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The Palestinian Role in Jordan’s Elections

Daoud Kuttab writes that Jordanian Palestinians for the first time have reached parliament on their own, without the political baggage of the Islamic Action Front, which boycotted the recent elections.
A man casts his ballot at a polling station at Talbia Palestinian refugee camp near Amman November 9, 2010. Jordanians voted on Tuesday in parliamentary elections boycotted by the influential Muslim Brotherhood and liberal groups in protest at an election law they say erodes democracy.   REUTERS/Ali Jarekji  (JORDAN - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS) - RTXUEYZ

Palestine was very much present in the latest elections of the 17th Jordanian parliament. But it wasn’t the way you think.

In Jordan, Palestine is a consensus issue. Very few people differ on the need to end the Israeli occupation and setting up a Palestinian state.  The Palestinian role in Jordan’s elections has much more to do with representation rather than political platforms.

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