Hamas officials and Islamists in Jordan are vociferously rejecting accusations by the Jordanian government that the movement has smuggled weapons into Jordan and is threatening Jordan’s stability.
Hamas says Amman is being influenced by the United States to boycott the new Palestinian government.
A Jordanian government spokesman said on Tuesday that security forces seized rocket launchers and other weapons from a Hamas arms cache in the country.
The Jordanian government cancelled Wednesday’s visit of Mahmoud A-Zahhar, who heads external relations in the Palestinian government. Amman also accused Hamas of using Jordan to engage in anti-Israeli activities.
Hamas said in a statement that it regrets the Jordanian authorities used these accusations, which it said are fabricated, to justify the cancellation at the last minute.
The statement said Jordan is the “only Arab party” which is dealing with Hamas and the new Hamas-dominated Palestinian government in this “negative and damaging fashion.”
This statement was made despite that fact that the Egyptian Foreign Ministry rejected a request by A-Zahhar to visit the country last week, explaining that no official would be able to welcome him, due to tight schedules and previously arranged engagements.
Jordan and Egypt both have peace agreements with Israel.
A-Zahhar is seeking financial aid and political support from Arab countries.
Jordan angered Hamas shortly after the movement’s rise to power in January, when it cancelled a meeting with a high-level Hamas delegation.
Analysts say Jordan is concerned about the rise of Hamas, since the movement was inspired by the Muslim Brotherhood, which has a significant following in Jordan. Amman is concerned the victory will embolden these Islamists and will undermine Jordan’s stability.
A-Zahhar’s visit to Jordan would have been the first by a Hamas leader since the nation expelled the group’s leadership in 1999, Al-Jazeera noted.
Despite the impasse, leaders are seemingly trying to prevent the crisis from deteriorating. Palestinian Authority (P.A.) Chairman Mahmoud ‘Abbas spoke with Jordanian Foreign Minister ‘Abd Al-Ilah Al-Khatib on Wednesday. ‘Abbas’ spokesman said the chairman assured Al-Khatib that the P.A. and the Palestinian people are interested in a stable and secure Jordan. He said they also discussed the brotherly relations between the leaderships and the two peoples.