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- King highlights urgency of resuming entry of aid to alleviate suffering of Gazans

- His Majesty warns of dangerous Israeli military operation in West Bank, unilateral measures that threaten to escalate conflict

- Italian prime minister affirms her country’s support for Jordan’s pivotal role, its efforts to achieve peace, promote dialogue

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah, during a meeting with Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Monday, affirmed that granting Palestinians their full legitimate rights on the basis of the two-state solution is the only way to stabilise the region.

His Majesty emphasised the need to step up international efforts to achieve comprehensive calm in the region, including maintaining the ceasefire in Gaza and supporting efforts to rebuild without displacing its residents, according to a Royal Court statement.

The King highlighted the urgency of resuming entry of aid to alleviate the suffering of Gazans, and commended Italy’s vital role in providing humanitarian aid and contributing to the air bridge launched by Jordan to transfer aid shipments to Palestinians in Gaza.

Speaking about the volatile situation in the West Bank and Jerusalem, His Majesty warned of the dangerous Israeli military operation in the West Bank and unilateral measures that threaten to escalate the conflict, the statement said.

During the meeting, discussions also addressed prospects for enhancing cooperation between Jordan and Italy across various fields. 

The meeting covered the importance of supporting Syria’s efforts to preserve its unity, sovereignty and stability.

Discussions also addressed developments in Lebanon and the need to support its sovereignty, security, and stability.

For her part, the Italian prime minister affirmed her country’s support for Jordan’s pivotal role in the Middle East, and the Kingdom’s efforts to achieve peace and promote dialogue, according to the statement.

Director of the Office of His Majesty Alaa Batayneh attended the meeting.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella in Rome on Monday, where they discussed the deep-rooted ties between Jordan and Italy, as well as regional developments.

During the meeting, held at Quirinale Palace, the two leaders emphasised the importance of building on and strengthening bilateral relations, in order to expand cooperation across various sectors, according to a Royal Court statement.

Speaking about developments in the region, His Majesty stressed the need to reach a comprehensive calm, including maintaining the Gaza ceasefire, supporting the rebuilding of Gaza while rejecting the displacement of its residents, and resuming the entry of aid.

The King commended Italy’s pivotal role in providing humanitarian assistance to the Strip and its contributions to the humanitarian air bridge launched by Jordan to transfer aid shipments to Palestinians in Gaza.

His Majesty warned of the dangerous impact of escalations in the West Bank and violations against Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

Director of the Office of His Majesty Alaa Batayneh and Jordan’s Ambassador to Italy Qais Abu Daieh attended the meeting.

AMMAN — HRH Crown Prince Hussein, the Regent, stressed on Monday the importance of developing an action plan for Jordan’s tourism sector that ensures the sustainability of tourism activities and highlights investment opportunities.

Chairing meetings at Al Husseiniya Palace with industry stakeholders to discuss strategies to develop the tourism sector, the Crown Prince said the action plan should lay the groundwork for revitalising tourism and improving the experience of tourists, according to a Royal Court statement. 

His Royal Highness also highlighted the need to invest in Jordan as a hub for medical tourism by strengthening partnerships with the private sector. 

At the meetings, attended by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, the Crown Prince was briefed by Tourism Minister Lina Annab on the Ministry of Tourism’s plan to develop a new five-year National Tourism Strategy that focuses on different tourism segments including developing health and wellness tourism, in addition to supporting the sector to rebound after the impact of regional instability. 

Also discussed during the meetings was the progress of the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority in implementing various projects, with His Royal Highness highlighting the need to find solutions to boost the PDTRA’s financial resources, the statement said. 

The Crown Prince commended the efforts of the Ministry of Interior and security agencies in ensuring a safe tourism experience for Jordan’s visitors.

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation upheld a November 2023 Criminal Court ruling, sentencing a man to four years in prison after convicting him of engaging in consensual sexual activities with a teenager in November 2022.

The court declared the defendant guilty of engaging in sexual activities with the 15-year-old girl 24 times in Amman.

The defendant was handed the maximum punishment by the court.

Court papers said the victim and the defendant knew each other almost six months before the sexual assault incident was discovered.

“The defendant visited her family, and the two were engaged, but her father decided to break the engagement shortly afterwards because he felt that the defendant was not fit for his daughter,” the court said.

Nevertheless, the two decided to meet at the defendant’s apartment where they engaged in sexual activities on numerous occasions, the court stated.

The relationship was exposed when the victim informed her father and he filed a complaint against him at the Family Protection Department, the court added.

The defendant contested his verdict via his lawyer claiming that the court based its ruling on contradictory testimonies by the victim.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Court’s attorney general asked the higher court to uphold the sentence.

The higher court ruled that the Criminal Court proceedings were accurate and that the defendant was given the appropriate punishment.

“The defendant confessed to the sexual assault incident when he was arrested,” the higher court ruled.

Therefore, he deserves the punishment he received, the higher court added.

The Court of Cassation was headed by Judge Mahmoud Ebtoush and included judges Nayef Samarat, Mohammad Shreieri, Hammad Ghzawi and Mohammad Khashashneh.

AMMAN — HH Prince Mired Bin Raad, chief chamberlain and president of the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD), and Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs Abdul Monem Odat signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Monday.

The agreement aims to enhance the political participation of persons with disabilities, integrate them into political life and strengthen their role within the political modernization framework.

Prince Mired emphasised the importance of empowering persons with disabilities in political life and encouraging their organisations to actively participate in decision-making processes, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

For his part, Odat highlighted the ministry’s commitment to fostering the participation of persons with disabilities, recognising them as an integral segment of society that should play an active role in decision-making and policy formation.

The signing of the MoU comes in conjunction with preparations for municipal elections, governorate council elections and the Amman Municipality Council elections.

These efforts aim to make the electoral process more inclusive for persons with disabilities, in line with the recommendations of the Royal Committee for Political System Modernisation, which has underscored the importance of their participation.

The memorandum focuses on improving accessibility to the ministry’s headquarters and digital platforms, ensuring that individuals with different disabilities can access the ministry’s data and information.

The MoU underscores the need to provide technical support to the Ministry of Political and Parliamentary Affairs in adapting its facilities and website, training staff on disability rights and communication methods, and supplying the ministry with data on disability organisations and activists to facilitate their involvement in ministry programs and activities.

The memorandum also stipulates the development of an executive plan for its implementation.

AMMAN — HRH Crown Prince Hussein, the Regent, joined the King Abdullah II Royal Special Forces Group Command for iftar on Monday.

Upon arrival, His Royal Highness was received by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Maj. Gen. Yousef Huneiti and the group’s commander, a Royal Court statement said. 

The Crown Prince joined the attendees in performing the maghreb prayer.

His Royal Highness and the audience observed martial arts demonstrations, a tug-of-war competition between the Special Forces’ units, and the recitation of poems.

The Crown Prince currently serves as assistant commander of Special Battalion 101, a unit of the King Abdullah II Royal Special Forces Group.

AMMAN - Minister of Public Works and Housing Maher Abul Samen and Minister of Interior Mazen Farayah on Monday visited the Jaber Border Crossing with Syria to assess its operational needs amid a surge in cargo and passenger traffic following recent political developments in Syria.

Accompanied by Chairman of the Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission Ziad Saaydeh and General Manager of Irbid Electricity Company Bashar Tamimi,  the ministers toured the border facility.

During the visit, officials from various ministries and security apparatuses outlined the challenges they face and the resources needed to improve efficiency.

The ministers also reviewed progress on a project to develop comprehensive master plans for the Jaber and Karameh border crossings, including feasibility studies, designs, and implementation strategies, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Abul Samen and Farayah also stressed the government's commitment to modernising border crossings to reflect Jordan's position and reputation while improving services for travellers.

Saaydeh stressed the importance of measures taken in cooperation with the Irbid Electricity Company to ensure uninterrupted power supply, carry out necessary maintenance, and upgrade all lighting systems in the outdoor areas of the Jaber Border region.

He also highlighted efforts to streamline the movement of cargo and passengers, including the implementation of an automated vehicle registration and departure system. Under this system, vehicles will receive QR codes to expedite processing, improve service efficiency, and track processing times for necessary adjustments.

Both ministries aim to upgrade border facilities in line with global standards for land crossings, balancing security and customs requirements with smoother movement of goods and people.

The long-term vision, spanning the next 50 years, includes the expansion and modernisation of infrastructure, with the Karameh Border Crossing covering 1,800 dunams and the Jaber Border Crossing over 2,000 dunams.

As part of the redevelopment efforts, the Ministry of Public Works conducted a comprehensive survey of the infrastructure at both locations to assess structural conditions. The results will be used to determine which facilities will be retained and which will be removed as part of the modernisation plans.

Also on Monday, the Ministry of Interior, in coordination with the relevant authorities, announced that the Jaber border crossing with Syria will operate 24 hours a day, starting Sunday, March 23.

The decision, which was taken in consultation with Syrian officials, ensures that all logistical and security measures are in place to ensure uninterrupted operations. The change brings the Jaber crossing schedule in line with that of the Omari crossing with Saudi Arabia.

The move, which comes ahead of the Eid Al Fitr holiday, a period that typically sees a surge in travellers, aims to expedite passenger departures, facilitate the movement of cargo, and minimise waiting times.

By extending operating hours, Jordan aims to increase trade and economic activity with Syria as the crossing continues to experience high cargo traffic and increased passenger flows.

AMMAN — The European Union (EU) has provided over 4 billion euros in aid to Jordan since 2011, supporting Syrian refugees and host communities, as well as funding infrastructure and development projects across the Kingdom.

According to official figures, the EU has allocated 431 million euros in humanitarian aid to address the urgent needs of Syrian refugees, host communities, and other vulnerable groups, Al Mamlaka TV reported. 

These funds have enabled more than 220,000 people to access protection services, supported over 150,000 individuals through social cohesion initiatives, and facilitated the vaccination of more than 260,000 children. Additionally, more than 240,000 people have participated in health awareness programmes.

In the education sector, EU assistance has expanded access to basic and higher education for over 200,000 children and young people. The funding has also covered legal aid, cash assistance, emergency healthcare and education initiatives.

On the development front, the EU has provided more than 1.6 billion euros in bilateral assistance, focusing on economic growth, job creation, regional stability, and border management. This support has also strengthened democratic governance, the rule of law, and human rights, while enhancing education quality, social protection services, and cultural heritage preservation.

To bolster Jordan’s economic resilience, the EU has committed 2.2 billion euros, including 1.08 billion euros in macro-financial assistance, to help the Kingdom address economic challenges and implement structural reforms that foster growth and stability. 

These funds have contributed to improving essential services such as education, healthcare, and water management. The EU also supports durable solutions for Syrian refugees, including safe, voluntary, and dignified repatriation.

Since the outbreak of the Syrian crisis in 2011, Jordan has hosted around 1.3 million Syrians, with around 600,000 registered as refugees with the UNHCR.

Jordan’s 2024 Syria Response Plan requires an estimated $1.6 billion to support 10 key sectors, including refugee aid and services for host communities, according to the plan’s official website. Since the plan’s launch in 2015, international donors have funded 45.9 per cent of the required amount, securing $10.3 billion of the $22.1 billion needed, leaving a shortfall of $11.8 billion.

Data from the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, indicate that the 2025 funding requirement is the lowest since the plan’s launch in 2015, reflecting a decline in international financial support.

Water and sanitation will receive the largest share of 2025 funding, with an estimated $368 million, accounting for 23.1 per cent of the total requirement. Most of this amount will be allocated to host community projects, with the remainder directed to refugee camps and additional support for refugees within host communities.

Available data showed that grant funding for the plan stood at $132.8 million, representing 6.8 per cent of the total $1.953 billion required. Of this, $39.6 million was allocated for service projects in host communities, while $93.1 million was directed toward assisting Syrian refugees.

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi met on Monday with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Shibani ahead of the Ninth Brussels Conference on Supporting Syria.

The two ministers discussed the situation in Syria, with Safadi reiterating Jordan’s firm stance in supporting Syria’s reconstruction on principles that uphold its security, unity, and the rights of its people.

They also explored ways to enhance cooperation across multiple sectors, including energy, trade, transportation, and security according to a Foreign Ministry statement.