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AMMAN — Awqaf Minister Hayel Dawood on Wednesday rejected as baseless remarks by Raed Salah, head of the Islamist movement in the 1948 lands under the control of the Israeli occupation, that the Jordanian surveillance cameras project in Al Aqsa Mosque will serve Israel.

Dawood stressed the cameras are a Jordanian initiative aimed at monitoring Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif, which extends over an area of 144 dunums to document any Israeli violations against Islamic sites and Jerusalemites, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

AMMAN — The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the mandating reasons for the 2016 draft tour guides by-law and the 2016 draft Jordan Tour Guides Association by-law.

The by-laws are in line with the importance of tour guides in enhancing tourism in the Kingdom and highlighting Jordan's tourist and archaeological sites, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The association draft by-law is aimed at regulating the work of tour guides by identifying their duties, and commitments to boost the profession's level and achieve the best utilisation of tourist services, Petra said.

AMMAN — The Public Security Department (PSD) on Wednesday said its criminal investigation teams have arrested four suspects for impersonating police officers.

In a statement, the PSD said the suspects had fake police IDs, which they used to deceive people and steal their money, especially guest workers and Arab visitors.

Upon receiving complaints from the public, criminal investigation teams began gathering information, which led to the suspects, the statement said.

The PSD added that they were caught in a neighbourhood in north Amman while attempting to rob and defraud a guest worker.

The suspects would reportedly inspect victims' houses, using their privilege as "police officers", and then steal from them, the PSD said, adding that a car with a fake licence plate number and a gun were seized during the arrest.

The investigation is still under way.

The PSD urged the public to exercise caution when dealing with such people and not to fall prey to their schemes.

People have the right to ask security personnel, especially plainclothes officers, for their IDs or badges to ensure that they are not being scammed, the PSD statement added.

AMMAN — Within the framework of the a forestation project around the Kingdom, the Ministry of Agriculture announced on Wednesday that it will allow the Jordan Teachers Association (JTA) to build a park.  

The park will extend around 10 dunums, according to the ministry, located in the capital’s Yajouz area, to encourage utilising empty landscapes and turning them into parks, the ministry’s spokesperson, Nimer Haddadin, told The Jordan Times over the phone.

The project is aimed at encouraging all associations and organisations in both the private and public sectors to build parks and plant trees in different areas around the country, Haddadin added.

“We encourage any association that seeks to increase Jordan’s green cover to implement projects beneficial to the local community,” he said.

The spokesperson noted that the ministry recently launched an initiative to “involve associations and groups with society”.

“This is to share facilities and parks with the public, and to encourage them to ‘go green’,” Haddadin added.

Any association, party, or group willing to adopt a land and turn it into a public park has to plant forest trees and keep the facilities and park clean, according to the official.

The projected JTA park will be a place where members of the syndicate gather for meetings and other activities, he said.

He urged the public to make sure to collect leftover food after picnicking in public parks.

AMMAN — Haneen Rjoub, a 23-year-old violinist from the Palestine Youth Orchestra (PYO), has noticed a certain degree of ignorance in the West when it comes to Muslim women who wear hijab (the headscarf).

Rjoub recalled that many of her audience in Europe had not imagined that women who wear hijab are able accomplish so much throughout their careers, erroneously seeing those who wear headscarves as underdeveloped.

"There are times when I perform in Europe when some people would be shocked that I can speak English," she told The Jordan Times after the orchestra's performance on Tuesday at Al Hussein Cultural Centre in Amman.

"Some have told me that I have affected them positively. When foreigners watch our show in our own country, they are impressed when a Muslim woman has such musical abilities," Rjoub added. 

Rjoub joined 75 musicians, along with 12 young women singers from the Palestine Choir, in the Amman performance, which, she said, had a message to deliver.

"Being in an orchestra is part of me that is important because it sends a message of resistance and peace. This orchestra has members of different religious backgrounds; this shows that everyone wants to perform music and this is beautiful," the violinist added. 

Loudina Baboun, another violinist with the orchestra, said their shows illustrate how Palestinians are keen on showing their musical skills. 

"These shows introduce the culture and heritage of both Palestinians and Arabs, because the group also includes many artists from different Arab countries," she told The Jordan Times. 

Naseem Al Atrash, another member of the orchestra, agreed. 

"The idea of the orchestra is really important for Palestinians because such initiatives are limited in our region; however, there are so many projects like this in Europe and the US," said Atrash, who joined the PYO in 2004 and is currently studying in the US.

Marco Mislah, an 18-year-old vocal artist, said singing is her passion and she finally found the right place to move her into a worldwide profession.    

"The only thing I can do is to sing for my country," Mislah added.  

Mohammad Maragha, of the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music, said PYO concerts focus on promoting Palestinian art. He noted that the Israeli occupation is the main obstacle facing members of the orchestra.

"Occupation is the main obstacle of any cultural development. It hinders the meeting of the musicians because they are of different Arab nationalities, and the other obstacle is the difficulty of having Palestinians leave the country and transporting musical instruments. There are complications and the process is also expensive," Maragha added.

AMMAN — Several members of the Orthodox Club are opposed to a decision by board members to sell its Abdoun premises and move near the Airport Road.

The Orthodox Club, originally founded in the Palestinian city of Jaffa, was established in Amman when its members fled to the Kingdom in 1948, and cooperated with residents to open a branch in Jordan. 

In 1952, the club was located near the 3rd Circle in the capital, and nearly 20 years later, it moved to Abdoun.

Nimeh Lahham, a member of the club’s general assembly, said the Orthodox Club became a trademark in Abdoun, where most of its members reside. 

“The club was sold in the 1970s after ensuring it would still have the same values and standards and that the administration would maintain the service and activities that engage people with society,” Lahham told The Jordan Times in a phone interview this week.

“We consider the Orthodox Club more than just a place to see people; it has a sentimental value for its members,” the member, who has been an activist at the club since the 1960s, said.

There are around 11,000 members at the club, Lahham added.

“It is a family destination, it has football, basketball and tennis courts, with wide spaces for children.”

He noted that to sell the property, at least 75 per cent of its total members have to agree to the decision; otherwise, it cannot be sold. 

“It is difficult to have more than two thirds of the members agree to the decision. The administration of the club suggested the same thing two years ago and the members refused to agree,” Lahham said.

He continued: “Even if the members who back the decision showed us studies and numbers, we cannot accept changing the location of the club. Abdoun is a good location and it is close to many destinations.”

Lahham said the Orthodox Club's current venue extends over around 32.5 dunums, and it will be sold for JD28 million. 

Other members stressed the security consideration tied to the current location.

Ghazi Kawar, another general assembly member, said the Abdoun location is surrounded by embassies and security forces, stressing the importance of safety when it comes to a club for children and families.

Another member, Nuha Musallam, said a large percentage of the club members are parents of children at the National Orthodox School.  

“As members and parents, we find the Orthodox Club in the centre of the city, where we can guarantee the safety of our children,” she told The Jordan Times.

“We cannot accept the new location as it is in a remote area, where we cannot leave our children for late hours.”

Musallam added that many parents tend to drive their children to the club in summer from early morning hours and pick them up at night, assured that they are in a safe place.

Current membership fees for adults amount to JD100 and JD70 for children, she said, expecting the fee to rise as the location changes.

Club Chairman Micheal Sayegh, Vice President Rafiq Hamarneh and other board members refused to comment on the decision despite several attempts by The Jordan Times. Members and area residents are planning a sit-in on Friday to protest against the decision, according to club members.

Lahham said a general assembly meeting to discuss the move, which was scheduled for Saturday, was cancelled, noting that the cancellation requires the approval of 25 per cent of the total club members.

AMMAN — EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said she was having "the toughest of days" during her visit to Amman on Tuesday.

Mogherini interrupted her joint press conference with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh after bursting in tears upon learning of the terrorist attacks in Brussels on Tuesday morning, and wrote about the incident on her blog under the title "The toughest of days. Beyond sorrow, our work goes on".

"For the first time in my life, I showed my sorrow in public — in a press conference in Amman, a few minutes after receiving the terrible news of the attacks in Brussels," she wrote about the attacks that targeted Brussels airport and a metro station, leaving scores dead and many others injured.

"I am not used to sharing my feelings and emotions during official meetings: it is something I don’t like. But sometimes pain becomes evident, public," she said.

"We are humans, first and foremost. Beyond sorrow, though, we hold responsibilities," the official added. "And this is what really matters to me. Beyond tears — be they public or private — what really matters is every moment’s job to try and build solutions, pathways towards peace, alliances for our own security."

After the interrupted press conference, Mogherini said she decided to stay a few more hours in Amman to meet His Majesty King Abdullah and discuss means of creating stronger cooperation to counter terrorism, as well as "find the right words to prevent radicalisation of young Europeans, together with those who are passing the message of a peaceful Islam".  

She expressed a desire "to meet the Syrian kids who might give in to terror, if they are left with no education and hope. To build a future for them. To build our own present".

Now back in Brussels, the official concluded her blog post with a commitment to intensify work to find a solution to the ongoing bloodshed.

"The work goes on — like before, more than before. And it goes on with one strong belief: we must find a solution to this war, in Syria and Europe. It is a war that is making us unable to live together in this world of ours."

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday phoned Belgium’s King Philippe and offered his condolences over the death of innocent victims in the terrorist attack in Brussels airport and another one on the metro, a Royal Court statement said.

During the call, His Majesty voiced his utter condemnation of these cowardly terrorist acts and wished the injured a speedy recovery. 

His Majesty also sent a cable of condolences to Belgium’s king and the Belgian government, voicing Jordan’s solidarity with Belgium in facing terrorism. 

Jordan on Tuesday also condemned the terrorist attacks, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Mohammad Momani voiced Jordan’s solidarity with the Belgian government and offered condolences over the death of innocent victims, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

The Foreign Ministry received no information about any Jordanian victims of the explosions, Petra quoted the ministry’s spokesperson, Sabah Al Rafie, as saying Tuesday. 

Rafie told Petra that the ministry is working in cooperation with the Jordanian Embassy in Brussels to follow up on the condition of the Jordanians there and check on them.

Meanwhile, the ministry called for Jordanians to be cautious and contact the embassy in Brussels on (003226407755) or the operations centre in the Foreign Ministry on (065501444) in case they needed any help. 

AMMAN — Only 2 per cent of Syrians who have reached Europe or lost their lives in the sea trip to the continent come from Jordan, an expert said Tuesday.

Meanwhile, nearly one-third of Syrians currently residing in Jordan plan to stay in the Kingdom for good, according to a recent study on the economic and social integration of refugees.

Conducted by the University of Jordan's Centre for Strategic Studies (CSS) in cooperation with the Euro-Mediterranean Study Commission as part of a regional evaluation of the impact of migrants and refugees on future policies, the study showed that the majority of Syrians in Jordan are under 14 years, a matter that requires adaptive policies for education and job opportunities.

The major implications on the local market were an increase in informal economy, an increase in competition with Jordanians on existing job opportunities, crowding out in the labour market and a deterioration in working conditions, said CSS Director Musa Shteiwi. 

In an interview with The Jordan Times on the sideline of a panel discussion, Shteiwi warned against "deeper" economic problems, including higher unemployment, debt and budget deficit, in light of donors' fatigue and a declining international humanitarian aid.

Concerning the increase of Syrian presence in the informal economy, he called on employers in the private sector to commit to "decent work ethics", as they clearly prefer employing Syrian workers for lower wages and less job security. 

Although Jordan and Lebanon are two of the most affected countries by the Syrian crisis, the international aid provided to them did not match the overall refugee-hosting expenses, according to Shteiwi.

Since the influx of Syrians into Lebanon, the country witnessed higher unemployment rates, more cases of child labour and the demise of small businesses, in addition to an enlarging informal sector. 

Panellists agreed that the Syrian crisis and the influx of Syrians into their countries caused significant socioeconomic changes that include competition on jobs, the growth of informal economies and pressure on services.

Berta Fernandez from the Institute for European Studies at the University of Malta said the Syrian crisis has created a paradigm shift in the entire European Union area, leading policy makers to review several policies and laws, including those concerning migration and transportation.

She noted that the influx of immigrants and asylum seekers to Europe has “exposed” several legal and operational weaknesses on the level of governmental and aid agencies. Furthermore, the crisis showed a lack of solidarity among EU countries, especially concerning the Schengen system.

According to studies she cited, 46 per cent of Syrians have the intentions to migrate to Europe despite the very risky trip through the Mediterranean, which has taken the lives of some 40,000 people since 2000.

Fernandez noted that the lack of jobs adequate to Syrians’ skills is the main drive for migration for over 40 per cent of Syrians, adding that 45 per cent of migrants reach Europe from Syria through Turkish lands, while around 25 per cent of Syrians come from Turkey, 19 per cent from Lebanon and only 2 per cent from Jordan.

Meanwhile, Turkey, which hosts the largest number of Syrian refugees, has over 270,000 Syrians living in 25 camps throughout 10 provinces throughout its borders with Syria, said Gulden Boluk from the Centre for Economic Research on Mediterranean Countries, yet over 85 per cent of refugees live outside camps.

She noted that those living outside camps face challenges concerning the most urgent issues of housing, food, education, health service and employment. On the other hand, this pushed inflation rates up, as well as rental costs.

Nonetheless, around 400,000 Syrians work in the informal sector, low-skill jobs such as agriculture, construction, manufacturing, textiles, services and waste picking and sorting, usually under exploitive work conditions.

But under a new decision, refugees will be able to apply for a six-month work permit after they obtain temporary identification cards from providences they reside in.

Boluk said the number of companies owned by Syrians increased by 40 fold between 2010 and 2015, adding that 750 out of some 2,400 foreign capital companies registered in the first half of last year belong to Syrians.

For his side, Dimitris Skleparis from the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy, reviewed his country’s stance on the issue of refugees as well as asylum application procedures in Greece, Italy and Spain.

He said that in 2015 Greece witnessed the arrival of some 850,000 individuals, with Syrians forming 60 per cent of them. Around 60 per cent of the arrivals were men, while women and children formed 40 per cent.

However, since the beginning of this year until mid-March, Greece received over 143,000 individuals crossing from the sea, half of them Syrians, with men forming 40 per cent while women and children constituting the remaining 60 per cent.

AMMAN – Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Tuesday headed a meeting of the higher ministerial committee to follow up on the outcomes of the Jordan Compact, the document Amman produced at February’s donor conference in London.

The committee was briefed by Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Imad Fakhoury on the progress and the follow-ups carried by the concerned parties to fulfill the pledges listed in the Jordan Compact, which was endorsed during the London conference to reduce the impact of hosting the Syrian refugees.

Fakhoury pointed out the progress in negotiations with the EU especially simplifying the rules of origin for Jordanian products, increasing the number of industrial and development zones  designated to manufacture products bound for Europe and expanding the lists of goods that can be exported to EU markets.

Ensour stressed that the follow-up mission is labelled as a top priority and needs continuous and consistent efforts to achieve the end goals. 

The premier said that the most important achievement is simplifying the rules of origin because it will contribute to strengthening national industries, increasing exports and attracting more local and foreign investment.