Amman, Oct. 8 (Petra) – First Deputy Speaker of the Lower House Khamis Atieh met Thursday with Tanzanian National Assembly Speaker Mussa Zungu on the sidelines of the 153rd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly, with talks focusing on parliamentary relations and developments in Palestine.
Atieh stressed the importance of Jordanian-Tanzanian relations and said parliamentary engagement has become an important channel for strengthening understanding between countries and peoples.
Addressing the Palestinian issue, Atieh said the killing, destruction, and targeting of civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank constitute a major humanitarian tragedy that must not be normalized over time.
He said Jordan’s position goes beyond seeking a ceasefire and includes opposition to policies aimed at displacing Palestinians from their land. Atieh reiterated that displacement is a "red line" for Jordan, warning that forcing Palestinians from their land would undermine the Palestinian cause and the rights of the Palestinian people.
Atieh also highlighted Jordan’s role in protecting Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and condemned the attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of Israeli occupation forces and with the participation of members of the radical Israeli government.
He cited the efforts of His Majesty King Abdullah II to halt the war, facilitate humanitarian aid, protect civilians, and reject displacement, the alternative homeland concept, and attempts to liquidate the Palestinian cause.
Atieh said Jordan continues to bear significant consequences from regional instability while maintaining its call for peace, stability, and respect for international law. He stressed that lasting peace must be based on justice and rights rather than force or imposed realities.
He also underscored the role of parliaments in defending international law, peoples’ right to freedom and self-determination, and efforts to end Palestinian suffering.
Atieh said Jordan and Tanzania, despite their geographic distance, share an interest in upholding state sovereignty, peoples’ rights, and rejecting solutions imposed by force, adding that parliamentary cooperation can provide a platform for dialogue and coordination on these issues.
He summarized Jordan’s position as calling for an end to the killing, unhindered humanitarian assistance to Palestinians, the right of Palestinians to remain on their land, and the realization of their legitimate rights.
For his part, Zungu praised the Jordanian parliamentary delegation’s positions during the IPU Assembly and stressed the importance of building on parliamentary relations between the two countries.
He also praised King Abdullah II’s address to the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly and said Tanzania and Jordan share positions on several issues of common interest.
Zungu described Jordanian-Tanzanian relations as longstanding and noted that developments in the Middle East have had wider repercussions, including higher energy prices.
//Petra// AO
