Israel slammed for reaction to veteran diplomat’s op-ed in JT

AMMAN — An op-ed published in The Jordan Times which angered Israel represents the opinion of the writer, who was exercising his freedom of speech as guaranteed in the Constitution, experts and officials said on Saturday.

On April 28, the daily published a column titled “The big Zionist lie and the task ahead” by former minister of foreign affairs Kamel S. Abu Jaber. 

Accusing the writer of “anti-Semitism” for quoting Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, Israel’s ministry of foreign affairs on Thursday summoned Jordanian ambassador in Tel Aviv, Walid Obeidat, to protest it.

A day earlier, the embassy of Israel in Amman phoned Chief Editor Samir Barhoum and demanded that the paper publish an apology, a request rejected by Barhoum, who insisted the article represented the writer’s opinion and right as freedom of speech is enshrined in Jordan’s laws and Constitution.

In statements to the press later Thursday, Barhoum also rejected as baseless accusations of “anti-Semitism”, expressing shock that the Israeli government tried to drag Jordan’s authorities in a case involving material published in an independent newspaper.  

A government source told The Jordan Times that Ambassador Obeidat did not “show up” at the Israeli foreign ministry because he was spending the weekend in Amman. 

Echoing earlier statements, Government Spokesperson Mohammad Momani said Saturday that “freedom of speech is guaranteed by the Kingdom’s Constitution”, criticising Tel Aviv for summoning the ambassador for a case related to this civil right.

The Israeli embassy in Jordan protested the article as Abu Jaber quoted Hitler’s book “Mein Kampf”, claiming that the op-ed also entails “anti-Semitic” views.

“The fact that the author took the liberty of constructing his arguments on Hitler’s racist and ‘anti-Semitic’ philosophy is outrageous and offensive not only for Jews, but also for any human being who believes in the basic values of humanity,” the embassy of Israel said on its F

acebook page.

Responding to this, Abu Jaber said: “I am shocked at the Israeli reaction to my article which is a call for peace and a reminder to Israel to shed the settlement mentality.”

“Summoning the Jordanian ambassador and protesting against an article by an average citizen? What’s happened to the freedom of speech that they are talking about?” Abu Jaber asked as The Jordan Times interviewed him over the phone.

According to Abu Jaber, Israeli newspapers publish “everyday” remarks and articles by Israeli extremists that are offensive to Jordan and the Palestinians.

“They sometimes call Palestinians all kinds of names, denying their humanity and they call this democracy,” the intellectual said.

He added: “I remind them [Israelis] that they are not the only people who suffered from Hitler and the Nazi movement.” 

He said the Palestinians, Jordanians and the entire Arab world are still suffering more than 65 years after the establishment of Israel in the aftermath of World War II, during which Hitler committed the Holocaust against the Jews, and other ethnic and religious groups.  

The response of the Israeli government to the article was also criticised by the Jordan Press Association (JPA) as stated by its president, Tareq Momani.

“This is freedom of speech and we are celebrating these days Press Freedom Day, which is a reminder of this right,” Momani told The Jordan Times over the phone.

Later in the day, the JPA issued a statement supporting the stance of the daily’s chief editor who refused to apologise to the Israelis as demanded by their embassy on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Samir Hiyari, editor-in-chief of Al Rai daily, said: “I was surprised by Israel’s reaction and summoning our ambassador in Tel Aviv… The Jordan Times is an independent newspaper and does not represent the government’s opinion.”

Ad Dustour daily Chief Editor Mohammad Tall also expressed solidarity with The Jordan Times, highlighting that Israel should instead focus on improving its human rights record and show respect for the Palestinian people’s rights.