• Public figures and activists from Jerash and the Souf refugee camp emphasize that the government and political parties bear the highest responsibility for increasing the rates of political participation.

With the participation of over 70 public figures and activists from Jerash and the Souf Camp, the Al Quds Center for Political Studies, in cooperation with the Al Shawahed Forum for Culture and Literature, organized a workshop titled 'Political Participation, Our Path to Strengthening Jordan and Supporting Palestine.' Held in the Souf Camp Services Committee Hall, the workshop featured Mr. Oraib Al Rantawi, Director-General of the Al Quds Center, and Mrs. Dina Al Bashir, a member of the Jordanian House of Representatives, as speakers.

In his remarks, Al Rantawi addressed the Jordanian public and official stances towards the war in Gaza. He pointed out that the Jordanian official stance was the strongest and most effective among all other Arab official stances, even surpassing those of more influential countries. This underscores the significance of the Palestinian cause in Jordan. Furthermore, he highlighted the stance of the Jordanian public, noting the substantial support and solidarity shown by Jordanians for Palestine and Gaza. Al Rantawi further explained that, despite the open space and freedom of expression regarding the events witnessed by the Palestine cause, political participation remains an indispensable action to ensure the strengthening and endurance of the Jordanian stance. It also strengthens Jordan's capacities to face pressure and challenges. Political participation contributes to the strengthening of the body politic, and leads to the emergence of a strong parliament, political parties, a unified national identity, and human rights, which will counter any attempts to weaken civil society.

In the same context, Al Rantawi highlighted the significant influx of youth towards political and partisan participation, presenting a unique opportunity to apply the government's intent for political reform. He emphasized the importance of promoting the course of political reform through widespread and informed participation. Additionally, he stressed the need for awareness in selecting political parties and candidates in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Al Rantawi brought to the public's attention that the upcoming elections represent a crucial moment for distinguishing between strong and weak political parties. He argued that the present time should be given more attention due to the setbacks experienced in political and partisan participation, which have negatively affected people's belief in the significance and relevance of political parties. He underscored the necessity of ensuring integrity and transparency in the elections to maintain the "dignity" of the ballot boxes.

On her part, MP Dina Al Bashir emphasized the importance of participating in political and partisan life, as well as the role that such participation plays in creating strong parliaments founded on collective effort. She argued that one of the current challenges facing representative work is individualism and the absence of a parliamentary bloc that operates collectively, noting that these blocs often work individually and without any cross-party collaboration.

Al Bashir further highlighted the importance of joining political parties, considering their role in political education and development, as well as their ability to propose practical programs. She also drew attention to the new political parties and election laws, along with the constitutional amendments, emphasizing their role in encouraging the participation of women and youth. Moreover, she underscored the necessity for the involvement of all state institutions in this process. In relation to the elections law, Al Bashir highlighted the critical nature of the electoral threshold and its role in fostering strong electoral lists. She reiterated the importance of royal guarantees, along with laws and regulations that ensure citizens' participation in political life. She pointed out that the political parties' law emphasizes the prohibition against the persecution or restriction of political party members based on their political affiliations, noting that such actions are violations punishable by law.

The participants' interventions and questions focused on the crucial role of media in shaping political culture and encouraging enrollment in political parties. They also explored the willingness of Jordanian society to join political parties, especially considering past experiences with political parties, including the period of martial law. Participants also were reminded of the role ideological parties played in developing professional, educated elites, including providing opportunities for studying abroad. They highlighted the need for improvements in the educational system at both school and university levels, with curricula specifically dedicated to political participation and development. Furthermore, they emphasized that the responsibility for increasing voter turnout primarily lies with the political parties and the government. They underscored the necessity of taking measures to rebuild citizens' trust in the political reform process.

Dr. Hamza Al Hawamdeh, the Dean of the Business Faculty at Jerash University, facilitated the discussion. In his opening speech, he spoke about the formation and development of political life in Jordan, noting that political parties existed even before the establishment of the Emirate of Transjordan. He highlighted the role of university students studying abroad in raising awareness about political parties within Jordan. Dr. Al Hawamdeh stated that the current moment presents an opportunity to enhance and encourage a culture of partisanship and to develop political activism.

At the start and conclusion of the workshop, Al Rantawi expressed his gratitude to the Souf Camp Services Committee and its president, Mr. Abdelmuhsen Banat, as well as to Mr. Thabet Al Sharif, the president of Al Shawahed Forum for Culture and Literature. He also thanked the individuals, women, and youth whose participation enriched the discussion.