Jordan's deputy speaker criticises Abbas and Fateh leadership over their possession of Jordanian nationality

The Deputy Chairman of Jordan’s Council of Representatives, Atef al-Tarawneh al-Naqab, has revealed that a number Palestinian officials and members of the negotiating team have been granted Jordanian nationality and national identity numbers at a time when nationality is being withdrawn from Jordanian citizens themselves based on claims of support for the Palestinian people and their need for a state.

During a television programme broadcast by Josat, Al Tarawneh stressed that there could be no real reform in Jordan without safeguarding national unity and ensuring that the constitutional rights of individuals are not prejudiced. He highlighted that the decision to withdraw nationality from Jordanian citizens of Palestinian origin affected national unity.

Al Tarawneh described as unacceptable the contradictory policy of withdrawing nationality from citizens of Palestinian origin under the pretext of safeguarding the Palestinian national identity while granting Jordanian nationality to Palestinian leaders and negotiators. Jordanian civil affairs records indicate that prominent figures from within the Palestinian Authority leadership are registered Jordanian nationals. This means that while they call on the Jordanian government to remain devoted to Palestinian identity, they themselves carry Jordanian nationality.

Local media reports have previously claimed that the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, and all his children hold Jordanian citizenship as does Ahmed Qurei and his family, in addition to other figures such Mohammad Dahlan and Nabil Abu Rudeina.

Mr Al Tarawneh’s assertions represent the strongest criticisms from any senior official for the continuing policy of nationality withdrawals. He also clarified that the royal palace had recently responded strongly to the legal and human rights repression in this regard.

During his most recent meeting with King Abdullah II, Al Tarawneh warned that these withdrawals would have consequences on investment in Jordan and facts show that dozens of Jordanian businessmen of Palestinian origin avoid visiting or returning to the country out of fear of this policy.

Source: Al-Quds al-Arabi