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Israelis May Find It Harder to Find a Dentist in Jordan

April 25, 1995
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The National Union of Dentists in Jordan has warned its members that they could face possible expulsion for treating Israelis.

The group;s president, Saed Abu Maizer, issued the warning this week in response to news reports that Israeli visitors to Jordan were taking advantage of relatively cheaper costs for dental services in the Hashemite Kingdom.

The Jerusalem Post reported that hundreds of Israelis have gone in search of cheap dental care in the Jordanian capital of Amman, where a filling costs about $14, compared to $40 in Israel.

The Israeli Health Ministry said it could prevent people from seeking treatment in Jordan. Treatment cannot be recommended, either.

Ministry representatives said it is impossible to know how careful Jordanian dentists are in sterilizing equipment to prevent the spread of diseases such as hepatitis and AIDS.

The Jordanians had no figures on how many Israelis have sought treatment there.

Similar directives against having dealings with Israelis have already been issued by other Jordanian professional associations, including those serving writers, doctors, lawyers and engineers.

In each case, the directives reflected opposition to normalizing ties with Israel by establishing contacts through their professional fields.

King Hussein has warned the associations in the past to stay out of politics and to stick to issues directly affecting their members.

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