Meeteings with Jordanian government
officials, including the Foreing Minister, Marwan Muasher (below left), Speaker
of the Upper House of Parliament, Zeid el Resai (below right) and Minister
of Planning, Bassem Awadallah (right)
Worship and fellowship with Jordanian
Christians at the Anglican Church of the Redeemer, Amman.
Jordanian women, including a member
of Parliament (right), representing a variety of NGO's, express their concerns
about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and interpret their perceptions of
United States foreign policy and its impact on the region.
Our visit overlapped that of House
Majority Leader, Tom Delay, who is a strident Christian Zionist. Jordanians
were candid in their assessments of Delay's prejudices. Asked of his impression
of the Majority Leader, Mr. Zaid al Rifai (right) , who had met with him only
one day earlier, said, "I would not want to use the word 'ignorant.'
Let's say he has a lack of knowledge." About Delay's attitudes, Information
Minister Nabil al Sharif said,"Some things are incurable."
Jordan's position in the configuration
of Middle East nations states renders it both vulnerable to the region's instability
and pivotal in understanding its conflicts. Foreign Minister, Marwan Muasher,
said, "Jordan is between Iraq and a hard place." Our delegation
began its mission in Amman, worshipping with Jordanian Christians, meeting
government officials, engaging in dialogue with over 35 women representing
dozens of NGO's and meeting the Grand Mufti of Jordan at the King Abdullah
Mosque.
