Background:
ʿAbd al-Raʾūf al-Rawābdah (born 1939) is a Jordanian politician and became prime minister of Jordan in 1999. In the 1967 Six-Day War (otherwise known as the Arab-Israeli War), Israel overpowered Egypt, Jordan and Syria. It then occupied the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, as well as the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. Palestinians lived on much of the land taken by Israel. According to al-Rawābdah, Jordan is the closest Arab country to Palestine in terms of history, geography, demography, interests, language, and religion. Al-Rawābdah argues for unity between the Arab nations, in support of the state of Palestine.
ʾUmayyah Ṣalāḥ Ṭūqān, born in 1946 in the year the modern state of Jordan was created, is a Jordanian economist. Ṭūqān discusses the budget defaces and tax rise at a summit in Jordan.
Side A:
Mandatory Palestine was British colonised land, which operated from the early 1900s until 1948 when the state of Israel was declared. During this period of the establishment, Jordan had effectively claimed the West Bank for the Palestinians, which was then lost to the Israelis during the Six-Day War in 1967. Al-Rawābdah argues that relations between Jordan and Palestine have always been good as Jordan is the closest Arab country to the Palestinians. They have lived through history together in unity. The displacement of the Palestinians has, according to al-Rawābdah, changed the demographics in the area although this does not stop the Jordanian politician from putting any effort in to help his “brothers” to self-determination and the establishment of a Palestinian state. The Palestinians are backed by all the Arabs as advocated by al-Rawābdah. The issue the Palestinians have been and still are dealing with is the search for their identity, independent state and flag. Al-Rawābdah believes the moment the Palestinians have their state, they will have all that they have been looking for with Jerusalem as their capital.
Furthermore, Jordan’s domestic issues are discussed, whereby al-Rawābdah argues there to be two main issues: water and energy, which can be easily solved by the retrieval of their land from the Israelis, the West Bank. It is not fruitful peace, but rather Jordan’s right to get back this land as believed by al-Rawābdah. The West Bank (which is now under Israeli occupation) must be returned. The Jordanians and the Palestinians have signed an agreement, but all depends on the 3rd party; the Israelis.
Side B:
ʾUmayyah Ṣalāḥ Ṭūqān discusses the legislation of the income tax in Jordan, and how it would not have passed if it had not been for the summit. Ṭūqān argues that Jordan must rely on savings of the private sector. This radical change in fiscal policy in Jordan, utilising the private sector savings has the purpose of playing a larger role in the economy. Reducing income and corporate taxes, and not placing taxes on the private sector is according to Ṭūqān consistent with the goal of leading the private sector.
