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AMMAN —The Foreign Ministry has welcomed a new resolution adopted unanimously by the Executive Board of UNESCO concerning Jerusalem and its walls, that calls on Israel to halt its Judaization and settlement activities in the Old City and surrounding areas. 

On Wednesday, during its 221st session held in Paris, UNESCO’s Executive Board unanimously adopted two resolutions concerning Palestine: “Occupied Palestine” and “Cultural and Educational Institutions.”

In a statement on Wednesday, the ministry said that the UNESCO’s resolution has reaffirmed international community’s position on the legal status of Jerusalem and calls on Israel, the occupying power, to halt all illegal and unilateral measures in the Old City and its surroundings. 

The ministry’s spokesperson, Sufian Qudah, said the Israeli actions threaten the city's cultural heritage and undermine its historical and cultural value.

He said that the resolution reaffirms Jordan’s long-standing position regarding the Old City of Jerusalem, including the Islamic and Christian holy sites, and also the previous decisions issued by UNESCO’s Executive Board and the World Heritage Committee concerning the city’s status and heritage.

The resolutions call for halting excavation projects and construction activities in occupied Jerusalem, including its Old City and surrounding areas, as well as at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, in the occupied West Bank’s southern part.

The resolutions reaffirm that World Heritage Sites, including occupied Jerusalem and its walls, Al Aqsa Mosque, and the Old City of Hebron—home to the Ibrahimi Mosque— are an integral part of Palestine’s cultural heritage, that require special protection from destruction, alterations, or military deployment.

AMMAN — The World Bank Group has approved $1.1 billion in new financing to support Jordan to achieve results on its Economic Modernisation Vision (EMV), and build socio-economic resilience in the face of continued shocks and crises.

Investments span four projects aimed to positively impact people’s lives by promoting reforms for inclusive growth and job creation, supporting startups and small and medium enterprises, expanding social assistance, and promoting a more sustainable energy future to fuel Jordan’s economy, according to a World Bank statement.

“Jordan continues to demonstrate commitment to advancing critical reforms to build a more competitive, inclusive, and resilient economy,” Jean-Christophe Carret, World Bank Division Director, Middle East Department, was quoted in the statement as saying.

“These new programmes reflect a comprehensive approach, supporting private sector-led investment, entrepreneurship, social protection, and energy transition, which is critical to achieving sustainable growth,” Carret added.

Since the launch of the EMV, the Kingdom has taken steps to modernise its economy, promote innovation, strengthen fiscal sustainability, and expand social protection. 

With a focus on inclusion and digitalisation, the government is working to unlock private sector potential and deliver tangible improvements in people’s lives across the country. 

The newly approved projects mark a “significant” milestone in the implementation of the World Bank Group’s Country Partnership Framework for Jordan 2024-2029, reflecting a results-driven partnership that combines reforms with strategic investments.

“This new financing reflects our continued partnership with the World Bank to promote economic opportunities, enhance social protection, and strengthen Jordan’s innovation and clean energy agenda as per the development priorities under the Economic Modernization Vision,” said Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Zeina Toukan.

The Jordan Growth and Competitiveness Development Policy Financing ($400 million) will support the government’s efforts to unlock investment, boost exports, and strengthen job creation - particularly for youth and women. 

The programme backs reforms to improve the business environment, promote fair competition, expand access to finance and further enhance customs procedures.

The Innovative Startups and SMEs Fund (ISSF 2.0) ($50 million), aims to expand early-stage equity financing and catalyse private investment in high-growth startups in key sectors such as ICT, fintech, greentech, and healthtech. 

Building on ISSF 1.0, which mobilised over $240 million in private capital and created more than 2,290 jobs, the project will also draw on IFC’s expertise in due diligence and co-investments in startups and regional venture capital funds. 

Over five years, ISSF 2.0 is expected to mobilise an estimated $150 million in private capital, support 100 startups and create 1,500 new jobs in high-growth sectors, particularly for women- and youth-led businesses.

The Resilient and Sustainable Social Protection Programme ($400 million) aims to strengthen Jordan’s ability to respond to shocks, while improving support to the most vulnerable. 

The programme expands cash-based assistance, enhances digital service delivery, and links social protection with access to education and healthcare services, and jobs. 

It aims to support 1.2 million vulnerable individuals through cash transfers, provide health insurance to 150,000 people and deliver services to 1 million individuals through early warning and response systems.

The Additional Financing for the Electricity Sector Efficiency and Supply Reliability Programme ($250 million) scales up support to Jordan’s clean energy transition while improving grid stability and financial sustainability. 

The programme will roll out additional cost savings and revenue enhancement measures in the sector, expand energy efficiency in public institutions and strengthen cybersecurity in transmission operations. 

The programme also supports the Kingdom’s target of increasing the share of renewable energy in Jordan’s electricity mix to 31 per cent by 2030, while enhancing grid resilience.

The World Bank’s “growing” engagement in Jordan reflects a “trusted and evolving” partnership anchored in shared priorities and a “strong” commitment to delivery. 

Through integrated, multi-sectoral support, the World Bank aims to support Jordan as it navigates regional pressures, promotes inclusive development and delivers on the promise of the country’s EMV.

AMMAN — The Cabinet, during a session chaired by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, approved on Wednesday the launch of a strategic partnership with the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD), introducing a framework for financing a range of priority development projects aligned with Jordan’s Economic Modernisation Vision.

The initiative, which covers the period 2025–2029, marks a new phase of cooperation between the two sides and, for the first time, allows for the financing of private sector initiatives. 

Jordan will be the first country to adopt this model, with similar agreements expected in other Arab states, according to a Prime Ministry statement.

The initiative will focus on key sectors including water, social services, private sector growth, value-added industries, public-private partnerships, digital transformation, export development and start-up support.

Under the agreement, each project will require Cabinet approval prior to implementation.

Jordan’s partnership with the AFESD spans over five decades, during which the fund has supported major projects in sectors such as energy, agriculture, transportation, industry, water, mining and social development, the statement said. 

AFESD is planning to allocate around $750 million to support development projects in the Kingdom over the next year, to be administered in cooperation with regional and international partners, including the World Bank and the European Investment Bank.

In remarks to the Jordan News Agency, Petra, Senior Advisor to the AFESD director-general Mirza Hassan said that the fund has shifted its developmental financing and operational restructuring policies, with Jordan selected as the “initial incubator” of the new vision “in culmination of the exceptional partnership that exceeded $3 billion in investments.”

“This strategy, developed over a year by a consortium of Arab and Jordanian experts, aims to convert pressing regional development challenges into sustainable investment opportunities, with a targeted emphasis on critical sectors like water, energy, and digital transformation,” he said. 

The advisor explained that Jordan was chosen as the optimal starting point for this strategy, “given its clear economic vision and its proactive engagement with recent economic, political, and administrative reforms.

"Jordan is one of AFESD's largest development partners, with over $3 billion in investments, reflecting our strong confidence in its economy," he said. 

He added that the fund’s key focus in Jordan will be on the National Water Carrier project. “The fund will also prioritise sustainable energy projects, including solar and wind power, to meet Jordan's growing energy demands.”

Investments in education and healthcare infrastructure, including school construction and hospital development, are also planned, he said, emphasising the critical role of public-private partnerships in these sectors.

In a related decision, the Cabinet also approved a memorandum of understanding with the AFESD to help finance the activities of the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD). The funds will also support social and economic development programmes aimed at enhancing skills and addressing local community needs.

The Cabinet also extended its framework agreement with Fortescue Future Industries for a green hydrogen and ammonia production project in the Aqaba Special Economic Zone. 

The extension, valid until March 31, 2026, is intended to help developers meet investment requirements, facilitate infrastructure financing, and standardise investment contracts. It also aims to clarify incentives and expected returns for future investors in the green hydrogen sector.

The Council of Ministers also approved the settlement of 979 outstanding tax cases between taxpayers and the Income and Sales Tax Department. The decision is part of ongoing efforts to ease financial pressures on businesses, enhance tax compliance, and stimulate economic growth and expansion.

AMMAN — Prime Minister Jafar Hassan on Wednesday met with the head and members of the Union of Centrist Parties Parliamentary Bloc, which includes six political parties.

The meeting, held at the House of Representatives, centred on critical issues, particularly the importance of advancing the comprehensive modernisation programme, which encompasses political, economic and administrative reforms, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Hassan reiterated the government's commitment to implementing the priorities outlined in the ministerial statement, as directed by the Royal Letter of Designation. He also emphasised that the government's main focus is stimulating economic growth, expanding the national economy and creating job opportunities for citizens.

The prime minister also highlighted plans to launch significant strategic projects in 2025 aimed at attracting foreign investment and driving economic growth over the next four years. 

He also said that the government has successfully reduced the cost of debt servicing on the Eurobond loan due this year by 40 per cent, reiterating efforts to lower public debt interest rates.

Hassan also stressed the government's commitment to institutionalising social responsibility, aligning it with national development priorities. He also commended national institutions for their role in supporting the health and education sectors through social responsibility initiatives.

MP Zuhair Khashman, head of the Union of Centrist Parties Parliamentary Bloc, described the partnership between the government and the parliamentary bloc as crucial for shaping the country's future. He emphasised that the bloc is a national project built on independent party principles, with a comprehensive legislative, political, economic, and ethical agenda in line with their election programmes.

Khashman also underscored the urgency of transforming the economic landscape to generate more job opportunities and reduce unemployment. He also called for empowering the private sector and strengthening the relationship between the public and private sectors.

He also commended the government's “bold” decisions during its first 100 days, noting their positive impact on the public and the national economy, and demonstrating a clear commitment to government accountability.

AMMAN — Lower House Speaker Ahmad Safadi on Wednesday issued a strong rebuke of what he described as recent unlawful actions and inflammatory rhetoric targeting Jordan’s national principles and institutions, particularly the armed forces.

Speaking at the opening of a parliamentary session, Safadi condemned the attacks on the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF), calling them “a crime, an act of ingratitude and a betrayal that cannot be accepted or tolerated,” the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

He also underscored the deep symbolic value the army holds in Jordan’s national identity, describing it as a red line that must not be crossed. “Whoever dares to touch the dignity of our armed forces is nothing but a tool in the hands of the nation’s enemies,” he said.

Safadi also commended the JAF as the same “brave army that fought on the walls of Jerusalem, supported Arab brothers with convoys of martyrs, and continues, despite fire and hardship, to stand with our people in Gaza.”

He also pointed to the role of Jordan’s field hospitals in Gaza as evidence of the army’s ongoing heroism, adding that “some fail to recognise this.”

The speaker also hailed the role of the security forces in preserving national stability and defending the country against threats.

On the war in Gaza, Safadi described the Israeli aggression as “barbaric” and criticised the international community’s “shameful failure” to stop it. “Amid this inaction, Jordan stands firmly, politically, diplomatically and humanely,  with the people of Gaza,” he said.

Safadi also commended His Majesty King Abdullah’s recent diplomatic efforts, which included a European tour and participation in a tripartite summit in Egypt with the Egyptian and French presidents.

He also reiterated the House’s full support for the King’s positions, especially those voiced during the summit. He also expressed support for regional and international efforts to rebuild Gaza and firmly rejected Israeli attempts to isolate West Bank towns, accelerate settlement expansion or forcibly displace Palestinians.

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Wednesday met with a delegation from the Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), a US-based advocacy organisation, to discuss the latest developments in the region.

During the meeting, Safadi emphasised the urgent need to end the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and to open crossing points for humanitarian aid, as the Strip faces an "unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe."

Safadi also called for an immediate stop to the escalating violence in the West Bank, condemned Israeli violations against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, and urged the respect of the city's legal and historical status quo, according to a Foreign Ministry statement. 

The Foreign Minister also outlined Jordan’s continuous efforts to foster peace and enhance both regional and international security. He reiterated that the only path to a just and lasting peace is the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Also on Wednesday, Safadi met a delegation of peace process experts from EU missions to the United Nations in New York. The discussions focused on strengthening Jordanian-European partnerships, securing an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and ensuring the swift delivery of humanitarian aid into the besieged Strip.

The meeting also touched on developments in Syria and Lebanon, as well as the ongoing cooperation between Jordan and European countries to achieve regional security and stability.

AMMAN — The Lower House on Wednesday approved 4  out of 13 articles of a draft law establishing the Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW) for the year 2024.

The decision was made during a legislative session chaired by Lower House Speaker Ahmad Safadi, and attended by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan and Cabinet members, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs Abdul Moneim Odat said that the draft law aims to grant the commission a legal foundation, formalising its status after operating under a Cabinet decision since 1992, adding that the legislation recognises the JNCW’s role in shaping national strategies to empower women across political, economic and social domains.

Debate during the session focused primarily on Article 4, which outlines the commission’s objectives, including promoting women's rights, combating discrimination and enhancing women’s participation in national development. Lawmakers rejected several recommendations by the Joint Parliamentary Committee and voted to retain key provisions related to protecting women from violence.

Minister of State Ahmad Abbadi noted that the law does not create a new public institution but instead formalises the legal standing of an existing civil body. He noted that referring to the legislation as a "women's affairs law" would have introduced legal complications, stressing the commission’s consultative role.

Several MPs expressed support for the law, describing it as consistent with national values and reflective of Jordan’s commitment to empowering women within cultural and religious frameworks.

Lawmakers also agreed to update the title of the law to reflect the year 2025. The law will come into force 30 days after its publication in the Official Gazette.

AMMAN – Minister of Social Development Wafa Bani Mustafa and her Palestinian counterpart Samah Hamad met on Wednesday to discuss joint cooperation on the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

The meeting, attended by Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO) Secretary-General Hussein Shibli, focused on strengthening relief efforts in response to the escalating needs in both territories.

Bani Mustafa reiterated Jordan's unwavering support for the Palestinian people, particularly those in Gaza, highlighting the efforts of His Majesty King Abdullah to alleviate their suffering and prevent forced displacement.

The minister also highlighted the King’s address at the 2025 World Disability Summit in Berlin, which reiterated Jordan's commitment to the rights of persons with disabilities. She also pointed to the "Restore Hope" initiative for amputees in Gaza, which has already benefited over 400 people, including children, and aims to reach 16,000 individuals in need of prosthetic support.

Bani Mustafa also commended the pivotal role of the JHCO, which oversees aid distribution to both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in close partnership with local and international bodies.

Hamad expressed gratitude for Jordan's efforts, particularly through the Royal Medical Services and JHCO, in facilitating aid to Palestinians. She emphasised the growing humanitarian needs in Gaza and the West Bank, urging further coordination to meet these demands.

Shibli provided an update on JHCO’s ongoing relief operations, emphasising the organisation's vital humanitarian role. He highlighted the “Restore Hope” initiative as one of the key projects, noting that the JHCO's efforts continue in collaboration with international partners to assist the Palestinian people, particularly those in need of prosthetic limbs.

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a June 2023 State Security Court (SSC) ruling, sentencing a drug dealer to over three years in prison after convicting him of selling six illegal pills to an undercover agent in Amman in January 2023.

The court declared the defendant guilty of obtaining illegal narcotics with the intent of selling the drugs to an undercover agent on  January 17.

The SSC handed the defendant five years in prison for the offence of possessing illegal narcotics and ordered him to pay JD5,000 in fines.

However, the court decided to reduce the fine to JD3,500 and the prison term to three years in prison to give the defendant a second chance in life.

Court documents said the Anti-Narcotics Department (AND) learnt the defendant was in possession of illegal narcotics and sent one of its agents to pose as a buyer.

“The AND agent got in touch with the defendant and asked him for six Captagon pills in return for JD10,” court documents said.

When the two met, AND agents immediately arrested the suspect, court papers added.

Upon searching the defendant, court transcripts maintained, the police officers found an additional 15 pills and a mobile chip that was used in the drug deal.

The defendant contested the SSC’s ruling through his lawyer, who argued that the court “did not provide solid evidence to implicate his client”.

The lawyer argued that his client possessed the illegal narcotics for his personal use.

Meanwhile, the SSC prosecution office asked the higher court to uphold the sentence and the fine imposed on the defendant.

The higher court maintained that the SSC had followed the proper procedures in issuing the sentence against the defendant.

“It was clear to the court that the defendant confessed willingly to possessing the illegal drugs to sell in the local market,” the higher court said.

The Court of Cassation judges were Yassin Abdullat, Nayef Samarat, Mohammad Khashashneh, Qassem Dughmi and Hammad Ghzawi.