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Sunday, May 06, 2012

Jordanians rally against peace with Israel

From Jordan Times:

Hundreds of activists hit the streets in some urban centres in the country demanding an end to the Kingdom’s ties with Israel.

In protests organised by Islamists, leftists and youth activists, participants called on decision makers to scrap the 1994 Wadi Araba Peace Treaty, which they described as a “disaster”.

In a downtown Amman rally, some 200 leftists and youth activists called on authorities to expel the Israeli ambassador, burning US and Israeli flags and chanting: “Wadi Araba is not peace, Wadi Araba is surrender.”

Meanwhile, the Muslim Brotherhood’s youth wing rallied in downtown Amman’s Al Nakheel Square, criticising the government for maintaining ties with Tel Aviv despite Israel’s refusal to honour the agreement.

Addressing the rally of some 300 Islamists, former Muslim Brotherhood overall leader Salem Falahat criticised Amman for supporting policies of normalisation with Israel during an ongoing occupation of Palestinian lands.

Meanwhile, in a series of demonstrations held by governorate-based popular movements, hundreds of citizens rallied in Karak, Tafileh, Ajloun and Irbid, calling for an end to “normalisation” with Israel and protesting against rising prices of basic commodities.

Activists said Friday’s protests were a direct response to the appointment of Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh, a leading figure in the 1994 peace process, who recently stated that if given a second chance, he would still support the treaty, pointing out that Jordan has used the peace pact as a tool to help Palestinians and other Arabs.
Are they still considered "peace activists" when they rally against peace?