]The agency's social, educational and medical services and the challengesfaced by the agency in maintaining these services to refugee communities inJordan, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine will be top of the agenda ... .. . .... Arab countries hosting refugees will remind the international communityof its obligations towards the agency until such time as UN resolutionsconcerning a permanent settlement for the refugees has been achieved. [IMRA: Doesn't include any measures to
resettle them, even temporarily.]Azaizeh said host countries will continue to demand financial support fromdonors to enable UNRWA to provide vital services to the growing number ofcamp residents in Jordan, which currently hosts 1.7 million refugees out ofan estimated four million dispersed throughout Arab countries.Since the outbreak of the Intifada in 2000, UNRWA has been appealing to theworld community to increase its contributions in the face of new challengesand increasing poverty in the Palestinian territories ... the appeals haveso far attracted minimal response.+++HAARETZ 8 May '05:"Analysis / Hamas gains worry Fatah"By Danny RubinsteinQUOTES FROM TEXT: "A number of seniour PA figures said yesterday that parliamentaryelections shold be delayed until after the Israeli withdrawal." "most independent cadidates, about 10 percent of the total, areaffiliated with Hamas but were afraid to be
identified"----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------EXCERPTS:Results of the second set of municipal elections in the West Bank and theGaza Strip last Thursday, which show a rise in Hamas support, have Fatahseeking ways of postponing the elections for the legislative council (theparliament), set for July 17.In response, Fatah activists are expected to delay the passage of thePalestinian election bill, making the July balloting impossible. A number ofsenior PA figures said yesterday that parliamentary elections should bedelayed until after the Israeli withdrawal. [IMRA:Since the Hamas Charter calls for the elimination of Israel andalso embraces "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion", Hamas should bedisqualified running for office even if disarmed.]The final results of the elections are to be announced this morning. Thecounting of the ballots, which was completed yesterday, show a majority forFatah, but Fa!
tah
spokesmen are saying the voting meant one step forward forFatah, and three for Hamas.The Fatah majority is between 55 and 60 percent, with 30 to 35 percent toHamas. But considering that it is a relatively young and inexperiencedpolitical movement, the results can be seen as an achievement for Hamas.The first round of elections, which took place three months ago, also showedimpressive gains for Hamas.In the Gaza Strip, Hamas took a majority in three of the seven big cities,as well as in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, in the Bureij refugee campin the central Strip, and in Beit Lahia in the north.Hamas spokesmen say their victory is even greater than it appears, becausemost independent candidates, about 10 percent of the total, are affiliatedwith Hamas but were afraid to be identified as such for fear Israel wouldhit them.Additionally, in Christian communities in the West Bank, Palestinian lawreserves places on city councils for Christians, and in some locales Hamascandidat!
es did
not even stand for election.Dr. Jospeh Lerner, Co-Director IMRA

Search For An Article

....................................................................................................

Contact Us

POB 982 Kfar Sava
Tel 972-9-7604719
Fax 972-3-7255730
email:imra@netvision.net.il IMRA is now also on Twitter
http://twitter.com/IMRA_UPDATES

image004.jpg (8687 bytes)