Local

AMMAN — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday condemned the Israeli occupation forces' permit to extremists to march through the Old City of Jerusalem.

In a statement on Wednesday, the ministry also condemned "provocative" sentiments by extremist settlers against the Awqaf Department and their attempts to change the status quo in Jerusalem. 

The ministry's spokesperson Sufian Qudah warned against Israeli unilateral and illegal measures that aim at changing the status quo in Jerusalem, underlying that "Israel has no sovereignty over Jerusalem and its holy sites and that East Jerusalem is an occupied Palestinian territory".

He also held Israeli "entirely" accountable for the consequences of this "dangerous" escalation, which coincided with the Israeli aggression on Gaza, calling on the international community to put an end to the Israeli violations in the occupied Palestinian territories. 

The spokesperson also reiterated that Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif, with its total area of 144 dunums, is a place of worship for Muslims alone and that the Jordan-run Jerusalem Awqaf and Aqsa Affairs Department has the “exclusive authority” to supervise the holy site’s affairs and manage entries.     

He also stressed that Israel, as an occupying power, needs to adhere to the international law concerning occupied Jerusalem and its holy sites, mainly Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif.

AMMAN — The Prime Ministry said on Wednesday that the government has allocated JD734 million to implement the Economic Modernisation Vision's executive programme in the upcoming year. This allocation, based on the programm's cost estimate, is outlined in general budget draft law for the fiscal year 2024.

A foreign aid package of JD250 million has also been in the draft budget law, making a total of JD734 million for the implementation  of  the Economic Modernisation Vision's, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

The Executive Programme prioritises various sectors, including JD12 million for promoting and stimulating local investments, JD63 million for high-value industries supporting national industry and developing the food industry, and enhancing the competitiveness of national exports, Petra said.

Additionally, JD56 million has been allocated for future services, focusing on digitalizing hospitals and healthcare centres, supporting e-commerce development, and promoting the e-gaming industry.

The general budget draft law also allocates JD83 million to finance the priorities of the Jordan as a “global destination” and to mitigate the impact of the Gaza war on the tourism sector. It also includes incentive programmes to low-cost flights, tourism promotion and support for projects by Royal Film Commission projects.

Sustainable resources projects  receives JD233 million for priorities such as the annual funding the National Water Carrier, reducing water loss, regional electric grid projects, and providing necessary infrastructure for supplying natural gas to several industrial cities.

The general budget draft law also allocates JD33 million for Sustainable Environment priorities, aiming to promote sustainable practices for the transition to a green economy. 

AMMAN — MPs on Wednesday condemned Israel's attacks against Gaza, warning of "grave" repercussions as a result of the occupying state's renewed aggression on the besieged strip.

During an oversight session on Wednesday, lawmakers also decried the world's inaction and silence on Israeli violations of international laws and treaties and humanitarian and moral values, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

MPs said that the West-backed Israel's war on Gaza, "renewed heavily brutally following the short-lived truce", have resulted in tragic civilian toll, including children and women, besides the large-scale destruction of residential buildings, hospitals and mosques.

Lawmakers also affirmed Jordan's support for Palestinians and commended the recent reinforcement of military field hospitals in Gaza.

They also urged intensified international efforts that "go beyond just condemnation" to action to ensure the delivery of essential humanitarian aid to Gaza. 

MPs called for supporting Palestinian resistance against Israeli crimes and schemes for forced displacement.

The Lower House speaker tasked the Legal Committee with meetings with veteran MPs with legal background to examine the Jordanian-Israeli deals.

The committee has been tasked with re-examining all agreements Jordan had signed with Israel, including the 1994 Wadi Araba Peace Treaty and the 2016 mega gas deal.  

The committee will make recommendations to the government on these deal for any necessary action. 

AMMAN — Deputising for His Majesty King Abdullah, Minister of Education Azmi Mahafzah on Wednesday launched the "JAIP Connect" platform. 

Initiated by the Academia Industry platform (JAIP), under the theme "Together, We Can Shape a Better Future for Research and Innovation", the platform aims to strengthen cooperation between the academic, research and industrial sectors and promote interaction for the benefit of the national economy.

Rida Khawaldeh, President of the Jordan Society for Scientific Research (JSSR), hailed the platform launch as "a pivotal moment in the path of innovation and development".

It's a strategic step in line with His Majesty King Abdullah's vision for economic modernisation and strengthening national security and stability, he added.

Highlighting Jordan's long-standing commitment to the pursuit of science and learning,   Khawaldeh said that "since the establishment of Jordan's first university, the University of Jordan, in the early 1960s, the country has seen the establishment of more than 35 public and private universities".

He added that the Jordan Strategy Forum (JSF) has published a policy paper entitled "World Creativity and Innovation Day: The Fundamental Challenge for Jordan"  highlighting Jordan's commitment to research and development, which accounts for approximately 1 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), an increase from 0.43 per cent in 2014. 

Looking at Jordan's position in the Global Innovation Index, the report showed a shift from 61/142 in 2011 to 78/132 in 2022, he noted.

Fathi Jaghbeer, president of the Jordan Chamber of Industry, emphasised the importance of the platform in enhancing the industrial process in the Kingdom and laying the foundation for the future of production.

Jagheer said that the Jordanian industrial sector has proven its centrality in recent years, noting that the industrial sector accounts for about 43 per cent of the GDP, with Jordanian products reaching some 144 countries around the world. 

The industrial sector employs about 260,000 workers, and industrial exports account for about 93 per cent of total exports, he added.

The launching ceremony included a panel discussion with decision-makers from academia and industry, focusing on the importance of connecting academia with industry in order to use the platform at its full capacity.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday warned that the continuation of the Israeli war on Gaza could exacerbate regional conditions, calling for an immediate ceasefire and the protection of civilians.

During a meeting with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides, the King reiterated Jordan’s rejection of the forced displacement of the Palestinians within or outside of Gaza, noting that the world must reject attempts to create conditions for displacement, according to a Royal Court statement.

The meeting, held at Al Husseiniya Palace and attended by HRH Crown Prince Hussein, covered the importance of stepping up efforts to increase and deliver humanitarian and relief aid to the Gaza Strip.

His Majesty stressed the need to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of sufficient humanitarian and relief aid to Gaza and the provision of food, medicine, water and fuel without delay, warning that the humanitarian situation will deteriorate if military operations continue, the statement said. 

For his part, President Christodoulides expressed appreciation for Jordan’s role, led by the King, in ensuring the provision of relief and medical aid into Gaza, voicing Cyprus’ support for these efforts.

His Majesty also warned of the dangerous developments in the West Bank and the Israeli violations in Jerusalem, warning of a spike in violence, especially by settlers.

The King commended Cyprus’ position in support of working towards peace on the basis of the two-state solution, calling for increasing support for UNRWA to enable it to continue its vital services in accordance with its UN mandate, according to the statement. 

Discussions also covered bilateral ties, with the two leaders expressing keenness to bolster Jordan-Cyprus relations and expanding prospects for cooperation across various fields.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan, Jordan’s Ambassador to Cyprus Basheer Zoubi and the accompanying Cypriot delegation attended the meeting.

President Christodoulides departed Jordan later on Tuesday.

AMMAN — A public school in Amman is grappling with heating shortages, broken windows, unsanitary facilities and a lack of basic amenities. 

The school, located in an underprivileged area, finds itself in a dire state, with 500 students and staff struggling to cope with the harsh winter conditions.

A teacher from the school, who requested anonymity, said that despite repeated attempts to reach out to the Ministry of Education for assistance, their requests for heaters and maintenance have been ignored.

The teacher expressed frustration, labelling the distribution of resources as “random” and “unjustified”.

The teacher mentioned that the Ministry of Education provided the school with a kerosene allowance totaling 600 litres. However, the school lacks a sufficient number of heaters to make use of this allocation. Currently, the school has a total of 12 heaters; some are in proper working order, while others are only partially functional.

Furthermore, the teacher highlighted that a sum of JD200 was allocated for cleaning detergents throughout the entire school year. However, there is a lack of cleaning staff available to utilise these detergents effectively.

The teacher emphasised that such managerial oversights are not uncommon in public schools.

“The condition of the school is terrible,” the teacher said. “We don’t have proper and clean toilets for use; neither do we have clean water for drinking. Children sit in cold classrooms, and how can they study and concentrate in such an environment?”

In response to inquiries, the Education Ministry’s Buildings Director Isam Abu Ahmada told The Jordan Times that an inspection team would be sent to assess the situation at the school and necessary measures would be taken.

Abu Ahmada disclosed that there are currently no cleaning staff employed, acknowledging a decade-long halt in hiring. 

“Whoever retires or quits, there are no alternative staff,” said Abu Ahmada. However, he said that efforts are underway to rectify this by hiring new cleaning personnel.

AMMAN — The Jordanian media has depicted local public opinion trends in its coverage of the Gaza conflict, yet it has been unable to influence global public sentiment and opinion, former minister of state for media affairs Mohammad Momani said on Tuesday.

During a discussion session organised by the Centre for Defending Freedom of Journalists (CDFJ) Media Forum, Momani said local news outlets must enhance their capabilities to reach a global audience, underscoring the crucial need to strengthen the presence of local English-language news platforms.

Discussing the media’s role and Israel’s defeat in the media battle, Momani said that “the world is censoring pro-Palestine voices, with 95 per cent of global walkouts being organised in solidarity with Palestine”.

Momani also highlighted the journalistic objectivity and balance notion in conflict reporting. He said that the guiding notion of any journalistic work is truthfulness, which enables the creation of strong narratives, “The truth cannot be a fabrication... and the truth in this war in particular has imposed itself strongly.”

Meanwhile, former minister of culture and youth Mohammad Abu Rumman said that local news outlets havereflected opinions expressed by the public, openly reporting demonstrations and protests against Israel’s war on Gaza.

He underlined that the war on Gaza exposed the bias of Western media in its coverage of the war, highlighting the need to tailor a proactive media strategy that elevates and generates stories of interest for both local and international audiences.

“There has been some sort of chaos in Jordanian media [in its coverage of the current war] in the sense that media agenda and policies were not framed,” according to Abu Rumman who explained that the proactive Jordanian diplomatic efforts were not supported with a clear media narrative that “reflects the true Jordanian position toward Gaza”.

Abu Rumman underscored that journalists and media professionals cannot be detached from the current discourse on Gaza. “The media narrative should not be separated from the political narrative... media has altered the balance of power and has become a built-in part of the military battle,” Abu Rumman highlighted.

The CDFJ’s Media Forum presented through three different discussion sessions with media experts and former cabinet ministers, various perspectives on a board range of issues related tothe narrative warduring the reporting of the Israeli war on Gaza. 

The session also covered the role of social media in changing the course of the war, as well as shaping the narrative of the conflict.

The sessions initiated a reflective process on media practices concerning war and armed conflicts.

AMMAN — Jordan and the UAE are working on a joint project in green ammonia, but it has not yet been completed. It is currently in the study phase and we hope it will see the light soon, Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh said during an interview with the UAE Aletihad newspaper on Monday.

“Jordan is in the process of establishing Aqaba Aquatic Research Centre with support from the Abu Dhabi Ports Company, the main developer of the land where this scientific marine research complex will be located,” the Premier said.

The project aims to protect the marine environment in the oceans, Khasawneh said, noting that prior to this, a 7 kilometre area of the Gulf of Aqaba was announced a protected natural area.

He also commended the “significant and successful” shift in the energy production in the UAE, which has improved Emirati investments abroad that achieve a positive carbon balance and reduce emissions.

He also noted that Jordan has achieved its energy targets, with approximately 28 per cent of the Kingdom’s energy mix coming from clean and renewable energy, and 18.4 per cent of all vehicles in Jordan operating on clean energy.

The premier also added that Jordan, on the sidelines of COP28, launched one of the initiatives related to the protection of the seas and coral reefs in the Gulf of Aqaba.

The prime minister also commended the outcomes of the COP28, as the first days of the event saw the launching of several key initiatives.

Emphasising Jordanian support, Khasawneh said that “since the UAE won the presidency of the global conference, Jordan has been confident of its success, as the UAE has made prominent and significant strides in protecting the environment, reducing greenhouse emissions, diversifying energy sources and moving towards renewable and clean energy”.

AMMAN — The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) is currently conducting a five-day training workshop for technical officers in charge of Desert Locust control from East Africa and the Middle East, aimed at enhancing the preparedness of their countries to effectively respond to desert locust outbreaks and invasions. 

The training is organised under the USAID/BHA funded project “Desert Locust risk reduction in the Central Region and Horn of Africa” implemented by FAO and the Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region (CRC). 

Participants to the desert locust contingency planning workshop have been drawn from both breeding and invasion countries, include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Somalia, Syria and Uganda, according to a FAO statement. 

“The training comes at the right time, especially with predictions of an increase of desert locust threats during this time. The workshop will allow the discussion of the national plans of the participating countries, as well as the benefit of the practical exercise to be implemented by the participants for the proper application of the management tactics based on the agreed plans,” said Khalid Hneifat, minister of agriculture, underscoring the importance of the collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture, and CRC and FAO. 

Increasing vigilance — learning from the past 

The 2019-2022 desert locust upsurge that hit the central region and the horn of Africa, considered the worst crisis for decades, was successfully contained. However, it exposed gaps in preparedness for Desert Locust management. The upsurge threatened food security and livelihoods of an estimated 35 million people, including small-scale farmers.

“Preparing to respond to Desert Locust emergencies is fundamental in preventing and controlling desert locust outbreaks. The training will equip officers with skills in developing and implementing Desert Locust contingency plans which serve as the benchmark for assessing the preparedness of national locust control units to effectively address locust crises,” Shoki Al Dobai, team leader for FAO’s Locusts and other Transboundary Plant Pests and Diseases.

During the workshop, participants will review and update existing national contingency plans to enhance the countries’ vigilance, as preventive control does not fully guarantee that a crisis will not occur, the statement said. 

Nabil Assaf, FAO representative in Jordan, encouraged the countries to engage and adopt contingency plans as they complement predefined national models for emergency plans.

Mamoon Alalawi, executive secretary of the CRC, said despite ongoing efforts,desert locusts remain a persistent threat to the region, therefore, such training will enhance early preparedness among front line countries to address any gaps between calm situations and emergency situations.

Step by step guide to manage locust operations 

These emergency plans outline the procedural steps for managing locust-related operations during crises, considering the efficiency and availability of human resources and necessary assets within locust control units.

The training will enable every country to clearly define the roles and responsibilities of all national authorities involved in controlling Desert Locusts. Additionally, a simulation exercise for campaign management will be conducted, the statement read.

AMMAN — The Nabataean social structure revolved around the family, clan and tribe, and it can traced back the Nabataean nomadic past. However, the sociopolitical organisations of the Petra’s hinterland were not studied enough in the past and they remained relatively unknown. During Nabataean and Roman times (1st century BC-2nd century AD) the combination of relations between pastoralist and more sedentary rural population in the Petra region took place.

“This is particularly well highlighted when considering the numerous Nabataean tomb complexes distributed throughout the urban limits of Petra. These tomb complexes not only feature the monumental tomb façades, they also encompass ritual banqueting installations, which were accessed by a central courtyard,” noted Will Kennedy from the Nurnberg University in Germany.

The Nabataean tomb complexes are comparable to the Greaco-Roman secular luxury architecture and Greaco-Roman funerary structures from the same period. The characteristic of necropolis has been that tombs were closed spaces where only members of the family and friends had an access.

“Other examples of Nabataean Heterotopiai possibly include the tribal sanctuary known as the ‘Obodas Chapel’ located immediately south of Petra’s urban centre,” said Kennedy.

Dating as early as the 2nd century BC, this family or clan-run sanctuary features both rock-cut and freestanding triclinia (dining tables and couches), and thus further underlines the social significance of ritual banqueting within Nabataean culture, Kennedy elaborated, adding that comprehensive study of the epigraphic evidence from Petra has led her to identify different social groups that collectively commemorated a specific deity.

“As these groups are also mostly associated with triclinia and Nabataean fraternal cultic associations known as the marzeah, the social significance of Nabataean ritual banqueting is once more emphasised,” Kennedy said, noting that, such spaces suggest a deeply tribal-based social structure that may be considered as a reflection of the nomadic past that continued to characterise Nabataean society and culture in Petra well after their “sedentarisation” in and around the city from the 1st  century BC onward. 

Recent research has contributed important insights into more non-sedentary aspects of Petraean culture; however, the lack of convincing archaeological evidence within wider Nabataea has impeded further studies in this regard. 

“It became clear that a pastorally organised rural population constituted a significant part of the Petraean hinterland in the Nabataean Period and beyond, and that a certain degree of mobility very much characterised life in Petra’s rural environment in addition to a “sedentary”, “agriculture-based lifestyle”, Kennedy outlined.

Moreover, larger and more significant settlements in the Petraean hinterland such as Sabra, Abu Khusheiba, Wadi Musa, Beidha or Udruh may have served as local centres for specific rural social groups as well, Kennedy continued, adding that although such hypotheses require further research, the identified structures in Petra’s rural environs may indicate that — as in urban Petra — the Petraean hinterland can be characterised as an intricate patchwork of various social groups that were strongly bound by more local, ‘tribal’ affiliations. 

“If indeed true, the Nabataean kings in Petra certainly must have maintained good relations to these satellite communities as they arguably played a significant role for the survival of the Nabataean capital and the overall stability of the entire Nabataean realm,” Kennedy highlighted.