Bakhit, who formed a new Cabinet two weeks ago, made the remark as he presented his main policy statement to the lower house of parliament as a prelude for obtaining the chamber’s confidence.
“In spite of the escalating Arab and regional events and their subsequent repercussions, the government emphasizes that priority should be given to the Palestinian question … because it is a pivotal issue for Jordanian national security,” Bakhit said.
He warned that his government would face with “utmost courage, confidence and credibility Israel’s hectic attempts of cheating and procrastination that seek to change the international priorities.”
The Jordanian premier referred to the adamant Israeli unilateral actions, including continued building of Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank that formed part of the Hashemite Kingdom before the 1967 Middle East war.
“Jordan will not accept less than the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital and the adoption of the sacred right of return” for all Jordanians of Palestinian origin, Bakhit said.
According to unofficial estimates, Jordanians descending from Palestinian origin form the majority of Jordan’s six million population.
Bakhit also vowed to carry on with real political and economic reforms that lead to the formation of governments with majorities at the parliament.
He said that his Cabinet would be giving priority in this respect to the enactment of a new election law and an up-to-date legislation that organizes the operation of political parties.
Earlier this month, King Abdallah assigned to Bakhit the duty of conducting speedy reforms after sacking the government of former Prime Minister Samir Rifai under pressure of a series of demonstrations that derived inspiration from the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt.
He promised to speed up fighting of corruption and the adoption of curbs to the open-market economy to ensure ”social justice” for citizens who came to suffer from higher prices of staple food items.
