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AMMAN — Amman will host 19 Near East and North African countries from September 14-17 for the International Plant Protection Convention.

The convention is run by the International Plant Protection Convention and the regional office of the Food and Agriculture Organisation for the Near East and North Africa Region and aims to educate these nations on the dangers of agricultural pests and the steps that must be taken to prevent their spread. 

AMMAN — Higher Education Ministry Secretary General Hani Dmour on Sunday called for increasing educational scholarships between Jordan and Algeria in different specialisations. Receiving an Algerian delegation, headed by the education director at the Algerian ministry of higher education, Nuriddin Ghwali.

Dmour highlighted the importance of renewing the cultural exchange memorandum of understanding and called on Algerian students to join the Kingdom’s public universities. Ghwali stressed the importance of cultural exchange and exchanging scholarships, in addition to exchanging expertise in the fields of higher education and scientific research.

AMMAN — The Income and Sales Tax Department (ISTD) on Sunday called on taxpayers to benefit from the Cabinet’s decision that exempts them from 50 per cent of fines if payment is received by the end of the month, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The decision includes exemptions from all fines, interest and legal and civil compensations for the year 2014 and before, Petra added. From July 1 to the end of September, the fines drop by 50 per cent, while between October and December they will drop by 25 per cent.

The move aims to encourage taxpayers to settle their dues and to generate more revenues for the Treasury, according to a previous statement by ISTD Spokesperson Musa Tarawneh.

AMMAN — Border Guards received 386 Syrian refugees during the past 72 hours and sent them to shelters and camps set up for purposes of refugee reception and care, a source said Sunday.

Royal Medical Services cadres provided healthcare and necessary medications for the sick and injured.

AMMAN — A driver has admitted committing a hit-and-run accident in Zarqa and pretended his car was stolen to escape repercussions, the Public Security Department (PSD) said Sunday.

The driver reportedly filed a complaint to a north Amman security centre on Saturday night, alleging that his vehicle was stolen.

The initial probe of the case revealed that the suspect had been involved in a hit-and-run accident, as proved by camera footage and eyewitness testimonies, according to the PSD.

The suspect was charged with a hit-and-run crime as well as well as filing a false complaint.

AMMAN — The Gendarmerie Department on Sunday launched an awareness- raising campaign on the phenomenon of festive shooting.

The campaign titled: “Your festivity does not mean killing me,” seeks to increase citizens’ awareness across the Kingdom, on the dangers of festive shooting, through the distribution of brochures that were designed for this purpose.

The campaign was launched upon the directives Gendarmerie Department Director Brig. Gen. Hussein Hawatmeh who commended the support of the local community and media outlets in dealing with the phenomenon.  

AMMAN/OCCUPIED JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Sunday said the government has been closely following up on Israeli forces’ storming of Al Aqsa Mosque, noting that Jordan strongly denounces these acts. 

The premier made the statement at the Lower House in reply to questions by MPs on Jordan's position regarding recent Israeli violations of the sanctity of Al Aqsa Mosque, pointing out that the Awqaf Ministry, the Foreign Ministry and the Jordanian media have been pre-occupied with the issue. 

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh on Sunday voiced Jordan's strong condemnation and rejection of the Israeli forces attack on Al Aqsa Mosque.

He asserted that Jordan, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah, considers Al Aqsa Mosque a red line, stressing that the Kingdom will firmly confront any act of aggression that may harm the Islamic and the Christian sites, in accordance with the Hashemite Custodianship over the holy sites in Jerusalem. 

In his address at the 144th ministerial session of the Arab League Council meeting in Cairo, Judeh said Jordan will not spare any efforts to stop the Israeli violations, through direct and indirect contacts with influential international players, especially the UN. 

Through its membership of the Security Council, Jordan will voice rejection of such violations, especially against any intended measures to divide Al Aqsa Mosque in terms of prayer times or space, which he said “are totally rejected”.   

Earlier in the day, the government issued a statement condemning the Israeli army raid on Al Aqsa Mosque compound, warning Israel, as the occupation force, to stop its continuous attempts to alter the status quo in the holy city, in violation of international and humanitarian laws, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Mohammad Momani demanded the Israeli government stop its provocative acts and raids on Al Aqsa Mosque and Al Haram Al Sharif compound, and to cease its attacks on holy sites. 

Momani, who is also government spokesperson, stressed that Jordan will continue efforts confronting all Israeli attempts and measures against Islamic and Christian sites in Jerusalem, and said the Kingdom will carry on with its mission to safeguard holy shrines in Jerusalem.

He also highlighted the importance of committing to the outcomes of the trilateral meeting between His Majesty King Abdullah, US Secretary of State John Kerry and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in November 2014  regarding maintaining the status quo of holy sites in East Jerusalem and respecting the Hashemite Custodianship over these sites.

The minister described the continuous attacks by Israeli occupation forces on Al Aqsa Mosque and Al Haram Al Sharif as the “spark” that would escalate the conflict and fuel extremism, as hopes dim for any political settlement, Petra added.

On November 4, 2014, Jordan recalled its ambassador in Tel Aviv, Walid Obeidat, for consultations following an Israeli raid on Al Aqsa Mosque, the main component of the shrine, which is the third holiest place for Muslims.

The Kingdom on February 2 decided to send Obeidat back to his post almost three months after he was called for consultations in protest of Israeli practices at Al Haram Al Sharif in Jerusalem.

Also on Sunday, the newly licensed Muslim Brotherhood society warned against the occupation forces’ acts on Al Aqsa Mosque and Al Haram Al Sharif, adding that Israel does not care about the holy sites or their sanctity, Petra reported.

In Jerusalem, Palestinians and Israeli forces clashed at the flashpoint Al Aqsa Mosque compound Sunday, hours before the start of the Jewish New Year, Agence France-Presse reported.

The clashes came with tensions running high after Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon last week outlawed two Muslim groups that confront Jewish visitors to the compound.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned what he called an Israeli forces “attack” at the site, while Netanyahu said authorities must prevent rioting there.

Witnesses said Israeli forces entered the mosque and caused damage. Israeli forces said only they closed its doors to lock in rioters throwing stones, fireworks and other objects.

A statement from Israeli forces said the rioters barricaded themselves in the mosque overnight with the aim of disrupting visits by Jews to the site ahead of the start of New Year celebrations on Sunday evening.

It said Israeli forces raided the compound at around 6:45am (0345 GMT) to ensure visits could go ahead as usual. Protesters then targeted Israeli forces from inside the mosque.

“Masked protesters who were inside the mosque threw stones and fireworks at police,” it said. “Suspect pipes that could be filled with homemade explosives were also found at the entry to the mosque.”

Protesters have previously used such pipes to direct the trajectory of fireworks.

A witness accused Israeli forces of entering the mosque much further than would have been needed to close the doors and of causing damage, saying prayer mats were partly burned. Witnesses also said a number of windows were broken.

Al Aqsa ‘red line’ 

Israeli forces cleared people from the site, including members of the Waqf, the Jordanian organisation that administers it, a Waqf spokesman said.

Far-right Israeli Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel was among Jewish activists who later visited the site, media reported.

“It’s the first time that they evacuated all the guards,” Waqf Spokesman Firas Al-Dibs told AFP, adding that two had been wounded by rubber bullets. “The director of Al Aqsa Mosque, Omar Kaswani, was injured and arrested.”

Israeli forces, who denied using rubber bullets, said calm later returned to the complex, though clashes continued outside in the alleyways of Jerusalem’s Old City, with authorities firing tear gas and stun grenades.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said 20 people needed hospital treatment.

An AFP journalist saw several people being detained and heavy security deployment in the Old City. News photographers, including one from AFP, were kicked and hit by Israeli forces seeking to push back crowds.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said sites such as Al Aqsa constituted a “red line”, adding that “we will not allow attacks against our holy places”.

“The presidency strongly condemns the attack by the occupier’s military and police against Al Aqsa Mosque and the aggression against the faithful who were there,” a statement from his office said.

A Netanyahu statement said Israel would act “to maintain the status quo and order” at the compound, venerated by Jews as the Temple Mount.

“It is our responsibility and our power to act against rioters to allow freedom of worship at this holy place,” he said.

UN urges restraint 

United Nations Middle East peace envoy Nickolay Mladenov urged restraint on both sides.

“I urge all to do their part in ensuring that visitors and worshippers demonstrate restraint and respect for the sanctity of the area,” he said in a statement.

“I take note of the statement by the prime minister of Israel that the status quo at the holy sites will be maintained.” 

Egypt, the only other Arab country to have a peace treaty with Israel, also condemned its actions at the compound.

AMMAN — Eid Al Adha, or the feast of sacrifice, marking the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca, will start Thursday, September 24, according to Chief Islamic Justice Ahmad Hlayel.

The feast falls on the 10th of the lunar month of Dhul Hijja, or pilgrimage month, which will start Tuesday, according to Saudi religious authorities. 

They announced in Mecca that “the crescent of the new month was not sighted on Sunday evening,” meaning Monday will be the 30th day of Dhul Qadah, the lunar month preceding the pilgrimage month Dhul Hijja.

Religious authorities in Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, rely on sighting the new moon to determine the Islamic calendar and the beginning of lunar months.

Eid Al Adha is one of two major Islamic feasts, with the other being Eid Al Fitr, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. 

The feast of the sacrifice marks the end of the pilgrimage season, when Muslims of sufficient means are required to sacrifice livestock in remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail to God. 

AMMAN — US Ambassador to Jordan Alice G. Wells on Sunday launched a grant awarded under the Department of State’s Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) to expand conservation of the Temple of the Winged Lions, according to a US embassy statement.

The grant, totalling $200,000, was awarded to the American Centre of Oriental Research (ACOR) in partnership with the Department of Antiquities and the Petra Archaeological Park.  

Representatives from ACOR, the Antiquities Department, Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) and  the local community attended the launch ceremony.  

The grant will support the second phase of conservation at the Temple of the Winged Lions, and is part of the US’ support for this site since 2012.  

In its first stage, the project provided nearly 700 employment opportunities for the local community and earned the Archaeological Institute of America’s 2015 Award for Best Practices in Site Preservation.

Since 2001, the United States’ AFCP has helped preserve many of Jordan’s archaeological sites, providing over $1.6 million for 13 different sites, the embassy statement said.  

This programme has helped preserve Jordan’s cultural heritage and supported Jordanian tourism and the crucial role it plays in Jordan’s economy.

The AFCP is only one part of the US-Jordanian partnerships in tourism, with the US providing nearly $90 million to support the development of Jordan’s tourism initiatives at large.

While in Petra, Wells also met separately with the Nabataean Ladies Cooperative, the Dean of the Petra College for Tourism and Archaeology, and the PDTRA.  

She then discussed the state of tourism and the hotel industry with hotel owners in Wadi Musa.

AMMAN — Around the corner of a busy downtown Amman street, as customers bargain with vendors over vegetable prices and passers-by flip through books at a nearby kiosk, archaeology students are hard at work restoring some of the past glory of the Nymphaeum.

The site, currently closed to tourists, dates back to the Roman era when Amman was a Decapolis city named Philadelphia, but residents and passers-by had been ignoring it, thinking that it is an old, abandoned building, according to Mohammad Khalili, associate professor of architecture and heritage restoration at the Hashemite University.

Years of disrepair, pollution and urban expansion have taken their toll on the site, but Khalili is determined to bring back a semblance of its grandeur.

He is the field director of a project to restore and renovate the Nymphaeum, implemented by the University of Jordan’s (UJ) Hamdi Mango Centre for Scientific Research and funded through a $200,000 grant from the US Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation.

“This is an important project to put the site on the Kingdom’s tourism map,” Khalili told The Jordan Times in a recent interview at the Nymphaeum.

Realising the significance of the endeavour, the US ambassador’s fund presented double the usual grant amount of $100,000, he said.

The project, launched late last year, is led by UJ Dean of Academic Research Abeer Al Bawab and supervised by Department of Antiquities Director Munther Jamhawi, with the support of the Greater Amman Municipality. 

Khalili said it is an opportunity for students to implement what they learned in class.

Over 40 students from UJ, Petra University and the Hashemite University, along with technicians, are working to clean, coat and consolidate the structure’s stones, with new groups of students coming regularly to gain practical experience in archaeological restoration.

This process follows the documentation of the site in 3D using the latest technology, Khalili said, noting that the last documentation of the Nymphaeum is around 100 years old.

Nymphaea, Hellenistic structures later incorporated into Roman architecture and city planning, were built over caves or grottoes with running water, which were believed to be sacred to mythological nymphs. The structures were areas of public gathering and seen as a sign of a city’s wealth and standing.

“I used to pass by this place when walking downtown, and I would tell my friends: ‘This is an archaeological site. It’s a shame to leave it like this. This is what my major is all about,’” said Rima Mansour, a graduate of the Hashemite University with a BA in archaeological conservation.

Mansour said she joined the project at the Nymphaeum the minute she learned about it out of her passion for history and archaeology and with the intention of implementing what she studied.

Those involved in the field work, which started in June, hail from various governorates and areas, Khalili noted, such as Zarqa, Ajloun and Qastal.

MA student Ibrahim Barghouthi, who has been involved with the work for two months, said it will enrich his field experience, adding that this was his first time.

Current work on the site includes removing the clusters of dirt, erosion, staining, crumbling, chipping, cracking and flaking, and cleaning the structure stone by stone.

“You really get a sense of achievement when you see a stone all white and clean after days of hard work,” said Maen Al Hara, a fresh graduate involved in the project.

The 23-year-old said the work will help him find other jobs in archaeological restoration.

More difficult tasks are left to technicians such as 45-year-old Khalaf Al Kour, who has been working in restoration for four years.

“We are restoring the structure and filling in the missing parts of the stones,” noted Kour, who has previously worked on the restoration of Qasr Mushatta in Qastal, some 30km south of Amman.

Khalili said 10 permanent technicians including Kour are working with the students, who are also paid a daily wage to cover transportation and meals.

“We see tourists come here every day wanting to take a look at the site although it is closed to them,” he said, noting that once properly restored, the Nymphaeum can host cultural activities.

Looking at the upper side of the structure, where work is yet to start cleaning the blackened stones and address the effect of the nearby sewer network, Khalili acknowledged the Herculean task ahead of him and the whole team.

“It’s a challenge. People might look at this and say $200,000 is not enough, that it takes $1 million to restore the site properly, but that won’t stop us. We are determined to preserve this place for future generations.”