AMMAN, 5 May 2007 — Jordanian Prime Minister Maarouf Bakhit yesterday accused the Islamic Action Front (IAF), Jordan’s largest political party, of “echoing” Israeli allegations which “cast doubt” on Jordan’s attitude toward the right of the Palestinian refugees to return to their home.
“We regret that such Israeli attempts, which cast doubt on Jordan’s attitudes, have been echoed by leaders of some political parties, including the IAF, which resort to bargaining and bad tactics,” he said. “This method has the aim of luring the masses which know the truth,” added Bakhit who was addressing a public meeting in the city of Ajloun, 40 kilometers North of Amman, Thursday night.
Bakhit attributed the pitfalls of the Islamic movement “possibly to the absence of historical leaderships and the arrival of leaders who lack experience.”
Bakhit’s’s remarks coincided with the IAF’s declaration of its candidates in the municipal elections due to take place on July 17 and ahead of the parliamentary elections, which are widely expected in November. The Muslim Brotherhood movement and its political arm, the IAF, have accused the government of trying to distort the image of Islamists with a view to diminishing their chances in the forthcoming elections.
