Jordan's position on Palestinian Refugee's issue

Palestinian refugees in Jordan constitute the highest percentage of the total registered Palestine refugees in UNRWA's five areas of operations, which has helped to facilitate their integration into Jordanian society, the presence of many common features between the two peoples and strong family ties, in addition to the policy adopted by the Jordanian authorities to grant them Jordanian citizenship and all other citizenship rights, without prejudice to their basic rights in Palestine based on the unity agreement between the two banks and their right to return and compensation according to UN Resolution No. 194 of 1948.

The number of registered refugees in the Jordan area of operations is ( 2,275,589) and they make up 39.1% of the number of registered refugees in all areas of operations of the international relief agency, the number of refugees inside the ten camps recognized by the agency is (396,006) and they make up 4.17% of registered refugees in Jordan, while the number of refugees outside the ten camps is (1,879,583) and they make up 6.82% of registered refugees it should be noted that the number of Palestinian refugee camps in Jordan is thirteen "official" camps, and the agency's services are provided in them, namely the camps of Prince Hassan, Madaba and Sokhna

Jordan was-and still is-the only Arab country that dealt with the Palestinian refugees who received them on its territory as its original citizens, it granted them Jordanian citizenship, and allowed them to integrate into Jordanian society and influence and be affected by the economic and social situation without prompting them to give up their national identity, which gave specificity to the issue of Palestinian refugees in Jordan for several considerations that can be summarized as follows:-

First: the national dimension:-

1- The Jordanian position in this regard derives its specificity based on the unity agreement between the two banks in 1950, according to which the Palestinian refugees enjoyed Jordanian citizenship while stressing the need to preserve all Arab rights in Palestine and not to waive the rights of refugees.in this context, Jordanian citizenship was not imposed on Palestinian refugees and was not granted to them in exchange for waiving their rights as refugees.

2-the decision to disengage from the West Bank in 1988 stressed the commitment of the Jordanian state to take care of the full rights of its citizens of refugee origin as Jordanian citizens with full citizenship rights and obligations without detracting from their rights as refugees, and to uphold their right to return and/or compensation or both in accordance with the relevant resolutions of international legitimacy.

3-the Jordanian-Israeli peace agreement stressed in Article VIII the need to work to resolve the issue of Palestinian refugees in accordance with international law, both in bilateral talks and in the framework of final status negotiations, in addition to the refugee working group in multilateral negotiations.

4-Jordan stresses its adherence to its right to compensation for the real cost incurred during its hosting of refugees and displaced persons, the expenses, services, infrastructure costs, depletion of resources and any future expenses or costs arising from any agreed solution to the refugee issue, as stipulated by international legitimacy.

Second: the regional dimension:-

1- Jordan stresses the need to find a just and comprehensive solution in accordance with the relevant resolutions of international legitimacy to the issue of Palestinian refugees as a fundamental component of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which constitutes the core of the conflict in the region.

2-Jordan upholds the rights of its citizens with refugee origins as it hosts more than 39% of the total Palestinian refugees registered with the international relief agency (UNRWA).

3-Jordan emphasizes its pivotal role in any political proposal that addresses the issue of Palestinian refugees at the negotiating table in order to preserve the rights of its citizens and the right of the Jordanian state to compensation.

4-Jordan stresses Israel's full responsibility for the origin and continuation of the suffering of the Palestinian refugees and the fact that their issue remains unresolved until now.

Third: the international dimension:-

1-Jordan adheres to the necessity of continuing the work of the international relief agency (UNRWA) in caring for and serving Palestine Refugees and providing material and moral support to it until a solution to the issue of Palestine refugees is reached and this solution is implemented as stipulated by the resolutions of international legitimacy.

2-participation in political efforts aimed at a just solution to the refugee issue that adopts the relevant principles of international legitimacy.

3-Jordan stresses that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict constitutes the core of the ongoing conflict in the region and that finding a just and comprehensive solution to this conflict will contribute to achieving security and stability in the region and the world.in this context, Jordan always emphasizes the need to redress the grievances suffered by the Palestinian people during the past decades, most notably the recognition of the right of Palestinian refugees to return and/or compensation or both.

Commitment to international legality

Jordan's position on the issue of Palestinian refugees is based on the principles of international legitimacy endorsed by the charters, resolutions and customs of the United Nations in its various bodies, and demands Jordan to implement UN Resolution No. 194 " The Return and compensation of Palestinian refugees or as the refugees themselves choose ".