Jordan: Information on the present official Jordanian position and involvement regarding the Israeli-Palestinian peace accord

The Jordanian government has been significantly involved in tripartite and bilateral negotiations with Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) around the Palestinian peace accord and the formation of the Palestine National Authority (PNA). For additional information consult the attachments, which are organized according to theme.

 For a general chronology of current events related to the Israeli-Palestinian peace accord of 28 September 1995 and Jordan's involvement in negotiations consult the attachments under the heading Recent Events.

For official Jordanian government and palace opinions on peace negotiations and economic agreements, and well as commentary on Jordan's strategic involvement with the Israel-PLO peace process consult documents under the heading Official Perspectives and Commentary. Please note that according to the Jordanian constitution, the declarations, addresses and speeches of the King can be considered as law (Arab Studies Quarterly. Winter/Spring 1995:48-49).

For information on economic activities and agreements resulting from the peace accords, please consult the Economic Issues section of attachments.

For information on the unresolved land and property issues between the three parties (Israel, Jordan and the PNA), consult attachments in the Land and Property Issues section.

For further information on the current developments in the Jordanian position on citizenship rights and the issuance of passports to Palestinians, please consult DIRB Response to Information Request JOR22351.E of 29 November 1995, as well as the Citizenship and Passports attachment section to this Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Reference

        Arab Studies Quarterly [Lake Forest, Illinois]. Winter/Spring 1995. Vol. 17. Nos. 1-2. Uri Davis. "Jinsiyya versus Muwatana: The Question of Citizenship and the State in the Middle East--The Case of Israel, Jordan and Palestine."

Attachments

Recent Events

The Europa World Yearbook 1995. 1995. 36th ed. Vol. I. London: Europa Publications. pp. 1596-1599.

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. September 1995. Vol. 41. No. 9. "Middle East: Signing of Interim Israeli-Palestinian Agreement." pp. 40748-40749.

_____. August 1995. Vol. 41. No. 8. "Middle East: Progress of Palestinian-Israeli negotiations." p. 40703.

_____. August 1995. Vol. 41. No. 8. "Middle East: Taba Declaration." pp. 40703-40704.

_____. February 1995. Vol. 41. No. 2. "Middle East: Cairo "Peace Bloc Summit." p. 40428.

_____. January 1995. Vol. 41. No. 2. "Middle East: Visit to Jordan by Arafat--Signing of General Agreement for Co-operation and Co-ordination." p. 40381.

Los Angeles Times. 3 February 1995. Mary Curtius. "Mideast Leaders Agree to Restart Peace Negotiations; Diplomacy: Unprecedented Summit with Egypt and Jordan Gets Talks `Back on Track' as Israel and the PLO Promise to Meet Again Next Week." (NEXIS)

The Middle East [London. April 1995]. "Unseemly Haste." p. 5.

_____. March 1995. "Not Yet a Comfortable Partnership." pp. 8-9.

_____. November 1993. "Jordan's Time for Decision." pp. 10-11.

Reuters. 29 September 1995. BC Cycle. "Clinton to Push for Progress on Israeli-Syria Pact." (NEXIS)

Official Perspectives and Commentary

        Agence France Presse. 24 October 1995. Randa Habib. "Un an de paix entre la Jordanie et Israel." (NEXIS)

Al-Ahali [Amman, in Arabic]. 9 November 1995. "Government Criticized on Israeli Ties, Normalization." (FBIS-NES-95-218 13 Nov. 1995, pp. 58-59)

Al-Dustur. [Amman, in Arabic]. 25 September 1995. "Taba Accord `Turning Point' in Peace Process." (FBIS-NES-95-187 27 Sept. 1995, pp. 40-41)

_____. 19 February 1995. "`Text' of King Husayn Al-Ahram Interview." (FBIS-NES-95-034 21 Feb. 1995, pp. 60-64)

Al-Hayah [London, in Arabic]. 29 May 1995. "Al-Kabariti Views Reversal of Jerusalem Decision." (FBIS-NES-95-104 31 May 1995, p. 46)

Al-Hayat [London, in Arabic]. 17 August 1995. Joseph Samaha. "Jordan's Dual Gamble." (Middle East International [London]. 8 Sept. 1995. No. 508. pp. 20-21)

Al-Majd' [Amman, in Arabic]. 29 January 1996. "Arafat Reportedly Asks Jordanian Government to Limit Hamas Freedom." (BBC Summary 16 Jan. 1996/NEXIS)

Al-Ra'y [Amman, in Arabic]. 5 October 1995. "U.S. Ambassador States Stand on Confederation." (FBIS-NES-95-194 6 Oct. 1995, p. 55)

_____. 26 September 1995. "Paper on 'Arafat's Visit, Support for Palestinians." (FBIS-NES-95-187 27 Sept. 1995, p. 40)

_____. 20 February 1995. "`Text' of King Husayn Al-Hayah Interview." (FBIS-NES-95-034 21 Feb. 1995, pp. 64-67)

Al-Sharq Al-Aswat [London, in Arabic]. 17 October 1995. "Foreign Minister on Israel, Regional Issues." (FBIS-NES-95-201 18 Oct. 1995, pp. 40-41)

Amnesty International. 29 December 1995. Urgent Action: Jordan: Leith Shubeilat, Head of the Engineer's Union. (AI Index: MDE 16/05/95). London: Amnesty International.

Ha'aretz [Tel Aviv, in Hebrew]. 20 June 1995. "Jordan Claims Growing Disappointment with Peace Accord." (FBIS-NES-95-119 21 June 1995, pp. 47-48)

The Irish Times [Dublin, in English]. 20 February 1995. "`Senior' Source Critical of Peace Process." (FBIS-NES-95-034 21 Feb. 1995, pp. 67-68)

Israel Television Channel 1 Network [Jerusalem, in Arabic]. 13 April 1995. "Jordanian Ambassador in Gaza Situation, Hamas." (FBIS-NES-95-072 14 April 1995, pp. 23-24)

Jordan Television Network [Amman, in Arabic]. 10 November 1995. "House of Representatives Backs Speech." (FBIS-NES-95-218 13 Nov. 1995, pp. 55-58)

_____. 9 November 1995. "King Speaks on Domestic, Regional Issues." (FBIS-NES-95-218 13 Nov. 1995, pp. 52-55)

_____. 26 September 1995. "King Husayn Interviewed on Iraq, Peace Process." (FBIS-NES-95-187 27 Sept. 1995, pp. 33-38)

Jordan Times [Amman, in English]. 11 October 1995. "Peace Opponents `Living in the Past'" (FBIS-NES-95-198 13 Oct. 1995, p.45)

_____. 2 October 1995. "Opposition Parties Urge Efforts Against Peace Accord" (FBIS-NES-95-190 2 Oct. 1995, pp.41-42)

_____. 30 September 1995. "Amman's Influence at Taba Negotiations Highlighted" (FBIS-NES-95-190 2 Oct. 1995, pp.42-43)

Middle East International. [London]. 15 December 1995. No. 515. George Hawatmeh. "In the Thick of It." pp. 10-11.

_____. 15 December 1995. No. 515. Lamis Andoni. "Jordan: Democratisation in Danger." pp. 16-17.

_____. 6 October 1995. No. 510. George Hawatmeh. "The King Backs Taba." p. 7.

_____. 21 July 1995. No. 505. Mark Power-Stevens. "Overt tensions as Jordan Faces Up to `a New Era'." pp. 16-17

_____. 7 July 1995. No. 504. George Hawatmeh. "Palace and Government." pp. 10-11

RAI Uno Television Network [Rome, in English]. 02 June 1995. "King Husayn Interviewed on Peace Process." (FBIS-NES-95-128 5 July 1995, pp. 57-60)

Reuters. 9 December 1995. BC Cycle. "Jordan Arrests Leading Critic of Husayn." (NEXIS)

_____. 6 November 1995. BC Cycle. Rana Sabbagh. "Jordan's King Husayn Loses Partner in Peace." (NEXIS)

Voice of the Arabs [Cairo, in Arabic]. 9 March 1995. "Al-Kabariti on Christopher Tour, Ties With PLO." (FBIS-NES-95-046 9 March 1992, pp. 27-28)

Voice of Palestine. 27 May 1995. [Jericho, in Arabic]. "Cabinet Reviews Official Visits, Peace Process." (FBIS-NES-95-104 31 May 1995, pp. 6-7)

Economic Issues

        The Financial Times. 27 October 1995. "Peace Delivers the Summit, but Not the Goods: Reform and Regional Integration Are the Two Vital Watchwords for the Middle East and North Africa Economic Gathering in Amman Starting on Sunday." (NEXIS)

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. October 1995. Vol. 41. No. 10. "Israel: Economic Agreements with Jordan." p. 40800.

Northern California Jewish Bulletin. 27 October 1995. "Pension Funds Could Blaze Away to Peace and Profits in the Middle East." (The Ethnic Newswatch, NEXIS)

The Xinhua New Agency. 25 October 1995. "Israel, Jordan Sign Peace Accord." (NEXIS)

Land and Property Issues

        Al-Aswaq [Amman, in Arabic]. 9 September 1995. "Foreign Minister on Citizen's Property in Israel." (FBIS-NES-95-175 11 Sept. 1995, p.59)

The Jerusalem Post [Jerusalem, in English]. 11 September 1995. "Peace with Israel Tied to Palestinian Accord" (FBIS-NES-95-175 11 Sept. 1995, p.59)

Jordan Television Network. 14 February 1995. [Amman, in Arabic] "King Asserts `No Ambitions Outside of Jordan'." (FBIS-NES-95-031 15 Feb. 1995, p.49)

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. January 1995. Vol. 41. No. 1. "Israel: Settlements Controversy." p. 40381.

Middle East International [London]. 4 August 1995. No. 506. George Hawatmeh. "Hussein Clears a Hurdle." pp. 8-9.

_____. 26 May 1995. No. 501. Lamis Andonai. "Hussein's Toughest Dilemma". pp. 7-8.

Middle East Report [Washington, DC]. January-February 1994. Vol. 24. No. 1. Michael Fischbach. "Palestinian Land Documents." p. 14

Qol Yisra'el [Jerusalem, in Hebrew]. 18 May 1995. "Jordanian, Egyptian Envoys Condemn Land Expropriation." (FBIS-NES-95-096 18 May 1995, p. 35)

_____. 18 May 1995. "Sources: Jordanian Parliament Decision `Not Binding'." (FBIS-NES-95-096 18 May 1995, p. 35)

_____. 17 May 1995. "Jordanian Envoy on Parliamentarians' Stand on Peace." (FBIS-NES-95-096 18 May 1995, p. 35)

Citizenship and Passports

        Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Radio [Amman, in Arabic]. 22 October 1995. "Minister: Extension of West Bankers' Passports Does Not Make Them Jordanian." (BBC Summary 24 Oct. 1995/NEXIS)

Jordan Times [Amman, in English]. 13 February 1995. "Priority to be Given to `Stranded' Palestinians in Talks." (FBIS-NES-95-198 15 Feb. 1995, pp. 50-51)

The United Press International (UPI). 20 October 1995. BC Cycle. "Palestinians Cheer Jordanian passports." (NEXIS)

Israel Television Channel 1 Network 13 April 1995, Al-Dustur 19 February 1995, Al-Ra'y 20 February 1995, The Irish Times 20 February 1995 Voice of the Arabs 9 March 1995, Voice of Palestine 27 May 1995 Al-Hayah 29 May 1995, Ha'aretz 20 June 1995 RAI Uno Television Network 02 June 1995, Al-Aswaq 05 June 1995, Middle East International 7 July 1995, Middle East International 21 July 1995, Middle East International 8 September 1995, The Jerusalem Post 11 September 1995, The Jerusalem Post 19 September 1995, Al-Dustur 25 September 1995, Jordan Television Network 26 September 1995. Middle East International 6 October 1995, Jordan Times 2 October 1995, The Star 05-11 October 1995, Jordan Times 11 October 1995, Al-Sharq Al-Aswat 17 October 1995, Agence France Presse 24 October 1995, Reuters November 6 1995, Jordan Television Network 9 November 1995, Al-Ahali 9 November 1995, Jordan Television Network 10 November 1995, FBIS 13 November 1995, Reuters 9 December 1995, Middle East International 15 December, Amnesty International 29 December 1995

Keesing's October 1995, The Financial Times 27 October 1995, Xinhua 25 October 1995, Northern California Jewish Bulletin in The Ethnic Newswatch 27 October 1995.

Middle East Report January-February 1994, Keesing's January 1995, Jordan Television Network 14 February 1995, all of FBIS-NES May 18, 1995, Middle East International 26 May 1995, Middle East International 4 August 1995.