ammonnews.net

Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Several members of Parliament on Sunday stormed out of the parliamentary session in objection to ministers' responses to their demands, including last week's vote on expelling the Israeli Ambassador from Amman and recalling Jordan's Ambassador from Tel Aviv.

MPs walked out of the session on Sunday, citing that the response of Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh to the House's demand to expel Israel's Ambassador is "unconvincing."

MP Mohammad Qatatsheh and others criticized the government's position and the Foreign Ministry's "crisis management."

In regards to Wednesday's parliamentary session which culminated in a unanimous vote to expel the Israeli ambassador, FM Judeh said that there is a government decision to "address" to latest escalation of Israeli violations in occupied Jerusalem.

He noted that despite his departure to Rome on Wednesday, he remained up-to-date on developments in the occupied territories, stressing that he spoke extensively over the phone with Deputy Foreign Minister and Minister of Interior Hussein Majali to summon Israeli Ambassador in Amman Daniel Nevo.

Summoning the ambassador aimed to "send a strongly-worded message [to Israelis] regarding developments there," particularly amid Jordan's Royal custodianship of Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem, Judeh told the Lower House.

Yet he emphasized that the issue of expelling the Israeli Ambassador and recalling Jordan's ambassador from Tel Aviv is a "matter related to relations between countries," noting that the presence of Jordan's Ambassador in Tel Aviv, Walid Obeidat, played a role in the release of Jerusalem's Mufti, who was detained briefly by the Israeli forces, and in allowing Palestinians to enter the Aqsa Mosque.

"Israel hears a language from us that it doesn't hear from anyone else," Judeh commented.

During Judeh's response on departing to Rome to meet with US Secretary of State John Kerry last Wednesday, the Deputy House Speaker questioned whether Judeh met with former Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, a meeting Judeh categorically denied.

In regards to Jordanian prisoners and detainees in Israel, Judeh stressed that his Ministry gives priority to their cause, citing that a ministry department follows up daily on their affairs.

He added that the Ministry's efforts secured the release of some Jordanian prisoners, and facilitated visits by prisoners' families, "this is the government's duty, and it performs it tirelessly," he stressed.

Also on Sunday, over 20 MPs walked out of the parliamentary session during the address of Minister of health Mjalli Mleihan, who asked the MPs not to ask him for personal favors such as appointments in various posts. The comment apparently upset the MPs, prompting Deputy House Speaker Khalil Attiyeh to scrap the minister's comment.