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ZARQA — Kamal Malkawi, who was among the victims of Monday’s shooting at a police training facility in east Amman, was laid to rest in Zarqa’s Hashemiyeh cemetery on Tuesday. 

Interior Minister Salameh Hammad, who deputised for His Majesty King Abdullah, and Public Security Department (PSD) Director Maj. Gen. Atef Saudi joined around 150 relatives and friends of Malkawi at the funeral. “This is an awful incident, but it is fate, preordained by God,” Malkawi’s father, Ahmad, told The Jordan Times at the cemetery.   

In addition to Malkawi, one Jordanian, two Americans and one South African who were PSD contractors were killed in the shooting, which also injured six people.

A statement issued by the Malkawi tribe and carried by local news website Khaberni said the deceased was 35.

He was reportedly working as a translator with the PSD.

Describing Malkawi as one of the country’s soldiers Hammad said the shooting was a painful incident. 

“In Jordan’s history, the country has been subjected to many crises,” he told reporters. “It is expected that Jordan would witness such incidents, but God willing, this will be the last one. This incident shows that criminal activity will not leave Jordan, but the Kingdom is ready to stand against anyone who wants to endanger its security,” he added.  

Saudi said security personnel and the Jordanian people will stand against those seeking to threaten the Kingdom’s security.  

Hammad said an investigation into the incident is ongoing and the results might be available this week.

Former chairman of the joint chiefs-of-staff retired Gen. Mohammad Yousef Malkawi spoke on behalf of the tribe at the funeral, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Jordanians, he said, will remain united in their efforts to safeguard their homeland and combat extremism.

AMMAN — Distribution agencies of electric cars expect demand for the new technology to gradually increase in Jordan over the next few years.

But the process “will take time” as the public is usually hesitant to adopt a “foreign” technology, similar to the period when hybrid cars were new in the country, they said.

In a bid to promote green vehicles, the government exempted electric cars from registration fees, customs duties and taxes, and also waived fees for charging devices of fully electric vehicles.

During the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa held on the shores of the Dead Sea in May this year, a memorandum of understanding was signed with manufacturers of electric cars — Tesla, BMW and Renault — to gradually adopt the use of electric vehicles in the public sector as an environment-friendly means of transport.

Over the past two months, Renault has provided the government with 200 Zoe electric cars for the use of senior officials, according to Issa Natsheh, marketing supervisor at Alkan International Motors (Renault’s sole dealer in Jordan).

Safety tests were carried out on various roads across the country, and each charge completes a 150-kilometre trip, he told The Jordan Times, adding that the charging duration varies according to the station.

The initial price of the car is between JD22,000 and JD25,000, Natsheh said, and the government is expected to offer incentives to encourage the spread of green vehicles as they save buyers and the state long-term expenses.

Due to the smaller number of vehicle parts, Zoe’s life expectancy exceeds that of fuel-powered cars, he explained, while the car’s battery operates for five to seven years, with the need for regular maintenance.

As the electric technology is already expensive, used electric cars may provide a more affordable option for a larger segment of Jordanian society, said Jamal Bustami, marketing and corporate communications manager at Nissan’s dealers Bustami and Saheb Trading Co.

He noted that the price of a Nissan Leaf, which is expected to enter the local market soon, will be over JD20,000, while used vehicles could cost JD15,000.

Currently, the government is testing a single vehicle, while several Leaf and NV200 vans are at Aqaba Port but have not reached the showroom in Amman yet, according to Bustami.

He said streets in Jordan are not a problem for electric cars, noting that charging stations need to be located at “bustling” areas to allow owners to charge their cars while running errands or doing daily activities to minimise waiting time.

Bustami said a quick charge takes 20 to 30 minutes and charges 75 per cent of the battery, while a full charge takes six hours. 

In addition, the car’s battery charges on downhill or uphill slopes according to the availability of sunlight.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday said that protecting citizens and their lives comes above all other considerations and is his top priority, noting that "Amman deserves the best and Jordan deserves the best", according to a Royal Court statement.

King Abdullah made the remarks during a meeting at Al Husseiniya Palace with authorities concerned with dealing with weather conditions, especially in light of the recent rainstorm that caused floods in Amman, killing four people.

The King called for addressing shortcomings and always taking the public's interest into account, adding that emergency scenarios and plans must be prepared in partnership with all concerned authorities to deal with extraordinary weather conditions, particularly heavy rainfall and snow, and ensure public safety. 

At the meeting, attended by Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, King Abdullah stressed the importance of maintaining the highest degrees of coordination and cooperation among all concerned authorities to deal with weather conditions.

His Majesty expressed his keenness on raising the level of services offered to citizens, highlighting the importance of having an effective early warning system that enables concerned parties to prepare for urgent weather conditions and mitigate possible damage.

He directed all stakeholders to coordinate and cooperate in making and selecting new, clear measures to improve performance in dealing with severe weather conditions with speed and efficiency.

His Majesty commended the actions of those who “courageously” dealt with the situation — individuals and organisations — especially those who risked their own lives while attempting to rescue others. 

“It is during these times that Jordanians show their true mettle,” the King said. 

Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh, Interior Minister Salameh Hammad, King’s Office Director Jafar Hassan, Amman Mayor Aqel Biltaji, Civil Defence Department Director Lt. Gen. Talal Kofahi and Public Security Department Director Maj. Gen. Atef Saudi also attended the meeting.

AMMAN — A Jordanian police officer on Monday killed five contractors working with the Public Security Department, and injured six people before he was killed, according to Government Spokesperson Mohammad Momani.

Two US nationals, two Jordanians and one South African were among the victims, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The shooter, identified by a relative as Captain Anwar Abu Zaid, also injured two other US contractors, three Jordanian police officers, and one Lebanese lieutenant, Momani said in a statement carried by Petra.

PSD personnel dealt with the incident, which took place at a police training facility in east Amman, and killed the shooter, Momani said, adding that an investigation is under way.

The 28-year-old shooter was from the village of Rimoun, in the northern Governorate of Jerash, a relative of his told The Jordan Times.

Abu Zaid was a graduate of the military branch of Mutah University, according to the relative, who preferred to remain unnamed.

He is survived by his wife and two children –– a boy and a girl –– said the source, adding that Abu Zaid was known among residents of the village as “a very kind person, who was religious but moderate”.

Residents of the northern village, the relative said, were in “complete shock”.  

Later on Monday, His Majesty King Abdullah visited those who were injured at the King Hussein Medical City, a Royal Court statement said.

Royal Medical Services Director General Maj. Gen. Muin Habashneh briefed King Abdullah on the condition of the injured and the medical services they are receiving. 

His Majesty was accompanied by Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh and King’s Adviser for Military Affairs and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff Gen. Mashal Al Zaben.

King Abdullah sent a cable to US President Barack Obama expressing his condolences over the deaths of the US citizens. 

His Majesty also sent a cable to President of the Republic of South Africa Jacob Zuma, offering him condolences over the death of the South African contractor in the same incident. 

In both cables, King Abdullah condemned the shooting, stressing that the government is investigating the incident, according to a Royal Court statement.

The US embassy in Amman confirmed that two US trainers were killed and two wounded in the shooting, which took place at the Jordan International Police Training Centre. 

“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families of all of the victims. The investigation is on-going and it is premature to speculate on motive at this point,” the embassy said in a statement. 

“We are working closely with the government of Jordan and local security services on a full and comprehensive investigation. We strongly condemn this incident and we deeply appreciate the cooperation and support received from our Jordanian partners,” it added.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah and Bahrain’s King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa on Monday discussed means to enhance joint Arab action and maintain coordination in facing regional challenges, a Royal Court statement said.

At a meeting in Manama as part of His Majesty’s visit to Bahrain, the two leaders voiced their mutual interest to deepen and enhance bilateral relations, the statement said.

Discussing the situation in Jerusalem, they warned of the consequences of Israeli violations and attempts to change the status quo at Al Aqsa Mosque.

Talks also covered regional and international efforts to combat terrorism within a comprehensive plan.

After the visit to Manama, His Majesty is scheduled to head to Saudi Arabia to take part in the Fourth Summit of South American-Arab Countries to be hosted in Riyadh on Tuesday.

The summit aims at sustaining cooperation and coordination among member states of the Arab League and countries of South America in different fields.

HRH Prince Raad was sworn in as Regent during the King’s absence.

DEAD SEA – Planning and International Cooperation Minister Imad Fakhoury on Monday described as "disgraceful" the volume of support to Jordan as "it has been shouldering the burdens of the Syrian refugee crisis on behalf of the region and world". 

At a press conference on the sidelines of the Resilience Development Forum, organised by the UNDP at the Dead Sea, Fakhoury said it is time for the international community to respond in a better way to the Kingdom's financing needs to continue offering services to hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees, noting that Jordan was the first country in the region to prepare a response plan for the Syrian crisis. 

The direct and indirect cost of the Syrian crisis on the Kingdom's treasury and economy so far reached $6.6 billion, according to the minister.

At the joint press conference with UNDP Administrator Helen Clark, the minister pointed out that pledges by donors for the 2015 Jordan response plan cover only 36 per cent of the required funding that was estimated at $2.9 billion, while funding for host communities across the Kingdom covered only 8 per cent. 

“It is a shame and we cannot accept this. Funding should be complete or at least enough to enable us cope with the refugee burden,” he added. 

Fakhoury said funding required for the 2016-2018 response plan was estimated at $8 billion —$2.5 billion for humanitarian needs, $2.5 billion in financial support to host communities and $3 billion to compensate the Treasury for the burdens it is going to bear. 

However, there are signals from the international community to increase support for the Jordanian response plan, the minister noted. 

“But the challenge remains as to what degree this support is going to be. Is it going to be enough to cover the burdens Jordan is handling?” 

“We are entering the fifth year of the Syrian crisis with Jordan continuing to deal with the repercussions of the crisis and other regional developments that have [taken] their toll because the country insists on keeping its borders open to receive Arabs from all directions,” he told reporters, adding that the Kingdom is the most hit by the Syrian crisis when it comes to the population as Syrians currently represent 20 per cent of population. 

Authorities estimate the number of Syrians in Jordan at around 1.5 million.  

When comparing Jordan with countries that share borders with Syria, it has the lowest national income, he added, noting that the Kingdom is the world’s number one in terms of hosting refugees in the past 70 years. 

Fakhoury called on the international community to offer more financial support to host countries before urging them to create jobs for refugees. 

“They have first to help host countries in responding to their plans and then they can launch initiatives for creating economic opportunities for refugees,” he said, noting that all donor countries are demanding creating economic opportunities for Syrians. 

“Our stance in Jordan is clear and won’t change. This is a sovereign right for Jordan and we will not give up this right.  Dealing with the refugee crisis should be according to a holistic manner,” he said, stressing that creating economic opportunities for refugees should not be at the expense of the host communities and citizens, and the development gains the Kingdom has achieved.

“Jordan has exerted a lot of efforts and spent money to achieve such development goals and we don’t want to see these gains hit because of a refugee burden we continue to bear.” 

He noted that Jordan’s response plans were prepared in full coordination with all donors, UN agencies and international NGOs. 

Clark echoed Fakhoury’s remarks by urging the international community to mobilise more assistance for Jordan and other host countries to be able to cope with the Syrian refugee crisis.

DEAD SEA — The preservation of local capacities is at the heart of Jordan's resilience efforts in dealing with the Syrian refugee crisis, Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said Monday.

"We must invest in the strengthening of national systems and institutions to ensure sustainable and durable solutions," Ensour said at the opening session of the Resilience Development Forum, organised by the UNDP, highlighting stakeholders’ commitment to providing funding as a crucial issue.

Delaying investment in resilience can lead to increased social tensions in communities where basic services are overstretched or threatened as a result of the crisis, according to the premier, who added that investments in resilience continue to be realised in the long term.

Nonetheless, the "priority" is to break down the conceptual and financial modes that dominate the existing response model, as traditional aid architecture is not suited to financing the response to a protracted crisis of the scale that Jordan now faces in an effective and efficient manner, the prime minister said.

"At the same time, we need to work towards enhancing financial predictability, pooling fragmented funding, long-term funding commitments and exploring more creative avenues for the delivery of financial assistance," he noted at the event, attended by representatives from several international aid agencies.

Planning and International Cooperation Minister Imad Fakhoury said the participation of host countries, bilateral partners, major institutional stakeholders, and civil society and business sector representatives in the conference illustrated the "unprecedented" level of international commitment to ensuring a credible future for individuals whose lives are affected by this "terrible crisis", both within refugee and host communities. 

Competition over scarce social resources and work opportunities has drawn impoverished refugees and equally disadvantaged citizens into a desperate "race to the bottom", an issue that risks not one lost generation, but many, the minister added.

However, Fakhoury also suggested that “we are at a moment of opportunity”, explaining that investing in the resilience of refugees and their host communities fosters stability and realistic prospects for a better future for all.

Partners should seek a cohesive and common vision for a resilience agenda that clearly articulates short-, mid- and long-term milestones, alongside clear commitments and responsibility-sharing targets for the international community, he said.

Furthermore, there is a need for concrete deliverables, particularly in the areas of aid architecture, social stability, private sector engagement and resilience inside Syria, all to be assisted by a “strong” follow-up process to ensure commitments are realised, the minister added.

“Let us build on our shared vision of a credible and prosperous future for this region,” he said.

Also speaking at the forum, UNDP Administrator Helen Clark highlighted the importance of reviewing current measures in a way that creates continuity in funding means as well as obtaining more funds for a safer future.

Clark stressed the importance of enhancing capabilities to face crises, adding that all efforts are welcomed.

She said it is important to look at the Syrian crisis seriously, especially since people want to continue living their lives. 

Plans related to countries hosting Syrian refugees have to be more efficient, Clark added, commending Jordan’s role in dealing with the situation.

For his part, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres stressed that the commitment of the Jordanian government and people to hosting Syrian refugees has burdened the Kingdom. 

He said humanitarian aid alone is not enough to offer support, highlighting the importance of boosting the resilience of host countries in tandem with supporting refugees.

Guterres said no country has been as efficient in offering services to the Syrians as Jordan, calling for enhancing local capabilities in the Kingdom instead of creating parallel capabilities, to maintain harmony and coexistence among hosts and refugees.

He added that it is essential to review the policies of host countries, with a focus on development policies, noting that development must go hand-in-hand with military support.

Participants at the two-day forum launched the resilience agenda at its conclusion, which, according to Fakhoury, “holds the promise of converting a protracted humanitarian crisis into an opportunity to build for the future”. 

The agenda, he said at the forum’s conclusion, lays out five core principles.

“First, resilience requires that we move away from the traditional siloed approach of discrete humanitarian and development frameworks designed and implemented independently of each other, both in terms of programming and financing,” he said, while the second principle entails prioritising the dignity of individuals. 

“People have an innate inclination towards self-reliance and by fostering this agency as an operational imperative rather than an abstract concept, a response becomes more effective, and ultimately, sustainable,” the minister noted in his speech, a copy of which was sent to The Jordan Times.

The agenda also requires making it a priority to maintain and strengthen local institutions, rather than creating parallel systems or structures, and it calls for making the partnership platform for resilience more inclusive to fully maximise its potential. 

“And finally, fifth, we must foster social cohesion so as to strengthen the social fabric of communities,” Fakhoury said.

“These commitments can bring about real change. But the real test will lie in their implementation,” he added. 

The minister stressed that “resilience strengthening requires resilient financing,” warning that “donor fatigue will ultimately result in host government and host community fatigue”. 

“Resilience is neither an isolated sector nor a discrete objective: it is, rather, the outcome of better integration of humanitarian and development approaches,” Fakhoury noted.

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh on Monday participated in the meeting of Arab and South American foreign ministers in Riyadh, held in preparation for Tuesday's Fourth Summit of South American-Arab Countries.

At the meeting, Judeh highlighted Jordan's and the Arab world's interest in enhancing relations with South American countries, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

He cited His Majesty King Abdullah's visits to several South American countries over the past years and his participation in the Arab-Latin American summit in Lima, Peru in 2012.

The foreign minister said Arab relations with South American countries have achieved a significant "leap" since an institutional framework for cooperation was launched in 2005.

In the same context, Judeh said the volume of commercial exchange between Arab and South American countries rose from $6 billion in 2005 to $30 billion in 2014.

He stressed the importance of enhancing cultural, tourism, economic and investment relations between the two sides, in addition to enhancing political coordination in light of the mutual challenges and threats, Petra reported.

Judeh highlighted the topics of the Riyadh forum to be adopted after Tuesday's summit, particularly those related to peace efforts to establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital within the June 4, 1967 lines, based on relevant international references and the Arab Peace Initiative.

He stressed the importance of a political solution that guarantees the security and the territorial integrity of Syria, with the participation of all components of Syrian society, in accordance with the Geneva I communique.

The foreign minister talked about the repercussions of the Syrian crisis and the refugee burden carried by Jordan, also touching on issues related to anti-terrorism efforts.

In addition, he stressed the need to implement UN Security Council Resolution 2216 which calls for supporting the legitimate government in Yemen.

Judeh also attended an emergency meeting of Arab ministers to discuss Israeli escalations in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The deputy premier reaffirmed Jordan’s custodianship of Islamic and Christian sites in Jerusalem and stressed that the Kingdom will pursue all diplomatic and legal options to deal with any violations of these sites.

AMMAN — A Royal Decree was issued on Monday approving a minor reshuffle in Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour’s government. 

Under the Royal decree, and upon Ensour’s recommendation, Omar Zuhair Malhas was appointed as finance minister and Ayman Hatahet as transport minister. 

They replace Umayya Toukan and Lina Shbeeb, respectively.

The two newly appointed ministers took the oath of office before His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday.

The prime minister, Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh and King’s Office Director Jafar Hassan attended the swearing-in ceremony at Al Husseiniya Palace.

Monday’s reshuffle is the second for the government of Ensour, who assumed the premier’s post in October 2012.

The last reshuffle was in March this year, when five new ministers joined the government, including two women, while four others left their post.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday met with UNDP Administrator Helen Clark and discussed international support for Jordan to bear the repercussions of hosting Syrian refugees, a Royal Court statement said.

The meeting, held at Al Husseiniya Palace, covered the UNDP's contribution to enhancing the Kingdom's development, in addition to offering relief and humanitarian services to the refugees.

The King and Clark also discussed the Resilience Development Forum that the Kingdom hosted this week at the Dead Sea to achieve significant change in the international community's response to crises, particularly the Syrian crisis.

Clark highlighted the importance of supporting Jordan to deal with the repercussions of the crisis and said the UNDP will continue assisting the Kingdom to ensure its continued resilience and development, according to the statement.

On Sunday, the UNDP administrator visited the Ekeider Landfill project in Irbid and was briefed on the Livelihoods and Employment Interventions project in Mafraq as well as the Emergency Employment (3x6 Approach).

The tour of UNDP-supported projects in the areas most affected by the Syrian crisis was conducted on the sidelines of Clark’s official visit to Jordan where she inaugurated the Resilience Development Forum with Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour and the UNDP’s Regional Hub for Arab States with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh.

During a meeting at the Ekeider Landfill site attended by Municipal Affairs Minister Walid Masri and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States Sima Bahous, Canada's Assistant Deputy Minister for Europe and Middle East Alex Bugailiskis said Jordan is an example of leadership in the region and to the world.

She noted that Canada supports municipalities to scale up and provide better services to local communities, voicing her country’s commitment to improving the living conditions of host communities and refugees in Jordan. 

Clark said UNDP is also committed to supporting host communities in Jordan. 

“They are carrying a load for the world and should not carry too much,” she noted.  

Established in 1981, Ekeider Landfill is the second largest landfill in Jordan and is located one kilometre away from the Syrian-Jordanian border, according to a presentation delivered during the meeting. 

It serves more than 30 municipalities in the north.

But due to the Syrian refugee influx, which increased the waste it receives from 900 tonnes to 1,300 tonnes per day, the landfill is working at a higher capacity than its design. 

The Jordan Response Plan appealed for $38,188,588 to revamp the landfill. 

Canada contributed funds worth $13,481,400 while Jordan allocated $2.2 million, leaving a funding gap of $22,707,188.

The UNDP and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs are working together in order to bridge that gap, according to the presentation.

After the meeting, Clark toured the Ekeider site and was briefed by engineers on work process and future plans to rehabilitate the landfill. 

In Mafraq, the UNDP administrator was accompanied by Bahous, MPs, officials and community representatives, where she was briefed on micro-businesses financed by the agency.

With support from UNDP, 100 unemployed people in Rehab Municipality implemented eight voluntary initiatives over three months.

Clark also visited the mural-wall painting on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which follow the UN's Millennium Development Goals, and toured St George’s Church, the oldest church in the world, where members of the emergency employment project briefed her on work to promote it as a major destination for religious tourism.

As for further development projects, Clark told The Jordan Times that plans are in place but funding must be mobilised first. 

She said that when the response for the Syrian crisis began, it initially focused on relief, but this is no longer adequate as people want jobs and dignity.