MPs, activists join rally to denounce ‘deal of century’

AMMAN — Participants in a gathering that was held on Friday in support of Palestine and Jerusalem expressed their rejection of the US’ yet-to-be-revealed political settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, known as the “deal of the century”. 

Attendees of the rally, organised by a coalition of charity organisations at the Cultural Palace and attended by Lower House Speaker and President of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union Atef Tarawneh and a number of MPs, representatives of professional associations and activists, stressed that such settlements will not achieve regional peace nor do they fulfil the Palestinian people’s legitimate rights, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

They highlighted their rejection of settlements that transgress and override all the historical and international decisions pertaining to the Palestinian cause that have been issued by the UN. 

Partakers reiterated their position in support of the Kingdom and His Majesty King Abdullah’s stance, which rejects the erasure of the most significant pillars of the Palestinian cause that include the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in addition to resolving the issue of refugees, water shortages and the occupation’s settlements.

They affirmed their refusal of the US’ decision to transfer the US embassy to Jerusalem. 

Participants also rejected the dissolution of UNRWA, citing the impact that such a step would have on the cause of the Palestinian refugees, according to Petra. 

Those at the rally repudiated the US administration’s annexation of the Syrian Golan Heights to Israel, and assured their refusal to accept the occupation’s “racist laws”. 

They reiterated support for the Hashemite Custodianship over Jerusalem’s Muslim and Christian holy sites as a historic, political, legal and religious right that must not be conceded “under any circumstances”.

According to the statements made, the deal presents the cause of the Palestinians and the fate of its people as founded on the need for financial and other forms of aid, disregarding Palestinian statehood, rights, identity, heritage and future. 

Attendees at the rally reaffirmed their support of His Majesty’s political stance, which stresses the unity of Jordan and Palestine and rejects the notion of an alternative homeland. 

Tarawneh said that the Kingdom rejects any unjust settlement of the Palestinian issue, referring to His Majesty King Abdullah’s unaltered stances and persistence to protect the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, and to combat all attempts aimed at tampering with the identity of the Holy City.

King Abdullah has always been at the forefront of confronting any attempts aimed at changing the identity of Jerusalem, the speaker added, saying His Majesty always calls for justice for Palestinians as a prerequisite for the stability of the region and the entire world.

Former prime minister Abdur-Ra’uf S.Rawabdeh said that a “conspiracy” against the Palestinian cause seeks to take advantage of the crisis-hit Arab world, stressing that Jordanians are determined to join efforts in the face of those seeking to implement plots.

Former prime minister Taher Masri also expressed pride in Jordanian’s unified stance, addidng that the views of the Jordanian people and leadership had managed to cause “plotters” to lose the momentum they needed to pass the deal.