Ghunaimat calls on Jordanians to remain ‘vigilant’ in face of internal, external challenges

AMMAN — Jordanians need to remain aware and vigilant for the Kingdom to overcome the challenges facing it, Minister of State for Media Affairs and Government Spokesperson Jumana Ghunaimat said on Wednesday.

During a meeting with military veterans at the Prime Ministry, she said: “Some individuals try to question Jordan’s stances in an attempt to destabilise the country,” stressing that the Kingdom is known for its steadfast stances and transparency on issues, foremost of which is the Palestinian cause and the issue of Jerusalem.

Under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah, Jordan’s stance on the Palestinian cause and Jerusalem is unwavering, namely the two-state solution in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, she added.

She said that Jordanians stand in support for King Abdullah’s “very clear” stance on the Palestinian issue and the safeguarding of Islamic and Christian holy sites under Hashemite Custodianship, warning that “sceptic and discordant voices do not serve Jordan, but serve the occupier”.

Ghunaimat reviewed external challenges such as the global financial crisis in 2008, the disruptions of Egyptian gas in 2011 and the various transformations in the region in the past few years. She also pointed to the closure of borders with Iraq and Syria.

She also highlighted Jordan’s internal challenges, such as poverty and unemployment, and the influx of 1.3 million Syrian refugees into Jordan, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

She explained that the government is exerting “serious” efforts towards its 2019 and 2020 priorities that focus on three pillars: the state of law, the state of production and the state of solidarity to overcome the current challenges.