A Jordanian writers’ association has expelled a member who gave an interview to Israel Television after the organization had previously told members not to have contact with Israel, an association spokesman said.
Hamadah Fara’Aneh, a political columnist for Ad-Dustour, Jordan’s leading daily, spoke to Israel Television about last month’s Jordanian election results and was subsequently expelled, the spokesman said this week.
The expulsion underscores resistance to normalizing ties with Israel, despite King Hussein’s call that peace with Israel be one between peoples, not just leaders.
Other Jordanian professional associations have previously threatened to dismiss or sanction members who have contact with Israel.
Meanwhile, the Jordanian media blasted Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kan.) Wednesday for introducing legislation that would mandate moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem by 1999.
Ad-Dustour said the Middle East peace process, already facing numerous difficulties, “only needed such a move to receive another blow that could be fatal.”
Most papers linked Dole’s bill to American and Israeli elections in 1996.
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