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AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Friday participated in a high-level meeting of the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee in Antalya on Friday, as part of intensified diplomatic efforts to end the war on Gaza and revive prospects for a two-state solution.

The Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee includes the foreign ministers of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, Turkey, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Palestine, in addition to the secretary generals of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

The meeting brought together representatives from Spain, Slovenia, Norway, the EU, the UK, France, Russia and China, as part of broader international engagement to address the ongoing crisis in the war-torn Strip, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.  

In his remarks, Safadi called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, warning of catastrophic humanitarian consequences from continued Israeli military operations and the ongoing blockade of aid. He also urged full implementation of the hostage exchange agreement brokered by Egypt, Qatar and the US.

Reiterating Jordan’s firm stance, Safadi rejected any forced displacement of Palestinians, stressing that rendering Gaza uninhabitable would amount to a "grave violation of international law".

Following the Antalya talks, the committee issued a joint statement alongside officials from Ireland, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, China and Russia, expressing deep concern over the escalating conflict and calling for urgent international action.

“We are witnessing one of the most destructive phases of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in decades,” the statement said, citing the erosion of international law and the failure to advance a political solution.

The ministers also warned that the prolonged stalemate has fuelled extremism and violence, and stressed the urgent need to revive the peace process. They also urged immediate steps to restore momentum toward a two-state solution, supported by regional and international mediation.

Diplomatic efforts are expected to continue at the upcoming high-level conference on Palestine, set to be held in New York this June and co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France. The forum aims to mobilise international support to end the occupation and facilitate the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

The ministers also condemned Israel’s renewed attacks on Gaza, particularly the destruction of vital infrastructure and the mounting civilian death toll. They called for full implementation of the 19 January ceasefire agreement and a large-scale humanitarian response.

The statement also called for the reunification of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, under the Palestinian Authority, and urged sustained political and financial support to enable it to meet its responsibilities.

Rejecting any attempt to forcibly transfer Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank, the ministers condemned Israel’s use of humanitarian aid as leverage. They called for unrestricted humanitarian access, the opening of Israeli crossings, and the establishment of air and sea corridors to facilitate urgent relief.

The committee also expressed strong support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), stressing its irreplaceable role in providing essential services to Palestinian refugees.

The ministers also praised Egypt, Qatar and the US for their mediation efforts, and voiced support for Egypt’s Gaza reconstruction initiative and an upcoming international donor conference in Cairo.

Additionally, the statement denounced continued Israeli settlement expansion, home demolitions, and land confiscation in the West Bank. It also underscored the importance of preserving the legal and historical status quo at Jerusalem’s holy sites, reiterating the Hashemite Custodianship as vital to safeguarding the city’s Islamic and Christian heritage.

On the sidelines of the Antalya meeting, Safadi held bilateral talks with several counterparts and participated in a panel discussion moderated by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. He reiterated Jordan’s call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and stressed the urgent need to facilitate humanitarian access across all areas of Gaza.

Safadi reiterated Jordan’s opposition to forced displacement and underscored the need to preserve Jerusalem’s Arab, Islamic and Christian identity,  a top priority for His Majesty King Abdullah, custodian of the city’s holy sites.

AMMAN — Jordanian companies specialising in food manufacturing are scheduled to begin their participation in the Saudi Food Manufacturing 2025, set to kick off on Sunday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The Jordan Exporters Association (JEA) is organising the Kingdom's participation in the exhibition for the second time, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The three-day event features over 550 international brands, as pavilions represent several countries, including France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Turkey, India, Switzerland, Spain, Pakistan, Egypt, China and Italy.

JEA Chairman Ahmad Khudari said that the goal of Jordanian industries' presence in this event is to “diversify and increase” national exports and learn about the latest developments, technologies and innovations in the food manufacturing industry.

Khudari said that the participation comes within the framework of the JEA's efforts aimed at enabling national companies to promote their products and open "new" marketing horizons in foreign markets, especially amid international presence in this specialised event.

He noted that this step represents an "important" opportunity for Jordanian companies to learn about developments in the sector, exchange expertise, explore opportunities for cooperation and partnerships and possibly conclude commercial deals that enhance their international presence.

The JEA chairman noted that the Saudi market is "one of the most important markets" for Jordanian industrial exports, given the two kingdoms' "strong" relations at various levels and their geographical proximity.

Jordanian industry has achieved "remarkable" development in recent years in terms of quality and "competitive" pricing, enabling it to reach over 150 global markets, he pointed out.

He said that the growth of industrial exports plays a "pivotal" role in driving the national economy and achieving "desired" growth rates, as well as creating more job opportunities, attracting new investments in the industrial sector, and supporting the Kingdom's foreign currency reserves.

Khudari called on Jordanian companies operating in the food industry to seize the opportunity to attend the event to promote their products, especially amid the "expected large" turnout of exhibitors, brand owners, experts, and traders from across the world.

Referring to JEA's "close" cooperation and coordination with Jordan and Amman chambers of industry and other stakeholders, he said that this partnership aims to support the export industries sector and promote Jordanian products by enhancing their presence in specialised international exhibitions and facilitating their access to "vital and strategic" markets.

AMMAN — Last Thursday, Century Park Hotel in Amman hosted "Building a Legacy: Best Practices in Architectural Conservation and Construction Techniques", a “landmark” event that brought together leading Italian and Jordanian experts, institutions and companies.

Sela for Training and Protection of Heritage in partnership with the Petra Development and Tourism Regional Authority (PDTRA) organised the workshop.

The idea is to promote Jordanian Archaeology as Sustainable Industry, and it was backed by the Swiss Drosos Foundation and PDTRA.

The event highlighted the importance of cross-sector collaboration, innovation and dialogue between the cultural heritage conservation and constructing industries to safeguard Jordan’s built heritage, Sela CEO Maria Ronza noted.

The morning session featured “high-level” presentations from Jordanian and Italian experts, led by Rami Daher from Turath.

CESF – Perugia/Amman, presented training and safety in heritage conservation while Tosti Associati, presented integrated architectural approaches to conservation.

Polygon Centre showcased advanced rope access techniques for monument restoration and the afternoon session ignited a “lively” discussion on the intersections and divergences between conservation practices and the modern construction industry in Jordan. 

"Attendees included representatives from Kimia S.p.A., an Italian leading company specialised in high-performance solutions for building restoration, structural consolidation, and architectural heritage conservation, El. En. Electronic Engineering S.p.A., specialised in laser systems for the conservation and cleaning of cultural heritage, the Jordanian Engineer Association, Jordanian construction firms, national and international academic institutions and organisations," Ronza said.

Sela CEO added that a “notable” highlight was the recognition of the winning student project from a national heritage conservation competition launched by Sela in 2024. 

The award celebrated the creativity and technical skill of emerging Jordanian talent contributing innovative solutions to preserve the country’s archaeological legacy.

The event concluded with an exhibition session, where participating companies from Italy and Jordan showcased their products, technologies and case studies to “key” stakeholders and decision-makers. 

The four-day workshop continues in Petra where local trainees in conservation technique will display their expertise in heritage preservation across Jordan.

AMMAN — The Northern Military Zone on Friday foiled an attempted infiltration by three individuals to illegally cross into Jordan from Syrian territory, according to a military source from the General Command of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF). 

 The source said that the rules of engagement were applied during the incident, leading to the arrest of the suspects, who were subsequently handed over to the relevant authorities, according to a JAF statement. 

The source reaffirmed the JAF’s commitment to protecting the Kingdom’s security and stability, stressing that the army continues to act firmly and decisively to prevent any attempts at infiltration or smuggling across the border.

AMMAN — Jordan will host the 9th Middle East and North Africa Public Administration Research (MENAPAR) Conference from April 28 to 30, bringing together senior officials, researchers, and experts from across the region and beyond.

Themed “Public Administration in the MENA Region: Transitions, Resilience and Future Prospects,” the conference will feature wide participation from public administration institutions, civil service agencies, and international organisations, according to Service and Public Administration Commission (SPAC) President Fayez Nahar.

Nahar said the conference serves as a key platform for exchanging expertise and discussing best practices in governance and public service reform, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

He noted that the conference will explore transformations in public administration across the region and examine strategies to boost institutional resilience, improve service delivery, modernise public policies, and promote innovation.

Topics on the agenda include innovation and adaptation in policymaking, service design and delivery, institutional reform, human resource development, and leadership in times of crisis. Participants will present and discuss 129 research papers covering both theoretical and applied approaches.

Delegations from 19 countries, including 14 Arab states, are expected to attend, alongside international experts and practitioners, he added.

Hosting the MENAPAR conference in Amman reflects Jordan’s regional leadership in administrative modernisation and aligns with the Kingdom’s public sector modernisation roadmap, Nahar said. The event underscores the country’s commitment to building a more efficient, transparent, and responsive public administration capable of advancing national development goals.

AMMAN —  The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has announced that public hearings will be held on April 28 for an advisory opinion on Israel's obligations regarding UN activities in the occupied Palestinian territories.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the court announced the hearing will last five days, beginning on 28 April and ending on 2 May. The hearings will be held the request for an advisory opinion "on the Obligations of Israel in relation to the Presence and Activities of the United Nations, Other International Organizations and Third States in and in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory".

Jordan's statement will be made on Wednesday, April 30, based on the ICJ's pleadings schedule.

The ICJ said that 40 states and four international organisations have expressed their intention to participate in the oral proceedings before the court, including Palestine, the US and the UK alongside other states from Europe, South America, North America, Africa, Asia and Oceania.

The UN, the Arab League, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and African Union, will also participate, ICJ said. 

The advisory opinion was requested following the adoption of a UN General Assembly resolution on 19 December 2024, which asked the court to outline Israel's obligations to the UN and third parties regarding the provision of services and humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The resolution, which expressed the General Assembly’s “grave concern about the dire humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” demanded that Israel comply without delay with all of its legal obligations under international law, including as set out by the ICJ and called on all parties to comply with their respective legal obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

The General Assembly also expresses its appreciation for the work of UNRWA, recognises the vital role of the Agency in providing humanitarian and development assistance to the Palestinian people, notably Palestine refugees, and particularly in the Gaza Strip, and endorses the efforts of the agency to continue operations as far as possible in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, pursuant to resolution 77/123 of 12 December 2022.

In November, Israel ended its 1967 cooperation agreement with UNRWA, which provides lifesaving services to around 2.4 million Palestine refugees across the region, including to approximately 1.1 million Palestinians in Gaza. 

AMMAN — Minister of Government Communication Mohammad Momani said that no casualties were reported after an unidentified drone crashed in Ma’in area in Madaba Governorate on Friday. 

In remarks to Jordan TV, Momani  underlined that the Kingdom is “strong and remain resilient in the face of all challenges and dangers it may face.”

A military source said that an unidentified drone entered the crashed over Ma'in in Madaba.

The source said that the falling debris caused a fire in the wooded area where the drone crashed, and no casualties were reported

Momani added that the Kingdom has always overcome challenges and demonstrated resilience in the face of crises, “thanks to the will and wisdom of its leadership, the unity of its people, and the cohesion of its institutions.”

The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to enhancing stability and security, highlighting the importance of national unity in facing regional and international challenges.

Momani called on all citizens to obtain information from reliable sources and to stay away from danger zones, warning against rumors and misleading news.

“Jordan once again affirms, through the capability of its security apparatus and various institutions, its ability to protect its interests and steer clear of all regional turmoil.”

He urged all Jordanians to stand together and stressed that unity is the strongest weapon against anything that threatens the nation's security and stability.