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AMMAN — Jordan has received no more than 38 per cent of the UN-estimated assistance it requires to cover its needs resulting from hosting Syrian refugees, Interior Minister Salameh Hammad said Monday. 

During a meeting with Christine Kamerman, president of the Jordanian-French Parliamentary Friendship Committee at the French senate, Hammad highlighted the repercussions of the Syrian crisis on Jordan and the region as a whole, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

The discussions, also attended by French Ambassador David Bertolotti, covered counter-terrorism efforts and ways to boost cooperation in police and security. 

The minister highlighted the services the Kingdom provides to 1.4 million Syrians in Jordan, including humanitarian assistance, health, education, water and electricity. 

Hammad highlighted high competition between Jordanians and Syrians over jobs, and the large pressure that refugees have placed on the country’s infrastructure and key services as a result of their sheer volume. 

He called on the international community and donor organisations to shoulder their responsibility towards refugee-host nations through the establishment of income-generating projects that can reduce the burdens borne by local communities.  

Kamerman described the current events in the region and in Syria as “disturbing” for all countries, especially Jordan, as it is hosting large numbers of refugees. 

She stressed her country’s support for the Kingdom’s efforts to mitigate the burdens resulting from hosting the refugees. 

Also on Monday, Environment Minister Taher Shakhshir met with the visiting delegation, who updated him on the preparations for the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate change (CoP21), also known as the “2015 Paris Climate Change Conference”, to be held in Paris at the end of December. 

Jordan Valley Authority Secretary General Saad Abu Hammour also met with the delegation to discuss bilateral cooperation in the fields of water harvesting and development projects.

He stressed that the meeting is part of the government’s efforts to clarify water conditions faced by the nation and the burden the Syrian refugee influx has placed on the sector. 

AMMAN — A man rescued by the Civil Defence Department (CDD) after being trapped in a tunnel while allegedly digging for antiquities in Irbid was referred to the administrative governor on Monday for legal action, official sources said.

The man, along with two others also referred to the governor, was digging in search of antiquities in a 12-metre tunnel in Zibdeh town that leads to an abandoned cemetery, a senior official source said.

“The men had been digging the tunnel illegally for the past few days. On Sunday, construction and paving took place on the street, which led to a collapse of the soil, trapping one of them under rubble,” the source said.

It took CDD teams over five hours to rescue the trapped man, who was listed in good condition, the source added.

“The CDD provided the trapped man with 12 bottles of oxygen to help him breathe while they carefully removed the soil and rocks to free him,” the senior official told The Jordan Times.

Jerash Department of Antiquities (DoA) Director Ahmad Shami told The Jordan Times that digging for antiquities without obtaining an official permit from the Interior Ministry is considered illegal.

“Anyone wishing to look for gold or antiquities should obtain the proper permit from the Interior Ministry. Usually it is given for a renewable period of 48 hours,” the DoA official explained.

When individuals obtain the proper permission and pay a JD1,000 fee, Shami told The Jordan Times, “they are accompanied by the concerned authorities to supervise the search operation in a bid to avoid destroying any ancient sites.”

“Unfortunately, there are many people who are obsessed with finding gold or antiquities and dig in places where they think these may be found.  The majority of the time, they find nothing and ancient sites are destroyed as a result,” he added.

Individuals who fail to obtain the proper permit could face prison terms ranging from one to three years, according to Shami.

AMMAN – Fuel prices on the domestic market are expected to remain unchanged when the government issues its monthly pricing update for November, according to an informed source.

“The international prices of fuel derivatives are fluctuating very slightly, not exceeding 0.5 per cent,” Gas Stations Owners Association (GSOA)President Fahed Al Fayez said on Monday.

The “minor” rise in fuel prices, according to Fayez, is due to the approaching cold season, but he said it would not affect local prices for the coming month.

“As for December, I project a slight increase in prices, particularly gas,” Fayez told The Jordan Times, noting that the local demand for gas and diesel for heating purposes has already risen by 20 per cent in October.

Last month, the government reduced the price of one litre of unleaded 90-octane gasoline from JD0.560 to JD0.555 and one litre of unleaded 95-octane gasoline from JD0.725 to JD0.720. 

The drop of five fils was equivalent to a tarifa, a coin no longer in use, which triggered jokes on social media at the time.

The government also introduced a slight increase in prices of some fuel products last month.

The price of one litre of diesel and kerosene rose to JD0.410 from JD0.405.

The price of the 12-kilogramme gas cylinder, used for cooking and heating, fell to JD7 from JD7.25.

Prices of oil derivatives in the local market are calculated monthly based on international oil prices, taking into account additional costs such as shipment, handling and taxes.

AMMAN — Her Majesty Queen Rania met on Monday with members of the National Council for Family Affairs (NCFA) to discuss the council’s plan to review the National Framework for Family Protection from Domestic Violence.

Queen Rania met with Rajai Muasher, vice chair of the board of trustees of NCFA, and the council’s secretary general, Fadel Al Hmoud, and emphasised the urgency of addressing the challenges and gaps in the national framework, according to a statement from her office. 

Muasher spoke about the steps the council took to update the national framework, including the approval stages of the by-law on the National Family Protection against Violence Team, which is currently in the final legislative stages after it had been referred to the Prime Ministry for examination and endorsement. 

This will allow the Family Protection against Violence Team to regulate and supervise the implementation of directives and national policies pertaining to family issues as well as ensure national institutions’ commitment to the framework as a reference for their plans and the continuation of the participatory approach of relevant parties at the national level. 

NCFA’s work includes family counselling in cooperation with the Chief Islamic Justice Department as well expediting follow-up on domestic violence cases in cooperation with the Public Security Department, according to the statement. 

A civil society organisation chaired by Her Majesty, NCFA supports, coordinates and facilitates the work of its partners and relevant institutions which are involved and influential in the field of family affairs. 

It has established partnerships with national governmental and non-governmental organisations, and international organisations.

AMMAN — A Royal Decree was issued on Monday, accepting the resignation of Abdur-Rau’f S. Rawabdeh from the Senate as of October 25, 2015. On Sunday, Faisal Fayez replaced veteran lawmaker Rawabdeh and became Senate president.

AMMAN — Jordan expressed its condolences to the government and people of Pakistan and Afghanistan over the deaths in the destructive earthquake that hit both countries on Monday.

Government Spokesperson Mohammad Momani expressed the sympathies of the government and the people of Jordan over the “painful incident” which killed and injured hundreds of people, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

AMMAN — The Lower House Legal Committee on Monday discussed the 2015 draft elections law in Irbid with representatives from the social, economic and political sectors.

At the meeting, MP Mustafa Amawi, head of the committee, reviewed the most important articles of the draft law, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The committee said it will take into consideration the attendees’ comments and feedback on the bill.

AMMAN — Border Guard units on Monday foiled an infiltration attempt by a vehicle that tried to cross from Jordan into Syria, taking advantage of the weather conditions, the Jordan News Agency. Petra, quoted an official source from the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army as saying.

Rules of engagement observed under such conditions were implemented and the vehicle was destroyed, the source said.

AMMAN — The State Security Court (SSC) on Monday convicted three defendants of promoting Daesh via the Internet.

In three separate cases, the court sentenced two men to two-year prison terms for publishing pro-Daesh propaganda online.

The last defendant was sentenced to three-years in prison for the same crime. The SSC’s rulings are in line with the Anti-Terrorism Law. 

AMMAN — Jordan has stressed that it would maintain coordination with the Palestinian leadership and President Mahmoud Abbas.

During a meeting in Amman with Abbas on Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh conveyed the King's “greetings and keenness to maintain continued coordination and consultations with the Palestinian president, especially in light of the latest developments in the Palestinian arena”, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The meeting occurred on the heels of the King’s discussions with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Amman on Saturday. 

Judeh reasserted during his meeting with Abbas that Jordan deems the Palestinian cause the core conflict in the region. 

Judeh renewed the call for the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state on Palestinian national soil within the pre-1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with relevant international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. 

Abbas expressed his appreciation of His Majesty King Abdullah’s support for the Palestinian people in their pursuit to regain their legitimate rights, citing the latest efforts led by His Majesty to stop the Israeli attacks and acts of aggression. 

In a related development, Judeh on Sunday said that upholding the status quo in line with previous understandings between Israel and Jordan is the Kingdom’s first priority.

He said the recent escalation at Jerusalem’s sanctuaries and the violence worries Jordan, noting that Jordan’s custodianship and responsibilities at Al Haram Al Sharif are one  of its top priorities, and that the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Saturday pledge to uphold the status quo is welcomed and on the correct path.

He said Jordan supports efforts aimed at bringing back peace, and stopping the violence and provocative measures to continue resolving problems through serious negotiations, Petra reported. 

Kerry on Saturday stated that Netanyahu was committed to maintaining the unchanged status quo at holy sites in Jerusalem.