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AMMAN — Planning and International Cooperation Minister Imad Fakhoury and Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Mohammad Momani will hold a press conference on Saturday at 3pm at the Royal Cultural Centre to talk about the 2015 population census.

Department of Statistics Director Qasem Zu'bi will also take part in the press conference, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported, adding that the census is scheduled to take place at the end of November.

AMMAN — Border Guards received 138 Syrian refugees during the past 48 hours and transferred them to shelters and camps, an army source said on Thursday.

Royal Medical Services personnel provided medical assistance for the sick and injured, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

AMMAN — The Council of Ministers on Wednesday approved amendments to the law of the Central Bank of Jordan as well as an amended draft law on banks. The decision was taken during a Cabinet session chaired by Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

At the same meeting, the premier was briefed on the outcome of a report on floods that occurred in the Jordan Valley on October 25. The Council stressed the need to develop an official plan to deal with such cases as soon as possible.

AMMAN — Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs Khaled Kalaldeh said Wednesday that the government has responded to more than 96.7 per cent of MPs' questions since the beginning of the 17th Parliament session on February 10.

Kalaldeh said the government responded to 2,942 of the 3,056 queries that were directed to it, noting that some questions required a longer period to be answered than others due to their nature and because some of them required a great deal of information from more than one official party, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.  

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday stressed Jordan's support for Jerusalemites and their steadfastness against any Israeli violations targeting Al Haram Al Sharif/Al Aqsa Mosque. 

Receiving a delegation comprising representatives of the Jerusalem Awqaf Department, clerics, and Muslim and Christian Jerusalemites, the King voiced pride in hosting them in Amman and urged them to convey his greetings to the people of Jerusalem. 

His Majesty expressed his understanding of the challenges Jerusalemites have been facing for some time now and not just over the last few months. 

"For the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and for me personally, our role is to protect Islamic and Christian sites in the holy city, at the various political and religious levels, and we have full coordination and support for you," the King told the delegates, who included academic and religious figures from Jerusalem. 

The Monarch referred to the statements he has made during his recent meetings with different international and regional figures, according to a Royal Court statement. 

King Abdullah asserted that Jordan stands firm and rejects any changes to the historic status quo at Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif, which extends over an area of 144 dunums, stressing Jordan’s fixed position which has always asserted the need to retain the status quo that prevailed prior to the Israeli occupation of the city in 1967. 

His Majesty reiterated that Jordan has the right to pursue the available diplomatic and legal options, noting that the Kingdom will follow what is happening on the ground and see how much the Israeli prime minister is committed to what the two sides agreed on.

“Jordan is in contact with Western countries, and they are ready to work with us,” the King noted. 

Referring to the installation of surveillance cameras to monitor the situation at Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif, and to make sure that no Israeli violations are committed, King Abdullah said each time a Jordanian position is declared, there are sceptics. 

He asserted that the surveillance camera project is a Jordanian initiative that will be carried out by the Awqaf Ministry, in cooperation with “our Palestinian brothers” on the ground.

The cameras will be installed to provide monitoring of the entire area of Al Haram Al Sharif, the King said.

“To be clear with you, there will be no surveillance cameras inside the mosque, but the issue requires — according to experts — a period extending to six weeks. It is better to have the surveillance system operating in full to cover the entire area,” he elaborated. 

The King stressed his openness to any advice from the visiting Jerusalemites, regarding challenges they are facing and on diplomatic and legal options. 

“At the same time, we are considering how to bring the two parties, the Palestinians and the Israelis, back to the negotiating table to arrive at a final solution for the Palestinian issue,” he told the Jerusalemites.

The delegates expressed their appreciation of His Majesty’s efforts to support the Palestinian cause and Palestinians’ rights, and to defend Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian sites.

Sheikh Abdul Azim Salhab, who heads the Jerusalem Awqaf Council, stressed Jerusalemites’ confidence in the King’s commitment to safeguard the city’s religious and historic heritage. 

“We are sure that Your Majesty is fully aware of the situation of Al Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem in terms of Israeli attempts to change the status quo, obliterate the facts and falsify history, “ Salhab said, noting that the King’s efforts to preserve this heritage strengthen their steadfastness at Al Haram Al Sharif and the holy city. 

He commended the King’s support and his emphasis that Al Aqsa Mosque is a red line and its division is not acceptable.  

Noting that everybody holds the Hashemite custodianship in high esteem and highlighting its importance to protect Islamic and Christian sites in Jerusalem, Salhab stressed that Jerusalemites do not accept any attempts to undermine Jordan’s efforts in this regard. 

“Under no pretext do we accept that this blessed custodianship be taken out of its context,” he said.

Delegates spoke about the suffering and the pressures that Al Aqsa Mosque guards face, reiterating their appreciation of the King’s efforts. 

They also highlighted the restrictions imposed on building schools, noting that the dropout rate at Jerusalem’s schools has reached around 40 per cent, because of the prevailing conditions, whereas it is no more than 2 per cent in other Palestinian cities.   

They stressed the importance of Jordan’s positions, led by His Majesty, in defending Jerusalem, noting that they have an impact on the Israeli community.  Speaking to the Jordan News Agency, Petra, following the meeting, Awqaf Minister Hayel Dawood said the Council of Ministers has taken some decisions to support the steadfastness of the Palestinian people in Jerusalem and to mitigate their suffering, citing the improvement in the pensions of Jerusalem Awqaf Department employees. 

He also referred to the Awqaf Ministry’s decision to offer 10 scholarships for Jerusalemite students at Al Quds University.

AMMAN — Strong winds will continue affecting the Kingdom until noon on Thursday, with rainfall expected in different parts of the country that will contribute to reducing the dust in the air, a Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD) official said Wednesday.

It will be relatively cold and partly cloudy on Thursday, with rainfall, which could be accompanied by thunder and lightning, especially in the central and northern regions, JMD Director General Mohammad Samawi told The Jordan Times.

"Rain will start in the southern areas of the country and gradually extend to the central and northern regions," Samawi said. 

Temperatures in the capital will range between a high of 17°C during the day and a low of 9°C overnight, according to a JMD statement. 

"Light showers are forecast for Friday morning, especially in northern region, with northwesterly moderate winds," he added.

Mercury levels in Amman on Friday are forecast to reach a maximum of 18°C and drop to a minimum of 10°C, the JMD statement said. 

The weather will stabilise on Saturday, Samawi said, with partly cloudy to cloudy weather expected and a chance of showers, mainly in central, northern and some southwesterly areas of the Kingdom. 

A high temperature of 18°C is expected for Saturday and a low of 10°C at night in Amman, the statement showed.

Dust haze

The JMD director general noted that dust covered most parts of the Kingdom on Tuesday and Wednesday, with visibility in some areas not exceeding 100 metres. 

Although a dust haze covered several areas, aviation movement at Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) was proceeding as scheduled on Wednesday.

"Flight movements at the airport are normal and until 4pm there were no diversions or delays for flights landing or taking off from the airport," Zahiah Naasan, corporate communications director at QAIA, told The Jordan Times.

The Health Ministry on Wednesday warned against the dangers posed by the prevailing weather conditions and dust, especially for the elderly, children, and those diagnosed with allergic and respiratory diseases, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Noting that the dust storm has "very bad" effects on health, particularly of smokers, and allergy and asthma patients, as it has a negative impact on the lungs, the ministry called on citizens to cover their noses and mouths.

In related news, Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications and Acting Minister of Education Mohammad Momani on Wednesday authorised education directors to suspend classes on Thursday, especially in schools located in areas with severe dust storms that could hinder traffic movement, according to Petra.

Later on Wednesday, the education directorates in Wadi Araba, Um Rassas and Amiriyeh announced that schools would be closed on Thursday. 

AMMAN — Members of the newly licensed Muslim Brotherhood Society, seen as rivals of the old group, will join a political party the National Initiative for Building “Zamzam” plans to establish soon, the society’s spokesperson said Wednesday.  

Jamil Dheisat told The Jordan Times that the group does not plan to establish a political party but will join the party planned by Zamzam, adding that the society, and other political figures and organisations will support the initiative in setting up a national political party. 

The Muslim Brotherhood Society was established this year and registered by the authorities after disputes between its leaders, who consider themselves as reformists, and the leadership of the old group, an affiliate of the mother group in Egypt. 

Dheisat’s remarks came on the same day the Islamic Action Front (IAF), the political arm of the unlicensed Muslim Brotherhood group, terminated the membership of seven members upon their request. 

A statement issued by the IAF said the decision went into effect November 1. 

Dheisat said the members who left the IAF were “leading figures” in the party: Abdul Majeed Thneibat, who is now the overall leader of the licensed society, Qassem Taamneh, Mamdouh Muheisen, Khalil Askar, Ali Tarawneh, Jaber Abul Hija and Mohammad Qaramseh. 

Asked whether the new society plans on joining political life in Jordan, including future parliamentary and municipal elections, the spokesperson said it has not yet taken a decision in this regard but would study the matter “positively”.

Amman — Former deputy Mohammad Abdul Qader Abu Fares died on Tuesday. Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh paid tribute to Abu Fares on Wednesday, commending his achievements as a lawmaker.

Tarawneh expressed his condolences to the late MP’s family, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

AMMAN — A total of 48,600 Syrian were born in Jordan between 2011 and September 1, 2015, according to Interior Minister Salameh Hammad.

In an interview with pan-Arab newspaper Asharq Al Awsat published on Wednesday, Hammad said the Civil Status and Passports Department registered these births.

He added that the aid provided to the Kingdom by the international community so far does not exceed 38 per cent of its needs to cover the cost of hosting Syrian refugees and address the impact of the influx on its infrastructure.

Stressing that the Kingdom has limited resources, the minister said the refugee burden has taken its toll on all vital sectors, especially in host communities where refugees are staying.

The closure of the Jordanian-Syrian border, he added, has also negatively affected the Kingdom, especially at the economic and security levels.

"The role of security forces on the border has grown twofold," he noted, explaining that personnel have to monitor both sides of the border and prevent smuggling attempts. 

Turning to internal matters, the minister said Jordan is moving forward in reform according to a stable agenda aimed at enabling citizens to effectively participate in policy making. 

The campaigns led by security apparatuses in the Kingdom, he added, are also important in entrenching the role of law and supporting the growth of tourism and investments.

Hammad said the campaigns have been successful so far, leading to a drop in crime rates and an increase in detecting smuggling attempts and violations committed on state-owned lands.

AMMAN — The agricultural sector is the Kingdom's most challenged sector in terms of low revenues and a low ratio of Jordanian workers, Labour Minister Nidal Katamine said on Wednesday. 

At a meeting with a delegation from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the minister noted that around 95 per cent of workers in the agricultural sector are guest labourers, attributing the high figure to Jordanians’ reluctance to work in agriculture.

A statement e-mailed to The Jordan Times quoted Katamine as saying that this reluctance has prompted the ministry to work on changing young people’s culture of employment and encouraging them to replace guest workers. 

The statement said Katamine responded to a query by FAO representative to Jordan Nasriddin Hajj Amin on the possibility of integrating skilled Syrian workers residing in Jordan into the local labour market by stressing that the ministry's priority is to offer training and employment to Jordanians. 

The decision on whether to allow Syrians to work in the agriculture sector is a sovereign matter, Katamine told Hajj Amin, according to the statement. 

The two officials agreed to form a joint committee to look into proposals related to the local labour market that FAO plans to provide to the ministry and present to donor countries and organisations. 

The statement added that the FAO delegation expressed readiness to provide financial and technical support for training and employment projects in the agricultural sector.