| 31 Aug 2009 |
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Jordan Engineers Association rejects tourism to Israel
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AMMAN - The Jordan Engineers Association (JEA) has called on its members to refrain from joining packaged tours to the Palestinian territories and Israel.
"Trips to Israel can only take place if the Israeli embassy in Amman gives its approval. Seeking approval from the Israeli embassy is recognition of Israel," said JEA President Abdullah Obeidat.
"The association vehemently rejects such practices. Israel is an occupying force that evicted the Palestinians from their homes," Obeidat said in a statement made available to The Jordan Times on Sunday.
Obeidat accused local travel agencies of promoting visits to Israel under the pretext of religious tourism.
"The justification of some tourism companies that these visits are only for religious reasons is not acceptable. All holy places are under occupation," he said.
A number of local companies currently advertise trips to Israel, taking tourists to Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth and other parts of Palestine and Israel to visit religious sites revered by Muslims and Christians.
An all-inclusive four-day trip costs around JD400, according to travel agents, who said the competitive prices have made many Jordanians consider making the trip.
Many activists in the 70,000-member association object to the 1994 Wadi Araba Peace Treaty with Israel and refuse to engage in normalisation before an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Last month, the Islamic Action Front, the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, issued a similar appeal to Jordanians, asking them to refrain from visiting Israel.
The Kingdom's professional associations' bylaws prohibit their more than 170,000 members from having any dealings with Israel.
By Mohammad Ben Hussein
© Jordan Times 2009
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