Jordan unionists, Islamists blast Israeli envoy visit to parliament

Mar 29, 2007, 6:35 GMT

Amman - Jordan's trade unionists and Islamists on Thursday condemned an 'unprecedented visit' to the Jordanian parliament earlier this week by the Israeli ambassador in Amman, Jacob Rosen.

Rosen visited the National Assembly's premises on Monday, where he met with a member of the upper house of parliament, Akl Beltaji, a former tourism minister.

Beltaji said later that the Israeli envoy met him to discuss Jordan's participation in a European Union-sponsored conference that was held in Bethlehem on Wednesday for 'improving the tourism product.'

The Trade Unions Council issued a statement calling on Beltaji 'to resign as upper house member after meeting with the Israeli ambassador at the National Assembly building.'

The Council also urged the Upper House Speaker Zeid al-Refai 'to open an investigation with a view to ensuring the accountability of those who facilitated the Israeli ambassador's visit,' which is unprecedented since the two countries concluded a peace treaty in 1994.

The Islamic Action Front (IAF), Jordan's largest political party, also denounced what it called 'the Zionist penetration of the National Assembly.'

IAF member Jaafer Hourani urged the two houses of parliament 'to condemn this behaviour which provoked the feelings of the Jordanian people.'