Problems concerning nationality withdrawal from Jordanians of Palestinian origin have grown greater among members of the National Dialogue Committee during their last meetings. Committee member Abd Al-Salam Mansour did not hide his concern over the "politicization" of several of the members and the threats from other members to quit and boycott the committee.

Some members of the Committee previously refused to add an article to the preamble regarding nationality withdrawal from Jordanians of Palestinian origin due to political considerations, including the Kingdom's stance concerning the Palestinian cause.

Mansour told "AmmanNet" that discussing the case has positively impacted those whose nationalities have been revoked in previous years. He refused to comment on the outcomes of this week until they are announced.

Definition of Jordanian

According to the Public Commissioner at the National Center for Human Rights and National Dialogue Committee member, Dr. Mohiyiddin Touk, the Committee has decided on the definition of 'Jordanian' and is supposed to submit its decision before PM Marouf Bakhit. Although election and party law is top priority for the Committee, it has defined voters as every Jordanian that is over 18 years of age.

Touk called for opening the National Dialogue door after the new election law is passed during a conference held at the National Center last week. He considers this a step forward in achieving more justice among Jordanians as far as giving them more options for representatives in Parliament.

Dr. Mohiyiddin confessed that the role of the Committee is limited. There should be an open debate about the election law in order to give citizens a chance to voice their ideas.

Dr. Touk called for the establishment of a Committee like the one founded in Morocco in order to eliminate the citizenship problem that many Jordanian citizens are subject to.

The differences in opinion among Committee members were mainly regarding the constitutional disengagement decision of 1988 and how to establish a national number withdrawal method.

Journalist Rana Sabbagh wrote that the 'Nationality Withdrawal' file is the only file kept from National Dialogue Committee members because many believe that this file will not help find any solutions as long as the Royal decree has been issued to stop withdrawing any Jordanian nationality.

Positive Expectations

Ahmad Qawasmeh and his family lost their nationalities in 2007 for no reason, yet he is optimistic for the outcome of the National Dialogue Committee. It is not acceptable to withdraw nationality without justification, "My father holds the yellow card (Palestinian identity card for those with Jordanian nationality), while his sons have never visited Palestine," Qawasmeh said.

The Inspection Department of the Ministry of Interior recently stopped withdrawing nationalities from some Jordanians of Palestinian origin who are permanently living in Jordan. The department gave back 25 nationalities to citizens who lost their nationalities without justification.

The Dentists Union chairman, Dr. Saleh Jaabari, announced it is unacceptable to withdraw nationality in general and  believes that the National Dialogue Committee plays a large role in influencing decision makers on the issue.

Jaabri told 'AmmenNet' that the Committee will have a positive impact especially because of the current timing, "will serve the citizens who had their citizenship withdrawn. The reform we desire requires will and when it is found, what remains?"

An official at the Ministry of Interior claimed in a statement he made regarding nationality withdrawal that some decisions were arbitrary and not accurate.

Royal orders have been issued recently to stop withdrawing Jordanian nationality numbers immediately from those who obtain yellow cards.

The national number withdrawal campaign previously increased causing citizen's fears to rise. They avoided visiting the immigration and passports department in order to obtain new identity and election cards, which reflected negatively on participants in the 2010 elections.

A committee was formed in order to look into citizen's complaints over the national number withdrawal. It will revise thousands of cases to make sure there are no errors.

Minister of Interior Saad Al-Suroor announced that Jordanian nationality will continue to be withdrawn however, only in the case of obtaining Palestinian nationality or if citizens choose to abandon it.