The Daily Star - Saturday, May 13, 2006
`What some members of Hamas did ... will not affect the historic relationship` 
 
Jordan`s historical ties with the  Palestinians will not be shaken by an alleged Hamas scheme to plot attacks in the kingdom, King Abdullah II said in statements published Friday. Three suspected members of Hamas confessed on Jordanian television Thursday of plotting to kill senior officers of Jordan`s intelligence service and stockpiling weapons in the country.

"What some members of Hamas did against Jordanian national security by smuggling weapons and explosives into Jordan will not affect whatsoever the historic relationship with the Palestinian brothers," the monarch said.

"It will not stop Jordan from pursuing its national role toward them leading to their full rights, foremost of which is the establishment of an independent Palestinian state," he said, according to Al-Rai government daily.

In Washington, Jordan`s Foreign Minister Abdel-Ilah Khatib said that his country broadcast the confessions out of frustration with a lack of Palestinian cooperation over an assassination investigation.

He said Jordan would discuss the matter with the Palestinian government, and that Amman generally prefers not to raise such matters in the media.

In the absence of a participating Palestinian government representative in the investigation, Amman decided to inform Jordanians of the alleged plot against the lives of high-ranking Jordanian intelligence officers, Khatib told reporters as he left the State Department after a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Jordanian security officials say the confessions showed a shift in strategy from the militant group`s traditional policy of restricting attacks to Palestinian territory and Israel.

On Wednesday, Jordan said it had arrested 20 suspects and seized weapons, including Iranian-made Katyusha rockets.

Three of those arrested appeared on Jordanian television and spoke of their involvement in surveillance operations on top intelligence officers and tourist resorts.

The "leader of the group," Ayman Naji Daraghmeh, 34, spoke of his links to Hamas, his "frequent trips to Syria" and his "surveillance on an intelligence officer at his home who was to be a target."

Palestinian prime minister Ismail Haniyya denied Hamas had any involvement in the alleged plots.

"We are surprised by this media escalation in Jordan. There has been no change in Hamas` policies toward Jordan and what is going on in the media is not acceptable to us," he said.

Jordanian security officials say the confessions showed a shift in strategy from

the group`s traditional policy of restricting attacks to Palestinian territory and Israel.

Jordanian officials say they are still searching for other arms caches that Hamas had hidden across the country. - Agencies