Palestinians in Refugee Camp Wait and Pray
BAQAA CAMP, Jordan — Palestinians in the this refugee camp prayed for King Hussein on Friday, having more to fear than most from the loss of one of the region’s few pillars of stability.
Several said Jordan was the only country that had given citizenship and shelter to Palestinians when they fled their homes during the 1948 and 1967 Arab-Israeli wars.
Many in the hot and squalid Baqaa camp, on the outskirts of the capital, Amman, said simply: “May God cure him.”
Palestinians make up a majority of Jordan’s population of 4.6 million. Many maintain a strong feeling of Palestinian identity and consider their presence in Jordan temporary.
Some refugees said they were relieved when Hussein last month abruptly switched the succession from his brother, Prince Hassan, seen by many Palestinians as less sympathetic to their plight.
The new crown prince, Abdullah, is married to a Palestinian.
Taher Masri, a Jordanian of Palestinian origin who briefly served as prime minister in 1991, said he believes the Palestinians’ position in Jordan will not be threatened, whoever was in power.
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