Hussein Assails ‘Demagoguery’ in Arab World

King Hussein of Jordan condemned what he called “demagoguery” in the Arab world Saturday and attacked the “disgraceful practices represented by terrorism.”

The king’s remarks, delivered to the opening session of Parliament, came a week after Britain broke relations with Syria over accusations that the Damascus regime was involved in an attempt to plant a bomb aboard an Israeli airliner in London last April.

The Jordanians have been quiet about Britain’s decision to break relations with Damascus, but it was widely noted that the Jordanian army’s commander in chief, Gen. Sharif Zayed Shaker, traveled to London last Saturday on an official visit despite a call by Syria for Arab retaliation against London.

Indirect Backing

Although both the general’s visit and the king’s speech constituted only indirect backing for Britain’s action, they made up the strongest such support yet voiced in the Arab world.

Neither Syria nor any Palestinian groups that have advocated violence were named by Hussein in his speech. Western analysts said his criticism of Arab demagogues appeared aimed at Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi.

“Demagoguery can never be the basis for real nationalism, for it simply contradicts responsibility and rationality,” Hussein said, speaking in Arabic. “And terrorism can never be a substitute for legitimate struggle, for it simply is an expression of cowardice and helplessness.”

Until last year, Jordan had been the target of a terrorism campaign believed to be the work of the Palestinian group headed by Abu Nidal, which has been blamed for numerous attacks on Israelis and on Palestinians regarded as moderates. The campaign stopped after Jordan improved relations with Syria.

Mediation Role Urged

In his speech, Hussein also said Jordan has asked Western European countries to help mediate between the United States and the Soviet Union over the convening of an international peace conference on the Middle East.

The king has proposed holding such a meeting to settle the Middle East dispute. His proposal has called for the participation of all the parties to the conflict, including Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, as well as the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council--the United States, the Soviet Union, France, Britain and China.

Hussein said Jordan prefers to hold an international conference directly, without preliminary talks, as has been suggested by some powers, notably the Soviet Union.

“We will not allow stagnation to prevail, nor will we act unilaterally,” Hussein said, ruling out direct Jordanian talks with Israel.

Accepts PLO Role

Hussein reiterated Jordan’s acceptance of the PLO as the “sole legitimate representative” of the Palestinian people, despite his government’s decision to break off coordination on a peace initiative with the PLO leadership last February.

Hussein’s government has been repeatedly accused of trying to offset the PLO in launching an ambitious development plan for the West Bank of the Jordan River and the Gaza Strip, which Israel occupied during the 1967 Middle East War.

The king acknowledged that “doubting voices” have been expressed in Jordan over the wisdom of engaging in the development of the West Bank while it is still under Israeli occupation.

But, he said, “their strange utterances will not turn us from forging ahead and carrying out our national responsibilities in supporting the steadfastness of our people who remain rooted in their homeland, thus preserving the Palestinian Arab identity through deeds rather than claims and pretensions.”

A number of former Jordanian government ministers had sent a letter to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak objecting to the Egyptian leader’s meeting with then-Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres in September.

The letter contained a thinly veiled criticism of Jordan’s West Bank policies, leading the king to demand the resignation of Ahmed Obeidat, a former prime minister, from the royally appointed Senate.