AMMAN, Jordan, June 17, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An
AJC delegation conveyed Eid al-Fitr
greetings to senior Jordanian officials and discussed regional
political and security challenges as a new government was sworn in
following weeks of protests over the country's economic
conditions.
The group, led by Board of Governors Chair Harriet Schleifer and Associate Executive
Director for Policy Jason Isaacson,
consulted with Chief of the Royal Hashemite Court Dr. Fayez Tarawneh and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on the U.S.-Jordanian strategic
partnership, vital to the fight against terror and extremism; the
kingdom's relationship with Israel, strengthened with the arrival two
months ago of an Israeli ambassador after an almost nine-month
absence; and the burden of hosting more than 1 million refugees,
most of them Syrian, in a population of some 9.5 million.
The delegation's itinerary included an audience with His Royal
Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal, a longtime leader in efforts
to promote interfaith understanding and international peace, and
meetings with U.S. and Israeli diplomats, and civil society and
business leaders.
"AJC recognizes both the significant contribution the Kingdom of
Jordan makes to regional security,
in cooperation with the United
States and with Israel, and
the significant strains caused by the ongoing crisis in
Syria and the effects of continued
instability in Iraq and Iranian
encroachment in the Levant," said Isaacson. "With all its
challenges, we look to Jordan to
play a critical role in stabilizing this troubled region – and,
with the expected announcement of a U.S. framework on
Israel-Palestinian peace, to work with all affected parties toward
a resolution of this bitter conflict."
A new Jordanian government was sworn in June 14, on the eve of the Eid festival,
following mass protests over a planned tax increase and cutbacks in
government subsidies, part of an economic package designed to meet
requirements of an international financial assistance program.
Safadi, Foreign Minister since January
2017, was among the cabinet members whose mandates were
renewed.
The 16-person AJC delegation traveled to Jordan for four days after participating in
the AJC Global Forum in Jerusalem
– the first time the 112-year-old organization's signature annual
event was convened outside the United
States. AJC travels to Jordan routinely for consultations on issues
of mutual concern, maintains close contact with the Jordanian
Embassy in Tel Aviv, and meets
periodically with Jordanian diplomats and visiting officials in
the United States.
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SOURCE American Jewish Committee