A spokesman of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas)
confirmed yesterday that some Arab countries were willing to mediate
between the group and Jordan over allegedly weapons smuggling and attack
attempts by Hamas members in Jordan.
Hamas spokesman Moshier al-Masri told reporters in Gaza, "Ithink some Arab
countries showed willingness regarding this issue and I don't see there is a big
problem for them to go ahead."He also criticized Jordan for "exaggerating the
issue", but added that Palestinian Foreign Minister and senior Hamas leader
Mahmoud al-Zahar "was ready to go to Jordan and meet officials there."
Al-Masri's remarks came one day after the Jordanian government announced that
some Arab mediators were trying to mediate between Hamas and Jordan over the
recent friction.
Last month, Jordan said that it discovered a big weapons cache in the kingdom
and arrested more than 20 alleged Hamas activists, accusing them of planning
attacks against Jordanian officials, a charge denied by Hamas.
Three of the arrested confessed on the state television that they were
recruited by Hamas' leaders in Syria and sent to the kingdom to carry out
attacks.
Jordan then put off a scheduled visit by al-Zahar.In a bid to ease the
tensions, Jordan has asked Hamas to send a delegation to the kingdom for talks.
Hamas, which calls for Israel's destruction, took control of the Palestinian
government in late March after winning the January Palestinian legislative polls
by a landslide.