AMMAN — Once again, Jordanians rallied near the Israeli
embassy in Amman’s Rabieh neighborhood on Saturday to protest the normalization
of relations between Jordan and Israel, albeit with smaller numbers than those
seen in the daily demonstrations that took place during the height of violence
across the border.
اضافة اعلان
Dozens gathered in the area next to Al-Kalouty Mosque, which
hosted hundreds of protesters for the same cause only a week ago.
The first arrivals were told by security personnel that the
protest was “canceled,” and less than two hours later, the crowd was asked to
leave.
The attendees sat in a circle singing the Arabic national
anthem “Mawtini”, and argued the importance of standing in solidarity with
Palestine and against the Israeli occupation.
In attendance was former MP Qais Zyadeen, who spoke to the
crowd saying that “persistence is key.” According to him, “as long as the
enemy’s violations and attacks continue, the people will continue to protest.”
“It is not over yet. We will keep going until the liberation
of land and human,” Zyadeen said. “Palestine is ours, from its river to its
sea.”
Majd, a 26 year old protester, also voiced her support for
Palestine and encouraged the attendees to commit to the Boycott, Divestment and
Sanction (BDS) campaign in Jordan.
“Though we are not many, our presence is important. I
believe we all haven’t been able to sleep, eat or think about anything other
than Palestine,” she stated, adding that “the finish line is near.”
Ali, another speaker at the protest, condemned what he
deemed a sudden silence from the public, after standing with Palestine during
the 11 days of attacks on
Gaza.
He said that the violence has gone on for too long, citing
that “people from our parents’ and grandparents’ generations are being
displaced. Children younger than my own siblings are being murdered.”
The demands, as per previous demonstrations, include
nullifying the gas agreement and the Wadi Araba Treaty, the peace agreement
between Jordan and Israel. The protesters also held banners in solidarity with
the Palestinian residents of
Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighborhoods in occupied
Jerusalem, who are facing forceful evictions to make way for Jewish settlers.
Protesters echoed these demands as they chanted “end the gas
deal and the peace treaties and close the Zionist embassy,” “resist and
boycott,” and “the right of the martyrs will not be lost, we will stop this
normalization.”
Hiba Al-Absi, a 23 year old protester, told Jordan News that she is prepared to do anything that would help the Palestinian cause.
“We want the occupation to see that the youth are gathering
at their embassy here. We want the Jordanian government to see that the youth
are not like their representatives,” she said, adding that the voice of the
Arab youth is “finally being heard.”
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