Jordanian Islamic Movement builds Hamas ties

Hamas might soon establish a political base in Jordan The Jordanian Islamic Movement has confirmed the existence of a much anticipated agreement with Hamas, initiated through friendly overtures between Hamas leadership and Jordanian officials .
Leaked information revealed that the president of Hamas’s political bureau, Khaled Meshaal, had already made contact with senior Jordanian officials during the Eid holiday.
Sources told ‘Arabstoday’ that Meshaal unofficially visited Amman and conducted many meetings with officials away from the media spotlight for resuming negotiations to reopen Hamas’s office in Jordan.
Hamas, specifically its leadership abroad and more so in Damascus appears to be in actual preparation of resuming its political and media activities in Jordan without trying to restore Jordanian citizenship status lost in the deportation of some leaders, such as Meshaal himself.
The group is not in a hurry to return to Jordan, and wants to stay in Damascus to maintain its influence and work with the Jordanian Islamic Movement.
 The movement has discussed Hamas with Al-Khasawneh’s government, which considers Hamas’s return a minor issue.
The impact of the deal was reflected clearly on protests in Amman, where the number of people going down to the streets decreased. The Muslim Brotherhood have not participated in  revolutionary activities for two weeks, and were satisfied with organising speech festival in downtown Amman.
The National Front for Reform, led by Ahmed Obaidat, also stopped protesting, leading the protests’ young organisers to accuse the Muslim Brotherhood of using them for their own benefit.
Jordanian journalist Rana Al-Sabagh stated in an article in “Al-Hayah’ newspaper that the new alliance would alter the political scene in the nation.
She said that after years of Jordan try to enhance its relations with Washington and the subsequent peace agreement, Amman recently demonstrated its will to strengthen its Palestinian ties to guarantee Jordan’s stake in the region’s interests, according to Jordanian officials
Al-Sabagh said that the cost of normalisation internally and externally is very high in the light of Hamas’s impact on the Jordanian Islamic Movement, which leads the political opposition and Jordanians of Palestinian origin who do not believe in the Middle East peace process.
However current situation will not give allow the state to allow Hamas to transfer its political leadership and media ventures to Amman as was the case before 1999.
The Crown Prince of Qatar is preparing to visit Jordan after the Eid Al-Adha holiday, accompanied by Khaled Meshaal, to meet King Abdullah for reconciliation.