Rather: "There's been new talk of so-called transference. Is Jordan prepared to take additional Palestinians into your country?"
Abdullah: "Not at all, and that is a tremendous red line. We will never allow another diaspora of Palestinians to be displaced from their homeland. No way."
Rather: "Under no circumstances?"
Abdullah: "Under no circumstances. This would be a catastrophe to the future of Palestinian state. It would be extremely detrimental to Jordan."
Rather: "Are you prepared, under any circumstances, to take Yasser Arafat?"
Abdullah: "No. It would be the destruction of everything that all of us have worked for in bringing the Israeli and Palestinian problem to the forefront."
Note that the Jordanian regime waged war on the PLO and nearly killed Arafat, who was trying to overthow King Hussein, back in the early 1970's. Why the hell would they want Arafat back? But it is amusing that Rather does not bother to mention that little historical tidbit. I would not be surprised if he does not even know about it!
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