Hamas: Right of return 'sacred'
Sun, 22 Apr 2007 01:02:04
Palestinian movement Hamas has demanded Jordan to clarify remarks attributed to King Abdullah II on Palestinian refugees' right of return.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz on Friday claimed Jordan's King Abdullah II had told a visiting Israeli Knesset delegation this week that he spoke in favor of paying compensations to Palestinian refugees instead of ensuring their right of return.
In a statement, faxed to The AP in Damascus, Mousa Abu Marzouk, deputy chief of the Hamas political bureau, said the Jordanian reaction was not a "clear stand acknowledging the Palestinians' right of return to their homeland along with compensation.''
Abu Marzouk added that "the reaction even raises "a lot of questions about the real (Jordanian) position toward the Palestinian refugees cause.
He said the right of return is "sacred,'' adding that no one has the authority to give it away.
The statement said the ''seriousness'' of the comments the paper had attributed to King Abdullah made an explanation from Amman necessary.
Another Damascus-based Palestinian faction, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, denounced Abdullah's alleged comments, saying such words reflected a "top alliance with the Zionist enemy.''
Hamas: Right of return 'sacred'
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