Jordan considering resuming ties with Hamas

Last week, a small symposium was held at the Center for Middle East Studies in Amman titled "The Relationship Between Jordan and Hamas, Foundations, Transformations and Future Directions." 

The speakers said that Jordan must reconsider its policy of shunning Hamas that has been official since the late 1990s, when the kingdom expelled Hamas leaders.

The speakers said that a relationship with Hamas serves Jordan's strategic interests because Hamas is a major and "mature" Palestinian political force, and it is in Jordan's interests to have strong relations with all Palestinian factions. 

Professor of International Relations at the University of Jordan, Dr. Hassan al-Momani, said that Hamas' "pragmatism" at not getting involved in the August flare-up between Israel and Islamic Jihad shows political maturity that should be rewarded.

Others claimed that Hamas positions on Zionism, and on issues like the Ramon airport plan,  are more aligned with Jordan's own positions than those of the PLO. 

The symposium came only days after a visit to Amman by Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal. 

While there appear to have been only a handful of attendees, the coverage of the meeting in Jordanian and Arab media indicates that the Jordanian government is looking to normalize the idea of a warming relationship with Hamas - and by extension, the Muslim Brotherhood.

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