For his part, Abu Marzouk said the two sides discussed security and
political issues. He expressed hope that Hamas and Jordanian political
leaders would soon meet.
The dialogue marked the first high-level Jordanian effort to normalize
relations with Hamas, with headquarters in neighboring Syria. In 1999, Amman
ordered Hamas to shut its offices before deporting the leadership.
For his part, Dahabi reassured the Hamas leadership that Jordan would
not form an alliance with the rival Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority.
The Hamas source quoted Dahabi as saying that Jordan would also not seek to
undermine the Fatah regime in the West Bank.
"Jordan's policy is not based on the game of axes," the Hamas source
quoted Dahabi as saying.
The Hashemite kingdom began its reconciliation effort with Hamas in wake
of its takeover of the Islamic opposition in Jordan. In 2008, Hamas-aligned
figures were elected to head the Islamic Action Front.
"The [Hamas-Jordan] talks represent a positive step that opens a new
chapter in ties between the two sides that could pave the ground for new
alliances to boost the interests of both the Jordanian and Palestinian
people," IAF spokesman Rhayyel Gharaibeh said.
Jordanian sources said Amman initiated the dialogue with Hamas, expected
to explore the prospect of reopening Hamas offices, the return of its
leaders and relations with the Hamas regime in the Gaza Strip. They said
additional meetings were scheduled with the Hamas leadership as part of
Jordan's effort to seek guarantees that the Islamic movement would not use
the kingdom for weapons smuggling or other operations.
"This [dialogue] is in the interest of Jordan and Palestine," Hamza
Mansour, chairman of the IAF ruling council, said.
