Jordan has said that recent regulations to restrict the entry of Palestinians from the West Bank are precautionary measures to abort any Israeli move to drive Palestinian citizens out of their homeland, reported the Jordan Times on Tuesday.
The paper quoted a minister as telling the official news agency, Petra, that the measures were temporarily approved following discussions with the Palestinian Authority (PA).
"These regulations are temporary and justified under the current circumstances," Petra quoted the minister as saying.
Abu Dhabi satellite channel quoted a Palestinian official on Monday as confirming that the decision was taken in coordination with PA.
Khleifat added that the new measures did not affect holders of yellow cards who had permanent residence in the kingdom, or Palestinians holding five-year Jordanian passports.
According to the minister, Palestinian visitors holding "green cards" should acquire the ministry's approval in advance for a visit.
Green card holders are not allowed to stay in the kingdom for more than three months without renewing their entry permits.
Khleifat said that among those exempted from the new regulations were ill people seeking medical treatment, those mourning the recent death of a relative in Jordan, people visiting patients in Jordanian hospitals, university students, and visitors coming to travel abroad via Jordanian territory, according to the report.
The exemption also includes PA diplomats or officials, Palestinians coming on official duty in Jordan or abroad, and the wives and children of male holders of "yellow cards."
A government source denied speculation that the fear of a possible Israeli military sweep of the Palestinian self-rule areas, which could force thousands of Palestinians to leave their homeland, was behind the new regulations, said the Jordan Times.
"There was criticism from inside and outside Jordan that the government was easing the entry of Palestinians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip," the source told the English language daily.
"They even thought that we were helping Palestinians to vacate their cities and villages," the source added.
"Therefore, the [Interior] Ministry issued the new regulations to put an end to these speculations," the unnamed source said – Albawaba.com
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