https://www.middleeastmonitor.com Latest news from the Middle East and North Africa Tue, 08 Aug 2023 09:33:31 +0000 en-GB Middle East Monitor 30 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/favicon.png?fit=32%2C32&quality=85&strip=all&zoom=1&ssl=1 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com 32 32 116394717 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230808-mp-warns-against-law-granting-israelis-right-to-own-land-in-jordan/ Tue, 08 Aug 2023 09:14:38 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=658669 Jordanian MP Saleh Al-Armouti yesterday warned against amending the real estate property bill to give Israelis the right to buy land in Jordan as investors, Quds Press reported. Speaking to the news site, Al-Armouti said that this law may lead to state land being handed to Zionist firms or figures who hold foreign passports without sufficient checks being made. "This is dangerous," he said, "and it will give Zionists a chance to own land in the kingdom," recalling previous Zionist attempts to own land in Wadi Musa and Wadi Araba. If this happens, he explained, their ambitions may expand to points beyond this "as there are Zionist voices who claim rights to Jordanian lands." OPINION: What remains of Jordan's special role in […]]]> 658669 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230806-will-saudi-arabia-make-friday-a-working-day/ Sun, 06 Aug 2023 15:45:33 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=658192 In a thought-provoking op-ed published on Friday by Saudi Arabian daily newspaper Okaz, entitled "Friday is a working day," writer Mona Al-Otaibi questions whether the Kingdom's traditional Friday-Saturday weekend needs an overhaul, igniting a debate on social media. The piece highlighted the potential financial losses incurred due to Friday being an important workday in the financial world, and it has sparked discussions about whether Saudi Arabia should consider shifting its weekend to Saturday-Sunday, following in the footsteps of neighbouring UAE which made the controversial change last year, after plans were announced in 2021. At the time, the Emirati the government said it would "ensure smooth financial, trade and economic transactions with countries that follow a Saturday-Sunday weekend, facilitating stronger international […]]]> 658192 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230803-uae-president-discusses-regional-developments-with-king-of-jordan/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 10:05:32 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657817 UAE President Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan met today with King Abdullah II of Jordan to review bilateral ties and explore opportunities to further strengthen the longstanding partnership between the two nations, the official Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported. The two leaders also discussed a number of regional and international developments. The meeting took place at Basman Palace in Amman, where the leaders discussed various aspects of UAE-Jordan cooperation and "opportunities to build on the deep, historic ties between both nations." Their talks explored ways to expand and strengthen cooperation across key strategic sectors, with a particular emphasis on economic partnerships, investment and development opportunities, and other key areas aimed at fostering sustainable development and prosperity in both countries. His Highness and King […]]]> 657817 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230803-what-remains-of-jordans-special-role-in-jerusalem-29-years-after-the-peace-treaty-with-israel/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 07:08:31 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657373 On 25 July, 1994, the State of Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, after a spell of negotiations, signed the Washington Declaration in which they committed to signing a full peace treaty, ending the state of war between them, in place since Israel was created in 1948. The treaty of peace between the State of Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, otherwise known as Wadi Araba Treaty, signed on 26 October, 1994 established diplomatic relations between Amman and Tel Aviv. The 75 page document opened the way for cooperation in security, tourism, economics, water resources and more. Clasue 2 of Article 9 of the treaty concerns Jerusalem, but only in the context of providing "freedom of access to […]]]> 657373 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230731-israel-arrests-5-people-for-infiltrating-border-with-jordan/ Mon, 31 Jul 2023 15:12:08 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656734 Israeli soldiers detained five out of the seven unarmed people who infiltrated the border with Jordan this morning after authorities dispatched soldiers to the scene, reported Arab48. The search for the infiltrators involved members of the Israel Border Police intelligence unit, along with army forces from the Jordan Valley Brigade. Meanwhile, a state of emergency has been declared in the neighbouring Israeli settlements. "Two additional suspects who infiltrated Israel escaped from the security forces and returned to Jordanian territory," the Israeli military said in a statement. READ: US stresses Jordans role as Jerusalem holy sites custodian The Times of Israel reported that an investigation revealed that the infiltrators were "work migrants" who posed no security threat and were set to be returned to […]]]> 656734 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230730-unrwas-western-donors-carry-out-the-mission-of-david-ben-gurion/ Sun, 30 Jul 2023 11:02:27 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656465 In July 1949, upon the complete destruction of Palestine and the expulsion of its people, David Ben Gurion addressed his officers, who were not sure that the emptiness of Palestine was permanent. He quipped, "the old will die and the young will forget". He failed for most of 75 years to achieve his wish about the young. Now the time seems to be right.  In a twist of history, UNRWA Western donors are doing the job for him. Well, the young did not forget or tried to. They became the leaders of the resistance movement which created the Palestine National Council and PLO. After the fiasco of Oslo, Palestine nominal leaders failed to follow the national path. Western colonial powers […]]]> 656465 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230729-us-stresses-jordans-role-as-jerusalem-holy-sites-custodian/ Sat, 29 Jul 2023 08:35:07 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656392 The US stressed Jordan's role as custodian of the holy sites in Jerusalem. Deputy Spokesperson for the US State Department Vedant Patel announced in a press statement received by Quds Press on Friday: "We underline Jordan's special role in Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem." "Any unilateral action or rhetoric that deviates or jeopardises the status quo is completely unacceptable," Patel added. In a related context, the US expressed its concerns over escalating violence in the West Bank. The US Department of State tweeted that the escalation highlights the fragility of the situation and the urgent need for immediate steps from both sides to stop the escalation and restore calm. The US also expressed concern about the so-called Minister of National […]]]> 656392 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230728-muslims-decry-repeated-quran-burnings-desecration-in-western-countries/ Fri, 28 Jul 2023 13:43:25 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656066 Muslims, worldwide, have condemned the desecration and burning of the Quran in Denmark and Sweden, asserting that these attacks cannot be justified by freedom of expression, Anadolu Agency reports. In response to the rising incidents of Quran desecration in Western countries, Anadolu spoke with locals from Iran, Iraq, Algeria, Lebanon and Palestine who took to the streets condemning the act. Yusuf Abu Sunayne, a preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Occupied East Jerusalem, said: "The Book of Allah has been preserved in the hearts of Muslims; no matter what they do, no matter how much they hate, no matter how many opportunities they look to attack, the Book of Allah will guide Muslims in the East and West." He went on […]]]> 656066 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230728-jordan-king-uk-fm-discuss-de-escalation-in-palestine/ Fri, 28 Jul 2023 07:46:23 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=655988 King Abdullah II of Jordan UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly yesterday discussed intensifying efforts to de-escalate the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories. Abdullah and Cleverly met in the Jordanian capital, Amman, as part of the British foreign secretary's visit to the Middle Eastern country. Discussions between the two sides "covered the latest regional and international developments, in addition to the importance of stepping up efforts towards calm and de-escalation in the Palestinian Territories, and ceasing unilateral measures that would undermine stability and peace prospects," according to a statement issued by the Royal Hashemite Court. "The two sides also discussed stopping any unilateral measures by Israel that would destabilize and undermine the chances of achieving peace, according to the same source." The statement added […]]]> 655988 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230727-jordan-adopts-cybercrime-law-seen-as-threat-to-free-speech/ Thu, 27 Jul 2023 20:34:56 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=655984 Jordan's Parliament, on Thursday, approved a widely criticised cybercrime law empowering the government to control more online content, prompting US concerns and alarms from rights groups that say it will further quash civil liberties, Reuters reports. The measure tightens prison sentences and penalties for any website, social media platform or person responsible for a public account deemed to have violated privacy and a host of other provisions. It passed by a majority vote after a marathon six-hour debate and is expected to be enacted in coming days. The law has alarmed journalists, human rights activists and pro-democracy groups worried that its vague language would curtail further free speech and that criminalising conversations online will enable more crackdowns on political opponents. "Jordan will become a big jail," Saleh Al Armouti, […]]]> 655984 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230727-jordan-turkiye-condemn-israel-minister-storming-of-al-aqsa/ Thu, 27 Jul 2023 18:45:12 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=655966 The Jordanian and Turkish governments have condemned the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by an Israeli Minister and Jewish settlers today, in the latest such incursion in recent months. In the early hours of this morning, Israeli National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, stormed the Al-Aqsa compound in Jerusalem along with over 340 extremist Jewish settlers – some reports put the number at around 1,600 – under the protection of Israeli security forces. In a statement by Jordan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs today, it condemned the incursion and warned against the dangerous repercussions of allowing extremists to enter the site and engage in provocative actions. READ: What right do they have to storm Al-Aqsa? According to the Jordanian news agency, Petra, […]]]> 655966 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230725-jordan-army-shoots-down-drone-carrying-drugs-from-syria/ Tue, 25 Jul 2023 20:11:08 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=655109 The Jordanian military shot down a drone carrying narcotics from Syria, in the third such incident in recent weeks. According to the Jordanian Army, it intercepted a drone carrying two kilograms of crystal methamphetamine yesterday, shooting it down on Jordan's side of its border with Syria. The incident came a day after Army and intelligence chiefs from Jordan and Syria met to discuss the combating of the ongoing drug smuggling operations that take place over their common border. Captagon, a lucrative and addictive amphetamine, has flooded the Middle East region and beyond in recent years, appearing in countries throughout the Gulf, North Africa, the Mediterranean and Europe. After initial speculation that the Daesh terror group was responsible for the drug's […]]]> 655109 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230725-egyptians-suffer-as-heat-wave-continues-across-the-middle-east-and-north-africa/ Tue, 25 Jul 2023 18:18:35 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=655052 Egypt has warned the population not to use lifts for 20 minutes, each hour, whilst it implements power cuts so that it can conserve energy as a gruelling heat wave continues to engulf North Africa and the Middle East. The Electricity Ministry has released a diagram to show the start and end times of the power outages every hour, and when to stay away from the lifts so that people do not get trapped inside them. وفقا لبيان وزارة الكهرباء ، دا رسم بيوضح مواعيد بدء انقطاع التيار الكهربائى كل ساعة، وهى التلت ساعة اللى باللون الأحمر، ويفضل البعد عن الاسانسير خلالها. ربنا يسترها على الجميع. pic.twitter.com/4Fidj9uMYA — Khaled Ali (@Khaledali251) July 23, 2023 The government has said that the […]]]> 655052 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230725-jordan-artist-tarik-milkawi-is-transforming-basalt-rocks-into-works-of-art/ Tue, 25 Jul 2023 13:05:04 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654984 In the ancient Jordanian city of Umm Qais, north of the capital, Amman, basalt rocks are taking shape in the hands of Tarik Milkawi, 41, who turns them into works of art, Anadolu Agency reports. He brings the basalt rocks from his hometown of Umm Qais to his workshop in Amman by car and skilfully carves them into new products. Saying that he has been doing this work since he was only 15, Milkawi explained that what started as a hobby has now become his way of earning a living. Basalt rocks are a type of igneous rock formed from the rapid cooling of lava on the Earth's surface or near the surface. They are typically dark-coloured, fine-grained rocks and […]]]> 654984 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230724-jordan-syria-army-intelligence-chiefs-discuss-combating-of-drug-smuggling-over-border/ Mon, 24 Jul 2023 14:14:20 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654845 Jordanian and Syrian army and intelligence chiefs met yesterday to discuss the ongoing smuggling of drugs over the Syria-Jordan border, in the first of a series of meetings to resolve the issue. In a statement by Jordan's Foreign Ministry, it said that a meeting headed by Jordanian Army chief, Lieutenant-General Yousef Hunaiti and Syrian Defence Minister, Ali Mahmoud Abbas, was held to discuss the trafficking of narcotics over their countries' common border, with the Jordanian and Syrian intelligence heads both present. "The meeting discussed cooperation in confronting the danger of drugs, its sources of production and smuggling and the groups that are organising and supervising the smuggling operations across the border to Jordan", the statement said. It added that "They […]]]> 654845 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230721-irish-activist-continues-his-2200-miles-walk-to-palestine/ Fri, 21 Jul 2023 12:58:04 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654339 A sixty-five-year-old Irish activist, who set off to Palestine from Calais to raise awareness about the plight of refugees and human rights violations in the Occupied Territories, reached the Albanian port city of Durres on Saturday. Mick Bowman crossed France, Switzerland and Italy to reach Albania last week and will continue to walk through Greece, Turkiye and Jordan to reach the Occupied West Bank in Palestine. He began the 2,200-mile journey from Calais on 16 April last month. "Now half-way through my walk to Palestine, I've also had the opportunity in the three countries I passed through, to have many conversations about the great injustice faced by the Palestinians. I got to speak with fellow pilgrims when I was walking […]]]> 654339 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230720-wfp-to-reduce-aid-to-syria-refugees-in-jordan-citing-funding-shortfall/ Thu, 20 Jul 2023 10:09:59 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654088 The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced on Tuesday plans to cut monthly cash assistance by one-third for all 119,000 Syrian refugees in Zaatari and Azraq camps in Jordan, "as funds run precariously low". "Starting in August, Syrian refugees in the camps will receive a reduced cash allowance of US$21 (JOD 15) per person per month, down from the previous amount of US$32 (JOD 23)," it said. The UN food agency warned of the repercussions of the reduction, saying Syrian refugees living in both camps have limited income sources with only 30 per cent of adults working, mainly in temporary or seasonal jobs, while 57 per cent of camp residents say cash assistance is their only source of income. […]]]> 654088 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230720-jordan-ex-prime-minister-calls-for-end-to-soft-diplomacy-with-israel/ Thu, 20 Jul 2023 09:27:55 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654076 Former Prime Minister of Jordan Ali Abu Al-Ragheb has called for an end to the Hashemite Kingdom's "soft diplomacy" approach towards Israel in order to suppress what he called the aspirations of the "ruling trinity" of the occupation state — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich — even if it leads to war. Abu Al-Ragheb made his comment during a programme organised by the Amman Group for Future Dialogues titled "Developments of Events in the Occupied Territories and their Impact on Jordan". His speech focused on the potential for Israel to continue its ethnic cleansing of occupied Palestine and forcibly displace Palestinians across the border into Jordan. "We have to strengthen […]]]> 654076 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230719-jordan-pet-owners-warned-of-deadly-disease/ Wed, 19 Jul 2023 09:41:27 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=653419 Dog and cat owners in Jordan have been advised to take precautions amid a reported outbreak of cystic echinococcosis, a tapeworm disease that if left untreated may lead to death. The disease can be transmitted to humans from the animals. According to a Senior Consultant of Thoracic Surgery, Dr Nayef Fariwan, the disease is common in the Arab region in general, as well as East Asia, Iran and other countries. It is transmitted by dogs and cats through their faeces. Dr Fariwan pointed out that when a person eats contaminated food including vegetables or uncooked meat, the worm enters the human body and a cyst develops. He stressed that the liver infection rate is 70 per cent and the lungs […]]]> 653419 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230713-jordan-urges-wfp-to-reverse-subsidy-cuts-to-syrian-refugees/ Thu, 13 Jul 2023 16:07:01 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=652163 Jordan's Foreign Minister called on the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Thursday to reverse a decision to cut food subsidies to Syrian refugees by 1 August, Reuters reports. "This is not on Jordan. It is on those who are cutting support. We can't carry this burden alone," Ayman Safadi said in a tweet. "We urge WFP and others cutting subsidies to Syrian refugees to reverse decision," he wrote. Representatives of the World Food Programme did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. The United Nations humanitarian agencies and other aid groups are struggling to keep up aid to Syrians as needs skyrocket and funding streams dry up. READ: Syria still endures poverty despite relative calm and renewed Arab […]]]> 652163 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230711-russia-signals-death-of-un-aid-operation-to-syria-from-turkiye/ Tue, 11 Jul 2023 20:00:51 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=651560 Russia, on Tuesday, vetoed at the UN Security Council, a nine-month renewal of an aid operation delivering assistance to some 4 million people in rebel-held north-west Syria from Turkiye and then failed in its own bid to, instead, extend it for six months, Reuters reports. The Security Council authorisation for operation, which has been delivering aid including food, medicine and shelter since 2014, expired on Monday. UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, had wanted a 12-month renewal. Russia UN Ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia signalled that the aid operation could not be salvaged. After casting the veto and before the Council vote on Russia's proposal, he told the body: "If our draft is not supported, then we can just go ahead and close down […]]]> 651560 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230710-ex-jordan-official-two-state-solution-is-a-lie/ Mon, 10 Jul 2023 07:31:03 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=650963 Former Deputy Prime Minister of Jordan, Mamdouh Al-Abadi, yesterday said the "two-state solution is a lie," Quds Press reported. Al-Abadi stressed that Jordan "must be present at any discussions related to the Palestinian cause because it shares the same fate with Palestine." He stated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "is heading a right-wing government targeting Jordan with his expansionist policy," noting that "Jordan has been under continuous danger since the creation of Israel." The former deputy PM also said: "The latest meetings held with Israel in Aqaba are useless, and the Palestinian Authority is unable to do anything to face the Israeli occupation politically or militarily." Al-Abadi revealed that the Jordanian political discussions with the occupation are "not strategic or deep because they will not […]]]> 650963 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230709-jordanian-security-force-kills-three-fugitives-in-shoot-out/ Sun, 09 Jul 2023 15:45:23 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=650661 Three men, including the prime suspect in the death of a policeman at the end of last year, were killed in clashes with Jordan's elite anti-terrorism squad on Sunday, a security source told Reuters. A police statement later said that the two other men who were killed had escaped from a high security prison several days ago, where they were being held on "terrorism charges". The police officer was killed by unknown assailants during clashes with demonstrators last December over high fuel prices in a town near the impoverished southern city of Maan, in some of the worse unrest seen there in years. In the following days, authorities carried out a hunt for the culprits, who they alleged followed the ideology of […]]]> 650661 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230708-jordan-massive-demonstration-to-support-palestine-resistance/ Sat, 08 Jul 2023 09:09:32 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=650506 Thousands of Jordanians participated in a massive demonstration organised following Friday prayer in Amman in support of the Palestinian resistance, Quds Press reported. Many political, factional and social bodies participated in the demonstration organised to mark the victory of the Palestinian resistance in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin and its refugee camp. The participants chanted to support Jenin: "Jenin, the stronghold of Lions… Jenin has the stubborn fighters… Jenin does not bow to the occupation." In addition, the participants expressed their joy and happiness with the victory the Palestinian resistance achieved against the Israeli occupation forces. READ: Jordan engineers start campaign to reconstruct Jenin At the same time, the demonstrators expressed their support for the Palestinian resistance in other […]]]> 650506 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230705-jordan-engineers-start-campaign-to-reconstruct-jenin/ Wed, 05 Jul 2023 17:56:39 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=650061 The Jordanian Engineers Association is planning to start a campaign to raise funds for the reconstruction of the West Bank city of Jenin and its refugee camp, Quds Press reported on Tuesday. This came in a statement issued by the Chief of the Jordanian Engineers Association and Head of the Higher Committee for Construction in Palestine, Engineer Ahmad Samara Zubi. According to Quds Press, Zubi said that the Higher Committee is planning to organise a campaign to raise funds to rebuild what the Israeli occupation forces have destroyed during their offensive on Jenin that started on Monday. The statement said: "The solidarity with the Palestinians will include a series of activities managed by the Higher Committee for Construction in Palestine." […]]]> 650061 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230705-israel-to-build-electric-cable-link-connecting-europe-and-gulf-states/ Wed, 05 Jul 2023 15:22:33 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=650022 Israel is advancing plans with Greece and Cyprus to build the world's longest undersea electric cable which will connect European and Gulf countries through Jordan and Egypt. The project was approved by the Israeli national planning and building council yesterday. It will see the construction of a 150-kilometre (93-mile) cable to distribute renewable energy efficiently. According to the occupation state's Energy and Infrastructure Minister, Israel Katz, the cable is expected to transmit electricity generated predominantly from solar energy fields in southern Israel to high-demand areas in the central and northern parts of the country. He hailed the plan as "a ground-breaking and cross-border project that will move the Israeli electricity grid forward and strengthen Israel's position in the region. Energy […]]]> 650022 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230704-ankara-cairo-mark-new-milestone-in-normalising-ties-turkiye-foreign-minister/ Tue, 04 Jul 2023 13:54:06 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=649626 By mutually appointing ambassadors, Ankara and Cairo have marked a new milestone in the normalisation of ties, said Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, on Tuesday, Anadolu Agency reports. "With the joint decision we took today, as Egypt and Turkiye, we mutually appointed ambassadors," Fidan told a news conference in the capital, Ankara, with his Jordanian counterpart, Ayman Safadi. "At the point we have reached, we have now moved past an important stage in normalisation. From now on, our relations will continue to progress rapidly in the political, economic and all other fields." Fidan's remarks came after Turkiye and Egypt raised their diplomatic ties to the level of embassies on Tuesday. Turkiye nominated Salih Mutlu Sen as its new ambassador to […]]]> 649626 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230703-jordan-foreign-minister-arrives-in-syria-for-second-visit/ Mon, 03 Jul 2023 12:49:38 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=648988 Jordanian Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, arrived in Damascus on Monday, for the second such visit to Syria since February, Anadolu Agency reports. Safadi will meet with the head of the Syrian regime, Bashar Al-Assad during his visit, the Jordanian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The top Jordanian diplomat will also hold talks with his Syrian counterpart, Faisal Mekdad, on efforts to solve the Syrian crisis and a host of bilateral issues, the statement added. Safadi had visited Syria last February. Monday's visit comes amid growing concerns in Jordan over drug smuggling operations across the border between the Kingdom and Syria. Jordan shares a 375-km porous border with war-torn Syria. The country has seen hundreds of attempts to smuggle drugs […]]]> 648988 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230703-amnesty-calls-on-uae-to-release-unjustly-imprisoned-dissidents/ Mon, 03 Jul 2023 09:17:37 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=648938 Amnesty International yesterday called on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to release dozens of Emirati citizens who have been "unjustly imprisoned" for a decade, following a mass trial that took place in 2013. The rights watchdog made the appeal as the UAE prepares to host the 28th Conference of the parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai from 30 November to 12 December. "If governments around the world want to ensure that COP28 is not tarnished by repression and is successful in delivering urgent and effective climate action, they must act now by pressuring the Emirati government to urgently release these prisoners" the statement quoted Heba Morayef, Amnesty International's regional director for the Middle East and North […]]]> 648938 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230703-jordan-calls-for-immediate-action-to-halt-israeli-military-operation-in-jenin/ Mon, 03 Jul 2023 09:09:38 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=648933 Jordan called on Monday for immediate action by the international community to halt the Israeli military operation in the Palestinian city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank. Six Palestinians were killed by the Israeli army earlier today, including five in Jenin, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Twenty-seven Palestinians were wounded. The Foreign Ministry spokesman in Amman, Sinan Al-Majali, condemned the Israeli offensive strongly, saying that the escalation "constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law and obligations of the [Israeli] occupation." Al-Majali called for immediate and effective action by the international community to stop the Israeli assault and provide protection for Palestinians across the occupied territories. Tensions have been running high across the occupied West Bank in recent months […]]]> 648933 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230630-report-israel-escalations-in-west-bank-cast-shadow-on-ties-with-arab-world/ Fri, 30 Jun 2023 08:36:50 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=648267 Israeli escalations in the occupied West Bank have cast a shadow over the occupation state's relations with the Arab world, leading to a significant drop in the number of visits by senior Israeli officials to Arab countries, Haaretz newspaper reported. According to the paper, since taking office as prime minister about six months ago, Benjamin Netanyahu has only visited Jordan, compared to Naftali Bennett, who visited the UAE, Jordan and Egypt during the same period. Bennett's visit to the UAE was the first of its kind by an Israeli prime minister, while his visit to Egypt was the first in a decade, the paper said. At the beginning of his term, the incumbent Israeli Foreign Minister, Eli Cohen, visited Sudan for the first time, and has since […]]]> 648267 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230626-3-un-workers-arrested-in-israel-for-smuggling-liquid-cocaine-from-jordan/ Mon, 26 Jun 2023 10:37:14 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=647268 Police in Israel detained three UN employees at the border with Jordan yesterday on suspicion of attempting to smuggle liquid cocaine into the country disguised as perfume. "UN workers arrived at the Jordan-Israel border crossing, and a routine inspection by authorities at the border crossing raised suspicions regarding passengers' perfume-making kits," a police statement said. "The kits were subjected to careful examination, which also included a test with trained dogs. Reasonable suspicion arose from the examination that it was liquid cocaine," the statement added. According to the Jerusalem Post, the trio work in Syria near the border and were apprehended by the Northern District Police's Yagal Unit. READ: Jordan says it downs second drone from Syria this week The report said that […]]]> 647268 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230626-us-seeks-1-45bn-in-annual-aid-to-jordan-for-2024/ Mon, 26 Jun 2023 08:04:52 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=647227 The US administration has requested the provision of $1.45 billion in annual aid to Jordan for fiscal year 2024, in line with the Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Partnership concluded in September 2022. The financial aid package includes $1.035 billion in Economic Support Fund (ESF), $400 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF), $3.8 million in International Military Education and Training (IMET), $2.5 million for International Narcotics Control And Law Enforcement (INCLE), $5.9 million for Non-Proliferation, Anti Terrorism, Demining and Related Programs (NADR), and $2 million for Global Health Programs (GHP). READ: Spain, Jordan move toward strategic partnership The US State Department appropriations bill provides $1.65 billion in total bilateral foreign assistance to Jordan in 2023. This includes over $1.2 billion in […]]]> 647227 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230620-eyewitnesses-call-israel-military-raid-on-west-bank-a-war/ Tue, 20 Jun 2023 18:58:03 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=646062 The Palestinians who witnessed the Israeli army raid on Monday in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, which killed six Palestinians and injured 91 others, likened it to a "war", Anadolu Agency reports. Mohammed Abu Hatab, 39, a resident of Jenin, told Anadolu on Tuesday that they woke up early in the morning to the sound of heavy gunfire, thinking "there was a war". "It lasted for almost 10 hours. Our house was hit by bullets. Then, there was bombardment by a helicopter. The sound of the bombardment was terrible. The explosions never stopped," he recalled the moments with horror. Hatab said their personal vehicles were also damaged by the raiding soldiers. Mahmud Sadi, another resident of the region, […]]]> 646062 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230620-pilot-dies-in-jordan-helicopter-crash/ Tue, 20 Jun 2023 13:19:37 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=645992 A Jordanian pilot, on Tuesday, died of wounds sustained in a helicopter crash a day earlier, the Army said in a statement, Anadolu Agency reports. A Cobra military-type helicopter crashed in Baqa'a, north of the capital, Amman, on Monday while trying to make an emergency landing. Two pilots were injured in the crash, before one of them succumbed to his injuries. The military statement did not specify the cause of the crash. No injuries were reported among civilians. READ: Spain, Jordan move toward strategic partnership]]> 645992 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230619-spain-jordan-move-toward-strategic-partnership/ Mon, 19 Jun 2023 17:22:05 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=645580 Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, and King Abdullah II of Jordan agreed on Monday to begin work towards forging a strategic partnership, setting a new course in bilateral relations, Anadolu Agency reports. Meeting in Madrid, the leaders signed a joint declaration dedicated to enhancing bilateral ties and collaborating on international stability and prosperity. "Spain acknowledged Jordan's pivotal role in Middle Eastern stability, as well as the need to preserve and respect the status quo in holy Muslim and Christian sites in Jerusalem," read the statement, in which both countries emphasised the need for a two-state solution in Israel. The leaders of Spain and Jordan also emphasised the need to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis, as well as […]]]> 645580 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230616-jordan-says-it-downs-second-drone-from-syria-this-week/ Fri, 16 Jun 2023 15:10:33 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=645236 The Jordanian Army shot down a drone carrying weapons from Syria on Friday, the military said, the second time this week Jordan has downed an unmanned aircraft flying into its territory from neighbouring Syria, Reuters reports. A statement reported by state news agency, Petra, said the drone was shot down in Jordanian territory and was found to be carrying weapons, without giving further details. The Army said on Tuesday it had downed a drone carrying drugs from Syria. Jordan has blamed pro-Iranian militias, who it says are protected by units within the Syrian army, for smuggling drugs across its borders towards Gulf markets. Damascus says it is doing its best to curb smuggling and continues to bust smuggler rings in the south. It […]]]> 645236 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230615-syria-needs-way-more-than-pledged-relief-funds-icrc-says/ Thu, 15 Jun 2023 20:26:23 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=645037 War-weary Syrians are in such dire straits that they require "way more than what is possible today," the International Committee of the Red Cross's regional chief said on Thursday, as a fundraiser raked in only half the targeted amount, Reuters reports. Humanitarian needs are higher than ever,  with the legacy of destruction of the 12-year war compounded by an economic crisis that has sent the Syrian pound tumbling and pushed virtually the entire country below the poverty line. "I think if we focus on the Syrian people, their situation requires way more … than what is possible today," ICRC Regional Director, Fabrizio Carboni, said from Brussels. UN agencies asked donor countries gathering in Brussels this week for $11.1 billion over the […]]]> 645037 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230615-egypt-executes-man-who-killed-woman-who-rejected-him/ Thu, 15 Jun 2023 07:29:45 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=644818 Egyptian authorities yesterday executed a young man who was sentenced to death for the high profile murder of a female student outside her university in Mansoura, north of Cairo, last year after she refused to marry him. The state-run Al-Ahram Gate website reported that the prisons authority of the Gamasa prison in the province of Dakahlia carried out the death sentence against Mohamed Adel on charges of killing Naira Ashraf in June 2022. Last year, a video went viral in Egypt showing Naira being stabbed to death outside her university. Adel was arrested in June 2022 and he confessed to murdering her. Two days later, the criminal court in Mansoura sentenced him to death. On 9 February, the Egyptian Court of Cassation rejected an […]]]> 644818 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230613-jordan-downs-drone-carrying-drugs-from-syria/ Tue, 13 Jun 2023 12:43:44 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=644409 Jordan said, Tuesday, it had downed a drone carrying drugs from Syria, Anadolu Agency reports. An army statement, citing a military source, said the drone was intercepted by border guards as it was attempting to illegally cross into Jordanian territories from Syria. "We are continuing to deal with resolve and force with any threat to our borders and any attempt to destabilise the security of the nation," the army said. Jordan shares a 375-km porous border with war-torn Syria. The country has seen hundreds of attempts to smuggle drugs, in recent years, as a result of the deteriorating security conditions in neighbouring Syria. READ: Arabs bring Syria Assad back into fold but want action on drugs trade]]> 644409 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230612-iran-saudi-arabia-ties-what-comes-next-after-smooth-restart/ Mon, 12 Jun 2023 18:00:56 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=644162 Less than three months after agreeing to restore diplomatic ties, long-time regional rivals, Iran and Saudi Arabia, have recently taken another significant step toward full reconciliation. In the presence of senior officials from both sides, the Iranian Embassy in the affluent diplomatic enclave in north-western Riyadh was re-opened last week, seven years after it was locked down. A day later, Iran's Consulate-General and its permanent mission to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in the port city of Jeddah were also re-opened. The Consulate-General in Jeddah had been active ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, but a formal re-opening took place on Wednesday in the presence of Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Alireza Begdali, and other officials. Although Saudi Arabia is […]]]> 644162 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230612-umm-kulthum-brought-back-to-life/ Mon, 12 Jun 2023 15:56:43 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=644171 READ: Poll: 85% of Jordanians refuse cooperation with Israel]]> 644171 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230612-poll-85-of-jordanians-refuse-cooperation-with-israel/ Mon, 12 Jun 2023 10:17:05 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=644107 The vast majority of Jordanians – 84 per cent – reject any form of relations with Israel, a new poll commissioned by the Washington Institute for Studies revealed yesterday. The poll, conducted between March and April this year, showed that despite being officially at peace with Israel for almost three decades, the Jordanians across all age groups stand opposed to having business deals with Israeli companies even if they would help their economy. According to the poll, 76 per cent of Jordanians categorically refused to see their country or any other Arab country receiving humanitarian aid from Israel, even during emergency humanitarian cases such as an earthquake or other natural disaster. As many as 72 per cent of Jordanians supported […]]]> 644107 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230607-uk-announces-major-visa-change-for-gulf-countries-to-boost-weak-economy/ Wed, 07 Jun 2023 12:33:24 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=643052 The UK government has announced major changes to visa requirements for the six countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Jordan. Nationals of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, UAE and Jordan will be offered an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) lasting two years for just £10 ($12), according to a report in Arabian Business. The change will mean that Gulf travellers and Jordanians will have entry requirements in line with citizens of the US and Australia. READ UK-GCC partnership 'post-Brexit priority,' says MP Under the previous system, nationals from the seven Arab countries had to apply for a £30 ($37) document for every separate visit. The new system announced by the UK government yesterday will require them to pay […]]]> 643052 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230605-despite-peace-and-normalisation-deals-israel-remains-an-alien-state/ Mon, 05 Jun 2023 10:16:10 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=642546 Israel and Egypt signed a peace agreement in 1979, the first signed between an Arab country and the occupation state. Since then, the borders have been mostly calm and peaceful. As per  the terms of the deal, Israel is allowed to bring any military equipment it desires to the Egypt-Israel border area, while the Egyptians are only allowed to have a few lightly armed soldiers in the area. Israel and the brokers of the peace and normalisation deals – namely the United States – have always known it would be difficult to integrate the occupation state into the body of the Arab nation, but they continued with their efforts to do so. To this end, they supported oppressive authoritarian regimes […]]]> 642546 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230603-guterres-unrwa-on-verge-of-financial-collapse/ Sat, 03 Jun 2023 10:58:11 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=642223 United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced on Friday that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is "on the verge of financial collapse," calling on donor countries to shoulder their responsibilities and support UNRWA to fulfil their obligations towards Palestinian refugees. This came in his speech during a meeting of the General Assembly Committee held at the UN headquarters in New York to announce voluntary contributions to UNRWA with the aim of increasing countries' support for the agency, which was delivered on his behalf by Chief de Cabinet Earle Courtenay Rattray. Guterres stated: "We meet every year – and every year, we face the same paradox. On the one hand, we are […]]]> 642223 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230602-jordan-crown-prince-ties-the-knot-with-saudi-architect/ Fri, 02 Jun 2023 13:09:41 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=642145 Jordan's Crown Prince, Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, married Saudi heiress and architect, Rajwa Al Saif, on Thursday in a wedding attended by global royalty, Anadolu Agency reports. The wedding took place at Zahran Palace in the Jordanian capital, Amman, with King Abdullah II, Prince Hassan bin Talal and the bride's father as witnesses. Following the wedding ceremony, state-run television reported that the Crown Prince and his bride travelled through the capital, accompanied by a royal motorcade to Al Husseiniya Palace, where a reception and banquet were held. Immediately after the wedding ceremony, a Royal Decree was issued to bestow the title of "princess" on Al Saif. READ: Jordan: unemployment rate drops to 21.9% The King and Queen hosted a wedding […]]]> 642145 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230601-royal-wedding-showpiece-highlights-jordan-role-as-wests-stable-ally/ Thu, 01 Jun 2023 14:10:11 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=641940 The heir to Jordan's throne will marry amid much fanfare on Thursday, in a glittering ceremony that the country's leaders, long backed by the West as a stabilising influence in a volatile region, hope will reinforce local and global alliances, Reuters reports. The 28-year-old Prince Hussein, named as heir by his father, King Abdullah, in 2009, will tie the knot with Saudi architect, Rajwa Al Saif, 29, who hails from a prominent family with links to her country's ruling dynasty. Jordan has long relied on Western support to shore up its economy, one of the world's biggest per capita recipients of US and European aid, and observers hope the wedding will also bring it closer to the regional powerhouse on its southern border. Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin […]]]> 641940 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230601-us-official-describes-situation-in-tunisia-as-extremely-complex/ Thu, 01 Jun 2023 10:31:33 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=641876 US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, Barbara Leaf, has described the situation in Tunisia as "extremely complicated", Anadolu news agency reported. "The social space has begun to close in Tunisia, in light of the increasing pressure on activists, the media, and diplomatic missions," Leaf said in remarks to the press, noting that Washington continues to provide assistance to Tunisia to maintain stability and protect American diplomatic missions there. Leaf had just concluded a visit to Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Lebanon and Tunisia. Remarking on her visit to Lebanon, Leaf stressed that the possibility of the state's collapse "still exists", pointing out that Washington is working with European countries to push the Lebanese parliament to carry out its duty […]]]> 641876 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230601-jordan-unemployment-rate-drops-to-21-9/ Thu, 01 Jun 2023 07:52:09 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=641837 Jordan's unemployment rate declined to 21.9 per cent in the first quarter of this year, compared to 22.8 per cent at the end of 2022, the Department of Statistics said. In a statement issued yesterday, the department said the unemployment rate among males reached 19.6 per cent, compared to 30.7 per cent for females, in the first quarter of 2023. The unemployment rate among university degree holders is about 25.8 per cent. Last month, the government decided to stop recruiting expatriate workers, with the exception of three sectors, saying the decision will have positive repercussions on the national economy and help reduce unemployment rates. Labour Minister Youssef Al-Shamali said in previous statements that there are 400,000 migrant workers in the kingdom. However, […]]]> 641837