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Jordan MPs seek scrapping peace deal with Israel

This file photo shows a general view of the Jordanian Parliament’s interior.

Jordanian lawmakers say they are fiercely opposed to the appointment of a new ambassador to Israel, demanding that the peace treaty with Tel Aviv should be scrapped.

Ghassan Majali is expected to replace the incumbent Ambassador to Israel Walid Obeidat, who is set to conclude his tenure after more than five years.

Lawmakers say if Jordan decides to appoint an ambassador to Israel, it should change the nature of its position.

"The new ambassador should defend Jordan's interest, and mainly halt the activity of the occupation regime in al-Quds," MP Hazem Majali said. 

Israel occupied the West Bank from Jordan in 1967. It later signed a peace agreement with Amman in 1994 making Jordan the second Arab country that has sealed a peace agreement with Tel Aviv.

Jordan is the custodian of Jerusalem al-Quds’ Muslim holy sites, making Amman sensitive to any changes of the status of the occupied city.

Following a decision by US President Donald Trump to relocate the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem al-Quds, criticisms grew among Jordanians toward what they saw as an effort that could undermine their role in the holy city. 

It is generally believed that the move by the Jordanian Parliament to scrap the peace agreement with Israel is a result of the same criticisms.  

"Our fundamental stance is that the peace agreement with Israel should be abrogated,” MP Majali was quoted as saying by Israeli website Ynetnews.

The Israeli regime lays claim to the entire occupied holy city of Jerusalem al-Quds which Palestinians want as the capital of their future state.

Tel Aviv has been emboldened by US President Donald Trump's recognition of the holy city as Israel’s "capital". On May 19, Tel Aviv adopted a controversial bill, which affirmed the stance, while declaring Israel as “the nation-state of the Jewish people."

Jordan opposes Tel Aviv’s efforts to stir up tensions by tampering with the city’s status quo.

The Israeli embassy in Amman shut down last July after two Jordanians were gunned down by an embassy guard, prompting the return to Israel of the Israeli ambassador along with the guard involved in the shooting.

The guard, who claimed that he shot the Jordanians in self-defense, received a hero’s welcome on his return, further enraging the Jordanians.


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