Palestine, your way to the Jordanian Parliament!
It was a huge party, thousands were celebrating. They played very well known songs from the Palestinian heritage. “Rise the Kufiya and dance” one song says, referring to the traditional Palestinian headdress “Kufiya”.
Laith felt “The ecstasy of victory” when “Al Aqsa” electoral list won two seats in the Jordanian parliament (2016). Although he thinks the list’s name is not proper, but it’s the political game, he explains!
“Al Aqsa” is the third holiest mosque in Islam. And it symbolizes the Palestinian issue. This electoral list was one of six other lists that used obvious names linked to Palestine. With a very populist speech addressing Jordanians of Palestinian origins, who are more than 2.2 million in Jordan according to The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (2015).
Laith Al Azzeh (23 years), a Jordanian of Palestinian origins activist and a political science student, decided with his team “Shabab Himma Bela Hodoud” which means “Youth with No Limits” to let their candidate join “Al Aqsa” list.

The new election law forced many independent candidates to join electoral lists so that they could run for parliamentary elections. “Al Aqsa” was one of the most powerful lists. It has three former deputies, it’s also a pure Palestinian list which runs in (Al Rusaifa), a majority of Palestinians area.
Nine candidates, eight men and one woman in “Al Aqsa” were Jordanians of Palestinian origins except “Mirza Bolad” the candidate of the Circassian seat who must necessarily be of Caucasian origins! In addition to “Tarek Khoury” a very charismatic leader and the head of “Al Wihdat” Sports club that time. A palestinian sports club which was founded in 1956 in a refugees camp, and till nowadays the most popular one.
A common background, values, feelings, and maybe a sports club let 17830 citizens vote for “Al Aqsa” list, which used a very sensitive slogans like “make your voice loud” and “your voice means the cause” the Palestinian cause they mean!.
As the government divided the constituencies based on a demographic division, they were forced to use this value. The government forced them, Laith clarified.
Although he’s against the way of using the origins and religions in politics, he thinks it was necessary. Many citizens voted because “Al Aqsa” means a lot to Palestinians, their existence, solidarity, and hopes.
“Al Aqsa” has two deputies today, but laith is not satisfied. One is not active, the other doesn’t participate politically. He prefers “Kais Zayadin” a Jordanian Christian deputy, who is a member in a liberal party!
