29 January, 2012

Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal, goes back to Jordan

Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal, goes back to Jordan
Khaled Meshaal's visit to Amman will be his first since he was expelled in 1999

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The political leader of the Palestinian Islamist movement, Hamas, is due to make his first official visit to Jordan, 13 years after Hamas leaders were expelled from the country.

Khaled Meshaal will hold talks with Jordan's King Abdullah.

Mr Meshaal has been based in Syria, but following the violence there he and other exiled Hamas leaders are reported to be looking for a new home.

Jordan is considering whether to re-establish ties with Hamas.

The Jordanian government expelled the Hamas leaders in 1999 for what were deemed "illicit and harmful" activities.

Jordan was forced to clamp down hard on Hamas because of the country's close ties to the United States and its peace treaty with Israel, says BBC correspondent Dale Gavlak in Amman.

However, Jordan is currently looking to build bridges with Islamists who have been gaining ground following the uprisings across the Arab world, our correspondent says.Cautious approach

Jordan is also believed to be trying to raise its profile in efforts to reconcile Hamas with the rival Palestinian faction, Fatah.

The authorities in Amman have already been hosting informal talks to try to get Israel and the Palestinians back to the negotiating table.

Despite the possible rapprochement with Hamas, Jordan does not want to get too close and has made it clear that Hamas cannot set up a base in the kingdom.

Hamas itself has denied any plan to move its headquarters from Syria.

"There is no change, and Hamas has not taken any decision to leave Syria," a spokesman, Fawzu Barhum, told AFP news agency.

The agency also quoted an unnamed Palestinian official in Gaza as saying Hamas leaders would "keep Syria as their base even if they are obliged to stay away from the country a little more than before".

Mr Meshaal will be accompanied on his visit to Jordan by Qatar's Crown Prince, Sheikh Hamad Bin Tamim al-Thani, who will mediate. http://samotalis.blogspot.com/

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