AMMAN Ñ Jordan has launched a campaign to end its dependence on Iraq
and the Palestinian Authority and has cracked down on immigrants from both areas.
Jordan's King Abdullah has announced a "Jordan First" campaign meant to
increase loyalty to the Hashemite kingdom. An estimated 70 percent of the
kingdom is composed of Palestinians, including Abdullah's wife, Queen Rania.
The campaign was launched as Jordan has restricted the entry of Iraqis
and Palestinians into the kingdom. Palestinians from the West Bank must
deposit thousands of dollars to demonstrate that they will leave the kingdom
after two weeks, Middle East Newsline reported. Iraqis under age 35 are being stopped at the Jordanian
border with its eastern neighbor.
"The call for 'Jordan First' will not be a call for isolationism,"
Abdullah said in a letter to Prime Minister Ali Abu Ragheb. "But it springs
from the conviction that Jordan's socio-economic strength and its social
security are essentials that should be fulfilled if the country wants to
fortify its Arab environment and support its Arab brethren."
"Today," Abdullah said, "we want to establish this principle as a
working approach and a daily practice for each Jordanian man and woman who
believes in this country as a cradle of security and stability, and as one
which has a promising future; those who seek self-fulfilment through their
native land, and not via external loyalties whatever the goals and
objectives are."
The tenets of "Jordan First" will be taught in schools universities and
relayed in
villages as well as in Palestinian refugee camps. Abdullah said the
principle
will guide the media, religious and political movements.
Abdullah stressed that he expected the support of the political
opposition for his new campaign. The opposition, led by Islamic groups and
the unions, are said to be heavily financed by Iraq, which has a huge
presence in Amman.
"The opposition can exercise its role and convictions with regard to
government policies and programs, but it cannot be opposed to the state's
system and established principles," Abdullah said. "Furthermore, opposition
should be exercised in the service of the causes and interests of the
Jordanian people and the building up of Jordan, before any other interests
and goals."
