AMMAN, 16 June 2004 — Jordanian Prime Minister Faisal Al-Fayez has warned that instability resulting from terror attacks in Saudi Arabia could spread to other Gulf countries and also affect Jordan.

In an interview published here yesterday, he said: “The Arab nation in general is facing a ferocious terror campaign, particularly Saudi Arabia. If international and regional efforts to fight terrorism are not stepped up there will be no stability in the Middle East.”

“A lack of stability in Saudi Arabia, God forbid, will have big repercussions in other Gulf countries because Saudi Arabia is the backbone of the Gulf region,” Fayez told the pro-government newspaper Al Rai.

“These negative repercussions will affect everyone, including Jordan.”

Fayez said the United States had a big role to play in helping the fight against terrorism “by realizing that American interests are not Israeli interests.”

“There must be a deep-rooted solution to the Palestinian problem,” he said.

Faisal Fayez also told Al-Rai that his government will not allow citizens to join any non-Jordanian groups “such as Hamas”, the Palestinian fundamentalist faction.

He added: “The duty of the security organs is to maintain the country’s security. If any body violates law by joining any non- Jordanian organization such as Hamas, or undermines the state’s security, then he will be subject to proceedings.

“These procedures will be applied across the board to all citizens, and are not confined to members of the Islamic Action Front (IAF).”

The Prime Minister was responding to reports of arrests of Islamic university students over the past few days. IAF officials accused the government of targeting students of Islamic links at the University of Jordan.

The government cracked down on Hamas in 1998 by deporting its top four officials in Jordan, including Politburo chief Khalid Mishaal.

The IAF, Jordan’s largest political party, adopts Hamas ideology in considering the establishment of Israel in Palestine in 1948 as illegal. It also supports armed struggle against Israeli occupation, including suicide bombings.