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AMMAN — Foreign Ministry Secretary-General for Diplomatic and Expatriates Affairs Majid Qatarneh on Wednesday received a copy of the credentials of Philip Hall as UK ambassador to Jordan, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

AMMAN — The Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO), in cooperation with UNRWA, on Wednesday dispatched a new aircraft laden with medical supplies to the Gaza Strip. This is the fourth aid donation from UNRWA, carrying approximately 45 tonnes of medical supplies to support Gaza’s health sector, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The plane’s cargo will be transferred to the Egyptian Red Crescent at El Arish International Airport. Subsequently, it will be transported via the Rafah crossing into the besieged strip and distributed to hospitals. The JHCO continues to accept cash donations through JHCO’s accounts at Bank al Etihad: JO32 UBSI 1030 0000 4010 1659 9151 06, CliQ: JHCOGAZA, eFAWATEERcom, and the organisation’s website: www.jhco.org.jo.

AMMAN —  Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Independent Election Commission (IEC) Musa Maaytah on Wednesday stressed the importance of partnership between the Commission and the media.

Maaytah, who was speaking to media representatives at the IEC’s headquarters, stressed the role of the press in raising awareness and shaping public opinion.

“This meeting is part of a series of meetings with our partners and today’s meeting with media representatives was aimed at discussing the importance of women’s participation in the political parties and the upcoming elections,” Maaytah told the press.

The IEC chairman stressed the importance of hearing from the media representatives on ways and means to boost women’s political participation both in the political parties and the upcoming elections.

“We also addressed election violence that targets women candidates and the role of the media to tackle this problem in a manner that would ensure better female participation and representation in the legislative and political bodies,” according to Maaytah. 

The former minister stated that the IEC has prepared a training manual for the media and will hold training sessions for journalists to inform them about the laws and the entire election process.

The IEC is continuing with its preparations for the upcoming parliamentary elections, he said.

“We have updated the voter’s lists in cooperation with the Civil Status and Passports Department."

The minister added that the number of voters in the upcoming parliamentary elections is expected to reach five million voters, according to the latest update of the voter lists.

Maaytah also pointed out that the IEC will work to facilitate polling stations with equipment that would suit people with physical disabilities to facilitate their participation in the electoral process”.

Meanwhile, IEC member Abeer Dababneh delivered a briefing that touched on the empowerment of women in elections and parties, their exercise of their right to run and vote, and their participation in managing the electoral process at all levels.

She added that the IEC is in the process of holding meetings with the women’s committees in the Parliament, civil society institutions and members of the governorate councils. 

In 2022, the Senate and the Lower House passed the 2022 amendments to the Political Parties Law, which require political parties to increase the percentage of women and youth to at least 20 per cent within three years after their foundation.

There should be no less than 1,000 founding members of political parties, and at least 10 per cent should be women and young people between 18 and 35 years old, according to the new law. 

The law also allows university students who join political parties to engage in partisan activities on campus without any infringement on their rights, as a bylaw will be issued to regulate such activities. 

It also stipulates that a founding conference shall be held by the party within a year after meeting the requirements, where no less than a third of the party’s 1,000 founders shall attend, and must represent at least six governorates.   

The Political Parties Law, along with the Elections Law, has been revisited by the Royal Committee to Modernise the Political System as part of its mandate to achieve the envisioned political reform.

AMMAN — Javier Colomina, deputy assistant secretary-general for political affairs and security policy at NATO, on Wednesday underlined Jordan's pivotal role in achieving regional peace and stability. 

In an interview with the Jordan News Agency, Petra, at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Colomina commended His Majesty King Abdullah's leadership and deep understanding of foreign policy and transparent expression of views on various issues. 

He added that the King's recent visit to NATO headquarters in Brussels has been a strong indicator of a “distinguished relationship".

During the visit, the NATO Council received a comprehensive briefing on the latest developments in the region, Colomina said. Adding that Jordan's position is constructive, based on dialogue and consistently strives to end conflicts, promote peace and enhance stability.

He also said that Jordan has the capacity to make significant contributions to conflict resolution and promoting stability, affirming that "the Kingdom is actively engaged in these efforts".

He also described the partnership between NATO's 31 member countries and Jordan as "strong and exceptional in both political cooperation and training".

As a proof of the strong partnership between Amman and the Brussels-based alliance, he cited the NATO bureau which will be opened in Amman. 

AMMAN — Members of the ministerial committee, formed by the Joint Arab-Islamic Summit,  met on Wednesday with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the UN headquarters in New York.

The meeting attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Ayman Safadi, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt Sameh Shoukry, Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs Riyad Al Maliki, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Hakan Fidan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia Retno Marsudi, the Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit and Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Hussein Ibrahim Taha. 

The gathering was also attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia Zambry Abdul Kadir, and UAE Minister of State and Representative of Arab group in the UN Security Council Khalifa Shaheen Almarar, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

During the talks, the foreign ministers discussed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and the release of prisoners.

They also called on the UN Security Council to protect civilians in Gaza and ensure the delivery of emergency assistance to the besieged strip.

Officials also outlined reviving the peace process  based on the  two-state solution that can lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the June 4th, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Also on Wednesday, members of the committee met the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres at the UN headquarters in New York and discussed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and the release of prisoners.

The delegation members also reiterated their absolute rejection of all forms of settlement and the forced displacement of the Palestinians.

AMMAN — The eighth Regional Forum of Foreign Ministers of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Ayman Safadi and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, has wrapped up its discussions in Barcelona, Spain.

The forum, witnessed the participation of ministerial delegates representing UfM member states, EU officials, and representatives from relevant regional bodies, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The discussions went over efforts to reach a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, and ensure delivery of assistance into the Strip, Petra said.

A joint statement from the forum commended the extension of the humanitarian ceasefire and the release of hostages and prisoners, with the participating foreign ministers extending their gratitude to Qatar, Egypt and the US for their mediation efforts in reaching the pause.

The forum also condemned the escalating aggressions by extremist settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and called for holding the perpetrators accountable, according to Petra.

The ministers also reiterated the urgent need to protect civilians, respect international humanitarian laws and condemn the indiscriminate killing and targeting of civilians.

The forum also underlined rejection of any displacement of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank, as well as internal displacement within the strip.

They also stressed the need to protect hospitals healthcare workers, and UN-run facilities in Gaza, affirming support for the Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA's roles in the besieged Strip.

The top diplomats underlined the "collective" responsibility to reach a just, comprehensive, and permanent resolution to the Palestinian issue based on the two-state solution and international law. They also called for organising a peace conference.

The forum also called for halting unilateral actions undermining the two-state solution, including settlement construction and expansion, underlying the need to respect the historical status quo of the holy sites in Jerusalem, including the Hashemite custodianship.

The ministers underlined their commitment to building upon the "Peace Day" initiative launched by Saudi Arabia, the Arab League, and the EU in cooperation with Egypt and Jordan.

AMMAN — Jordan will host a coordination meeting on Thursday to discuss the humanitarian response to Gaza. 

The event will bring together heads of international governmental and non-governmental organisations from Arab and foreign countries. 

His Majesty King Abdullah is scheduled to participate in part of the meeting, highlighting Jordan's efforts to stand in solidarity with the people of Gaza and alleviate the dire circumstances in the Gaza Strip, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

The meeting, which is being held in closed sessions as part of the "Aqaba Meetings" initiative, aims to establish a coordination in response to the needs arising from the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. 

The gathering also aims to ensure sufficient and sustained provision of the necessary assistance, Petra reported.

AMMAN — The value of projects that applied for Investment Law benefits during the first nine months of this year increased to JD878.5 million compared with JD656.9 million during the same period of 2022, marking a growth of 34 per cent, the Investment Ministry announced on Wednesday.

Ministry of Investment said on Wednesday that 372 projects, mainly in the industrial sector, have benefitted from the law with the potential to create approximately 30,000 jobs. 

It added that around 18,000 new jobs are expected to be generated from the investments which have been expanded during the January-September period, adding that the value of new investments benefiting from the law amounted to JD448 million and are projected to provide 12,000 jobs. 

The industrial sector accounted for the biggest share of investments under the law during the first three quarters of 2023, with 64 per cent of the total number of investments valuing JD564.6 million. 

Investment in the commercial sector stood at JD169.5 million, comprising 19 per cent of the total investments, the ministry said, followed by the tourism sector which stood at JD53.4 million.

The remaining economic sectors, including hospitals and healthcare centres, agriculture, information technology, services, technical production, transport, research and development accounted for 11 per cent of total investment, the ministry said.

The value of investments under the law outside the development zones reached JD790.7 million with 323 projects, comprising 90 per cent of the total investments, while 49 schemes under the law inside development zones had a total value of JD87.8 million.

AMMAN — Minister of Government Communications Muhannad Mubaidin on Wednesday reiterated the Kingdom's firm support and solidarity with the Palestinian people, emphasising the longstanding history of unity and collaboration since the establishment of the Jordanian state.

Mubaidin's remarks were made during a radio interview, as part of the Open Media Day, organised in partnership with the Arab States Broadcasting Union on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People observed on November 29 annually.

He highlighted the King Hussein Bridge as a vital link connecting Jordan and Palestine and as a gateway for Palestinians seeking medical treatment and education in the Kingdom. 

Mubaidin pointed out the need for building an international narrative on the Palestinian issue, adding the ongoing war on Gaza has reignited international interest and solidarity with the Palestinians. 

In 1977, the UN General Assembly called for the annual observance of November 29 as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (resolution 32/40 B).

• His Majesty says values of all religions, shared human values categorically reject slaughter and terrorising of civilians
• King says Palestinian cause remains central cause for Jordan, noting that Jordanians will continue to stand with Palestinians

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah has reiterated that the war on Gaza, which has claimed thousands of innocent lives, including women, children and the elderly, must stop.

In a letter sent to Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People Cheikh Niang to mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People which falls on 29 November, King Abdullah said the values of all religions and shared human values categorically reject the slaughter and terrorising of civilians, according to a Royal Court statement.

His Majesty added that the heinous Israeli aggression against Gaza and the illegal violations in the West Bank contradict humanitarian values and the right to life.

In the letter, the King said the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People comes during exceptional circumstances that demand international action to stop the war on Gaza, protect unarmed civilians and hospitals, while also pushing Israel to end the siege and allow the unimpeded work of humanitarian agencies and the delivery of relief and medical aid.

His Majesty said depriving Gazans of water, food, medicine and electricity is a war crime that cannot be ignored, and its continuation will further exacerbate the humanitarian situation in the strip.

The King called for galvanising international support for UNRWA to enable it to undertake its UN mandate in providing vital relief services to the Palestinians, warning that weakening the agency will lead to dire consequences in Gaza and the West Bank.

His Majesty reiterated that the continuation of destruction and attempts to displace the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank is a challenge to international law and will fuel further cycles of violence in the region and beyond.

Peace and stability will not be achieved through military or security solutions, the King reaffirmed, adding that the only way to achieve peace is through a political solution that restores the full and legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

His Majesty stressed again Jordan’s rejection of any scenario of reoccupying Gaza or establishing buffer zones, reiterating also the Kingdom’s rejection of attempts to separate Gaza from the West Bank, which must jointly form the Palestinian state.

After over 75 years since the Nakba, the King said the Palestinians remain committed to their right to self-determination and the establishment of their independent, sovereign and viable state on the 4 June 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital, on the basis of the two-state solution, which guarantees peace and security for Palestinians and Israelis, as well as the region.

The King added in the letter that the Palestinian cause remains the central cause for Jordan, noting that Jordanians will continue to stand with the Palestinians as they seek their just, legitimate, and inalienable rights.

Jordan will continue working with the Palestinian Authority to preserve the historical and legal status quo at Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, and to safeguard these sites under the Hashemite Custodianship, His Majesty said.

The King also commended the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in advocating for the rights of the Palestinians.