AMMAN Ñ Jordan has acknowledged the influx of thousands of Palestinians from the West Bank over the last eight months.

Jordanian officials said nearly 200,000 Palestinians entered the Hashemite kingdom from the West Bank over the spring and summer and never returned. They said the Palestinians have been seeking long-term visas to remain indefinitely in the kingdom.

The Palestinians include much of the elite in the West Bank as well as families of Palestinian Authority officials. The officials said they are uncertain over whether this marks policy by PA Chairman Yasser Arafat.

So far, Jordanian leaders have not publicly complained about the Palestinian influx. But King Abdullah is said to have raised this issue with Arafat and has stressed that he will not allow the Palestinians to make Jordan an alternative homeland.

For his part, Jordanian Prime Minister Ali Abu Ragheb has denied that Palestinians from the West Bank have remained in the kingdom. He said about 180,000 West Bankers entered Jordan so far this year. All but 5,000 have since returned.

"Jordan is a state founded on solid grounds with its institutions and leadership," Abu Ghareb said. "God willing, the Palestinian state will rise on Palestinian soil while Jordan is and will remain the Hashemite kingdom of Jordan."

At the same time, the prime minister said Jordan will not allow the transfer of Palestinians to the kingdom. Abu Ragheb blamed Israel for the concerns expressed in Jordan.

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