A sudden change in Jordanian policy that now is fostering warmer relations with the outlawed Hamas terrorist party is worrying both Israel and the Fatah-led administration of Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman Mahmoud Abbas. He sent one of his top ministers to Amman to Jordan last week "to find out what the Jordanians are up to and if their contacts with Hamas meant dropping support" for the PA, according to the Associated Press.
Jordanian intelligence chief Mohammed al-Dahabi has met twice this month with Hamas leader although the organization is outlawed in the country. Itai Bardov, spokesman for the Israeli embassy in Amman, termed the contacts as being "unhelpful to the peace process."