Jordanian Politics Thread

[MARTYR]

Post all political news here.

[MARTYR]

Mideast impasse sending region into 'darkness': Jordan king


JERUSALEM, Oct 08, 2009 (AFP) - The impasse in the Middle East peace process is sending the region back "into the darkness," Jordan's King Abdullah II said in an interview with an Israeli daily, parts of which were published Thursday.

"We're sliding back into the darkness," Abdullah told the left-leaning Haaretz, which is due to run the entire interview on Friday.

The monarch, who heads one of only two Arab countries to have signed a peace treaty with Israel, said that establishing a Palestinian state was key to a wider peace deal to end the decades-old Arab-Israeli conflict.

"Is Israel going to be fortress Israel or is it going to be part of the neighbourhood? Because if there is no two-state solution, what future do we all have together.

"Show me the future of Israel 10 years from now. Where do you want Israel to be vis-a-vis its relationship with Jordan and other Arab countries?

"I understand that you tend to live in the here and now. You are worried about the next threat. It is difficult for an Israeli to look into the future because of the security aspect. But if there is peace and stability, then people can look into the future."

Abdullah also warned Israel to stop settlement activity in east Jerusalem, which it captured in the 1967 Six Day War and has since annexed in a move not recognised by the international community.

Jerusalem is "a tinderbox that will have a major flashpoint throughout the Islamic world," he said.

"It is important to understand the need of ending all settlement activities and other unilateral actions that threaten the identity of the Holy City."

Israel considers Jerusalem as its "eternal, indivisible" capital, but the Palestinians want to make the eastern part of the city the capital of their promised state.

The past several weeks have seen sporadic clashes break out between Palestinian youths and Israeli police as tensions simmer over over access to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in the Old City, a flashpoint site holy to Muslims and Jews.

[MARTYR]

Jerusalem provocations threaten Jordanian-Israeli ties - Monarch


09 October 2009
AMMAN - His Majesty King Abdullah demanded that Israel stop all unilateral actions that threaten holy sites in Jerusalem and the identity of the holy city, warning that such actions threaten to destabilise Israel's relationship with Jordan, inflame the Islamic world and jeopardise efforts to relaunch peace negotiations.


In an interview on Tuesday with Israel's Haaretz newspaper, excerpts of which were published Thursday, King Abdullah said that he had emphasised the sensitivity and sanctity of Jerusalem with every Israeli prime minister, including incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu, and the American government, according to a Royal Court statement.


The holy city should be a symbol of coexistence among the three monotheistic religions, he added.


The King also stressed the need to end settlement activities.


When asked whether he supports building a wall in Jerusalem, King Abdullah said he did not believe in walls and that walls eventually come down.


King Abdullah said the status quo cannot be perpetuated, because "we are sliding back into the darkness", stressing that it was difficult to be hopeful for the region's future without a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as part of a comprehensive settlement between the Arab states and Israel.


"Because if there is no two-state solution, what future do we all have together? Show me the future of Israel 10 years from now. Where do you want Israel to be vis-à-vis its relationship with Jordan and other Arab countries?" he asked, noting that Israel has a choice between remaining "fortress Israel" and becoming "part of the neighbourhood".


Asked about Jordanian-Israeli ties 15 years after the signing of the peace treaty between the two countries, the King recalled the atmosphere that prevailed in 1994 and the promise of peace, saying: "Our relationship is getting colder."


King Abdullah attributed the gap between the two countries to the failure to achieve comprehensive peace and to realise a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.


Goldstone report


Jordan was among the countries that supported a request submitted by the Palestinian delegation to the UN Human Rights Council to postpone a vote on the Goldstone report, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Judeh said on Thursday.


During a meeting with the Lower House Arab and Foreign Affairs Committee, the foreign minister sought to clarify the reasons why Jordan supported the request, responding to criticism from deputies who said that Jordan "voted to postpone the report", which accused both Israel and Hamas of committing war crimes during the December-January Gaza war.


Jordan fully supports the report, Judeh said, but agreed at the recent Geneva meeting to follow the Palestinian delegation's request to delay a vote on it until March 2010.


"Consultations took place among the Arab, Muslim and African groups and the non-aligned countries on the draft resolution but the Palestinian request prompted these groups to support the delay," Judeh explained, noting that Jordan's and other Arab countries' decision to respect a request by a member of their group is in keeping with UN norms.


The Human Rights Council recently deferred voting on Justice Richard Goldstone's report on the Gaza war, evoking mixed reactions from the international community.


A four-member fact-finding mission headed by Goldstone, a former judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, was appointed by the president of the Human Rights Council in April this year to investigate possible war crimes committed during the war.


In his 575-page report, Goldstone investigated 36 separate incidents that could have constituted war crimes or crimes against humanity. The report holds both Israel and Hamas responsible for war crimes. However, it is more critical of Israeli troops for "targeting and terrorising civilians".


During the two-hour meeting, Judeh also reiterated that Jerusalem is a red line, highlighting Jordan's role as the custodian of Al Aqsa Mosque and other holy sites in Jerusalem.


"Jordan's diplomatic efforts prevented a disaster that was about to happen in Jerusalem as Israeli security forces were preparing to break into Al Aqsa Mosque," the minister said.


He also briefed the committee on the diplomatic efforts exerted by the Kingdom during the 64th meeting of the UN General Assembly last week in New York, and the meetings he conducted with Arab and non-Arab ministers of foreign affairs to discuss the Palestinian issue.

[yazm1991]

Without two-state solution, there is no future, King tells Israeli public

Following is the full text of His Majesty King Abdullah’s interview with Akiva Eldar of Haaretz published on October 9, 2009:

Haaretz: When I interviewed Your Majesty in 2007, I wrote that the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is the voice of sanity in the Middle East. When I crossed the bridge, I saw the picture of Your Majesty’s father and Prime Minister Rabin. What has changed since then?

King: That was an iconic period of our history. There was so much promise then of achieving the peace that all of us need. I remember my father watching the news when Prime Minister Rabin was assassinated and how disturbed he was because of losing a partner for much bigger things than just friendship between Jordan and Israel, for achieving comprehensive peace for all of us. It takes two hands to clap. The peace we have today with Israel is not as warm a peace as some people believe.

Haaretz: Most of the Israelis are quite content with the status quo. Even the media declared victory when Netanyahu came back from the trilateral summit in New York without having to freeze the settlements.

King: It’s a victory for what? What kind of status quo? We’re sliding back into the darkness. As for settlements, they are not just illegal and an obstacle to peace, but - if we all believe that the endgame must be the establishment of a Palestinian state - then where is the sense in continuing to build settlements on the land of that state, and risk losing the opportunity to end the conflict?

Haaretz: How do we move forward?

King: We can only go forward if we solve the Palestinian-Israeli problem and achieve comprehensive peace. If we keep the status quo, as you say, then we have a cold peace. I don’t think that is what Israelis want; I don’t think that is what Jordanians want and I don’t think that is what the region needs.

Haaretz: People in Israel will tell you that in the last elections they decided in large numbers to have a right wing coalition that doesn’t believe in dividing the land and freezing settlements.

King: There is a difference between voting for short-term security as opposed to peace, which is long-term security. I keep saying, and people may not like it on the Israeli side: Is Israel going to be fortress Israel or is it going to be part of the neighbourhood? Because if there is no two-state solution, what future do we all have together?

Haaretz: A one-state solution?

King: Well, the one-state solution, using your words and not mine - I think most people would feel that a two-state solution is the better of the two. But there is no third alternative.

I’ve asked many Israelis: Show me the future of Israel 10 years from now. Where do you want Israel to be vis-à-vis its relationship with Jordan and other Arab countries? I understand that you tend to live in the here and now. You are worried about the next threat. It is difficult for an Israeli to look into the future because of the security aspect. But if there is peace and stability, then people can look into the future.

Haaretz: What would you tell those Israelis about their future, 10 years from now, if we don’t reach a settlement on a two-state solution?

King: That we all will continue to be hostage to conflict and tension. We have no alternative but to pursue a negotiated settlement that will meet Israel’s security needs and ensure it has normal relations in the region, and fulfils the Palestinians’ right to freedom and statehood. The Arab Peace Initiative offers an unprecedented opportunity to resolve the conflict and build a better future for all of us. We have made our choice, a peace that meets the legitimate needs of all. The initiative is not just about the two- state solution. It is about a 57-state solution, 57 nations, a third of the world, that still do not have a relationship with Israel, will have normal relations with Israel within the context of a comprehensive peace.

Haaretz: What needs to be done now, in light of the results of the New York summit between Obama, Abbas and Netanyahu?

King: We must tackle the issue head-on within a clear action plan. That means engagement in serious negotiations that tackle all final status issues, borders, refugees, settlements, Jerusalem, and build on the results of previous negotiations within the framework of the already-agreed terms of reference. We need to get to the endgame: a two-state solution and comprehensive peace between Israel and all its Arab neighbours.

We do not have time to engage in yet another open-ended process that does not achieve results. There is an opportunity to move forward and I believe that the commitment of President Obama to peace offers all parties a unique opportunity that we all must seize to achieve peace that will ensure security and stability to all of us.

The challenge is to stop looking at short-term solutions that will only get us into more problems. I think there is much more anger on all sides. Do we want to see this anger trigger more war and more conflict or do we want to reach peace?

The world is changing. In the European Union as well as the new American administration, there is more courage to stick their necks out to bring Israelis and Palestinians together. But time has always been overriding.

Haaretz: In few days we will celebrate the 15th anniversary of the peace treaty between Israel and Jordan. Will it be a happy celebration?

King: Not as happy as it was when the peace treaty was signed. Our relationship is getting colder. There is always discussions and contact between governments and officials. But what about the people-to-people peace? The vision of His late Majesty and Prime Minister Rabin?

Let’s remember that the peace treaty was signed as part of a process to achieve comprehensive peace. And the full potential of not just Jordanian-Israeli relations, but the whole region, will not be realised unless comprehensive peace is achieved.

I remember that in his first meetings with me, Prime Minister Barak was talking about getting 30,000 highly educated Jordanians to go work in the high-tech sector because we were talking about projects on either side; we were talking about our economies moving forward. There was still a momentum. Today for a Jordanian to go into Israel is almost impossible. We have only about 150,000 Israelis who come and visit us a year and most of these are Israeli Arabs. Trade is almost non-existent, if you take the QIZ (Qualified industrial Zone) out of the picture.

The 15th anniversary is a reminder that when there is commitment to respecting the rights of the other, when there is leadership with the courage to make difficult decisions in the interest of the people, peace can be achieved.

But it is also a reminder of the missed opportunities in the absence of regional peace. Imagine what we could have done together, what we could have achieved for our peoples if the regional environment was conducive for cooperation on economic development, the environment, water resources and more.

Haaretz: I understand that you are extremely concerned about what’s happening in Jerusalem. Why is Jerusalem so crucial to Jordan?

King: We are very, very concerned. Jerusalem has tremendous significance for all three monotheistic religions and has the ability to unite all of us together. Unfortunately, we are seeing actions trying to change the realities on the ground. We have raised Jerusalem with every single Israeli prime minister. I said to Prime Minister Netanyahu: You have to understand the sensitivity and sanctity of Jerusalem. We cannot afford, at this time to make unilateral actions in Jerusalem that are going to jeopardise all these efforts. I have also raised this with the American administration.

Jerusalem is a tinderbox. At a time when we have been working very, very hard with Arab and Muslim countries, with the American administration and the European Union to get Palestinians and the Israelis to the peace table and solve this problem once and for all, we are seeing problems in Jerusalem that will directly destabilise not only the relationship with Jordan, which has a special concern and role in Jerusalem that is recognised in the peace treaty, but will also create a tinderbox that will have a major flashpoint throughout the Islamic world.

Haaretz: Prime Minister Netanyahu tells us that Jerusalem is united, and that Israel has applied its law.

King: There is West Jerusalem, and there is East Jerusalem, which is part of the occupied Palestinian territories. Israel should stop all unilateral actions that threaten the holy sites and the identity of the holy city.

Jerusalem is a city that unites Muslims, Christians and Jews in equality.

Haaretz: Do you support bringing back the physical wall to Jerusalem, as part of the final status settlement?

King: I don’t believe in walls. We don’t want to see walls anywhere. Walls eventually do come down. Putting up walls has never helped societies.

Haaretz: How can you convince the Israelis, who supported the disengagement from Gaza, that the West Bank will not also turn to “Hamastan”, once Israel pulls out from there?

King: The disengagement from Gaza was a unilateral decision that was implemented with a lack of coordination. When it happened, I remember being very angry because it looked almost as if it was meant to create a problem. And then Gaza was isolated. So of course it is going to start to bubble over. Now, if what happened in Gaza is to happen in the West Bank, it will only happen if again you create a virtual prison. But if you move to peace and prosperity you are not going to have that problem.

We are all human beings. We want what is good for our children. We want to have better education for our families, we want healthcare, we want to have a good life. If we get hope into the peace process we can bring Israelis and Palestinians to the table to solve their problems.

Haaretz: Many Israelis were disappointed that President Obama was not able to deliver more normalisation with Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries.

King: A lot of Arab countries believe that Israel does not want peace. There may be a lot of Israelis who say Arabs don’t want peace. Until we break that rut and move forward in negotiations towards the solution, we will not have breakthroughs. Remember that we were expecting the Israelis and the Palestinians to be sitting together back in June and July for serious and effective negotiations. But that did not happen. So it’s not that the Arabs don’t want peace - it’s the problem of how to move forward.

Haaretz: You’ve got a report from the foreign minister of Egypt on the reconciliation negotiations between Hamas and Fateh. Do you see an opportunity for that?

King: You can move Hamas and Fateh together but you cannot keep it in isolation of what goes on in the bigger picture. As we move, God willing, to the peace table, it is far easier to have reconciliation because at the end of the day, Hamas or Fateh, they get their power, their raison d’être from the people. And if the people feel that there is going to be an ability to achieve the two-state solution, then there will be much more pressure internally for these groups to sort out their differences.

Haaretz: What is your vision regarding the nuclear regime in the Middle East?

King: What Jordan is going to do through its peaceful nuclear energy programme is show the region how a country that wants to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes should do it right. I think we are trying to be the model of how to do the process correctly. I know that there is concern. The reactors we are looking at are Generation III Plus, which is by far the safest and most capable technology. It is safe from earthquake, natural disasters, terrorist attacks. The technology we are looking at is one, if not two, generations ahead of what you have. We will, and we all should, be transparent when it comes to nuclear energy.

Haaretz: When you talk about transparency do you have in mind Israel?

King: Everybody. The problem that we have when it comes to nuclear issue is that there is no transparency. It’s sort of a dark subject. And that applies to Israel as it applies to other countries.

My 300th Post

[yazm1991]

King urges unified int’l peace push

AMMAN (JT) –– His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday urged unified international efforts to launch serious and effective negotiations to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and achieve peace within a comprehensive regional context.

The King made the remarks at a meeting with German ambassadors to Middle Eastern states, where he underlined the significant roles the EU and Germany play in bolstering peace efforts.

A total of 22 German ambassadors accredited in the Middle East are convening in Jordan to discuss the efforts being exerted to launch negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis.

The Monarch briefed the diplomats on the latest developments in the region and steps that should be taken in the upcoming stage to push the peace process forward.

At the bilateral level, the King expressed his commitment to boost cooperation with Germany.

Discussions also covered regional and international challenges and means to address them.

Also yesterday, the King met with a delegation from the UK's Royal College of Defence Studies.

At the meeting, King Abdullah stressed that the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state on Palestinian national soil is the only possible solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and a prerequisite for regional peace and stability.

The Monarch also briefed the delegates on Jordan's positions on regional and international issues as well as projects the Kingdom is implementing to achieve sustainable development.

Also yesterday, the King discussed with Saudi King Abdullah Ben Abdul Aziz the latest developments in the region during a telephone call. Discussions also covered regional issues of mutual concern and means to enhance joint Arab action.

The two leaders looked into bilateral ties, expressing their commitment to boost cooperation between the Kingdom and Saudi Arabia at all levels.

[zernjemy73]

Not that Indigo Chick. I mean weve seen her, but now we know shes that one alien talked about in the DCU Special a while back.

[yazm1991]

King renews warning against Israeli measures in Jerusalem

By Mohammad Ghazal

AMMAN - His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday cautioned once more against the consequences of unilateral Israeli measures in Jerusalem on efforts to achieve peace in the region.

At a meeting with visiting Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, King Abdullah underlined Jordan’s rejection of any attempts to threaten the Islamic and Christian sites in the holy city and alter the identity of Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, Jordan and Azerbaijan on Monday signed the Executive Programme for Cooperation between the two governments in the sectors of science and education, culture and arts, youth and sports, archaeology, health and information for the years 2010-2012.

The two countries also signed a memorandum of understanding in the field of information and communications technology.

King Abdullah and Her Majesty Queen Rania received the visiting Azerbaijani president and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva yesterday at the start of their two-day visit to the Kingdom, a Royal Court statement said.

At the meeting, King Abdullah and the Azerbaijani leader underlined the need for officials from both countries to take practical steps to boost cooperation, especially in the fields of economy, industry, investments and trade exchange, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

The two leaders highlighted the growth in bilateral trade volume, stressing that there is room for increased cooperation in this field.

Jordan’s exports to Azerbaijan rose from JD480,000 in 2007 to about JD1.5 million by the end of August. The country’s imports from Azerbaijan reached about JD52 million in 2007 and 2008.

The two leaders also discussed the possibility of benefiting from investment opportunities in Azerbaijan in the medical, educational, IT, engineering and construction sectors, while the King highlighted investment opportunities in Jordan.

Discussions also covered developments in the Middle East. The King reviewed efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution within a regional context that is based on relevant terms of reference, especially the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.

The two leaders underlined the need to intensify efforts to launch serious and effective peace talks between the Palestinians and Israelis to end the conflict on the basis of the two-state solution and to establish an independent Palestinian state that lives side by side with Israel.

The two leaders also discussed issues of concern to the Muslim world, underling the need to work hand in hand to activate collective action among Muslim countries.

In this regard, the Azerbaijani president referred to Baku’s selection as the capital of Islamic culture for the year 2009.

King Abdullah and Aliyev underlined the need to activate cultural cooperation and exchanges of visits between the two countries.

Following the meeting, Minister of Industry and Trade Amer Hadidi said discussions covered the possibility of an Azerbaijani public investment company taking part in investments in Jordan.

Also yesterday, Prime Minister Nader Dahabi highlighted the “distinguished” political ties between Jordan and Azerbaijan, stressing the need to enhance bilateral cooperation, particularly in the fields of economy, trade and cultural exchange at a meeting with the Azerbaijani president.

Aliyev expressed his country’s readiness to help Jordanian contracting companies take part in Azerbaijan’s public tenders.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff Major Khaled Sarayreh on Monday discussed with Azerbaijani Minister of Defence Industry Yaver Jamalov and an accompanying delegation bilateral ties and means to develop military cooperation between the two countries.

Also Monday, Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh discussed with his Azeri counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov ways to enhance cooperation ties between Jordan and Azerbaijan. Judeh underlined the need to boost bilateral ties at all levels to serve the interests of the two countries, acquainting the Azeri official on the Kingdom’s efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region.

At a meeting yesterday to sign the executive programme for cooperation, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Suhair Al-Ali said the programme comes within the framework of Jordan’s keenness to strengthen and develop bilateral cooperation with Azerbaijan in several areas of common interest.

Azerbaijan’s foreign minister commended the signing of the executive programme, underling his country’s commitment to developing and strengthening bilateral relationships.

In honour of the Azerbaijani leader and his spouse, Their Majesties held a dinner banquet yesterday.

[yazm1991]

Judicial modernisation top priority - King

AMMAN (JT) - His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday underlined the need for “swift, effective and practical” steps to modernise the judicial apparatus in the Kingdom.

He said judicial reforms remain a top priority that require the provision of all the necessary means to develop the judiciary in a way that ensures an effective and fair litigation process that responds to human rights requirements in line with international standards.

The King made the remarks yesterday as Rateb Wazani took the oath of office as the new president of the Cassation Court, replacing Ismail Omari. A Royal Decree was issued yesterday referring Omari to retirement upon his request and appointing Wazani as of October 13, 2009.

During the swearing-in ceremony, King Abdullah expressed his keenness to improve the independence of the judiciary and ensure a legal environment that enhances the sovereignty and impartiality of law.

King Abdullah has encouraged the formulation of a judicial reform plan that corresponds with his vision for Jordan’s development as a country ruled by institutions where justice, equality, transparency and the rule of law prevail, according to www.kingabdullah.jo.

The judicial reform process was initiated in parallel with the 2002-2004 Socio-Economic Transformation Plan to enhance the efficiency of the judiciary and reduce legal transaction costs for citizens and businesses alike by upgrading the court system, strengthening its autonomy, training judges and lawyers, establishing an integrated information system network and ensuring transparency.

The plan, which continued after the initial programme was completed as part of the 2004-2006 Judicial Upgrading Strategy, has seen the construction of new courts in Amman and the other governorates, computerisation of the litigation process and electronic interconnectivity among courts, a programme to train young judges in the most prestigious law schools in the West and the introduction of the concept of mediation in lawsuits, among other reforms.

Jordan is spearheading the judicial reform component of a joint initiative of six Arab countries with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the United Nations Development Programme.

[MARTYR]

Jordanians seek pope's help over Jerusalem

AMMAN: Jordan has sought assistance from Pope Benedict XVI to stop Israel's "unilateral measures" in East Jerusalem, which the Jewish state captured in the 1967 Middle East war, an official statement said Thursday.


The request was made by Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh who met the pontiff at the Vatican on Wednesday and relayed to him a "verbal message" from King Abdallah.


"Jordan rejects the Israeli unilateral measures which seek to change the identity of the holy city and endanger the sacred Islamic and Christian places there," Judeh was quoted as telling Benedict.


The Jordanian foreign minister also presented the pope with a "file detailing various Israeli measures and provocations in Jerusalem and the holy places there".


Judeh called for an "unequivocal attitude by the world community for confronting the Israeli excavations that threaten the safety of the Islamic and Christian holy sites and the attempts which seek to change the city's demographic structure through forcing its Arab inhabitants to emigrate," the statement said.


Under the peace treaty which the two countries concluded in 1994, Israel acknowledged Jordan's right to look after all Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

[MARTYR]

Analysts denounce American and Israeli policies in region

AMMAN - American and Israeli enterprises represent a major threat to the future of Arab unity, political analysts and opposition leaders concluded following a three-day conference.


In the conference titled, "Enterprises of Change and their Future in the Arab World", analysts also expressed concern over Iran's interference in Iraq and Arab Gulf states, but stressed the need to establish dialogue with Tehran based on common ground that the Arab world and Iran share.


Scholars also played down the significance of the European enterprise in the region, saying it represents "an extension of Zionist and American policies".


Regarding Chinese, Indian and Russian activities in the region, experts argued that the three nations do not consider the best interests of the Arab world, and shift positions depending on interests and ties with the US.


"The Arab nation faces a serious problem in dealing with all these enterprises and its relations to the US," they concluded in a communiqué issued following the end of the conference on Wednesday.


Experts, who came from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and Jordan welcomed Turkish policies in the region, but admitted that they are in their infancy.


They also called for establishing a clear Arab strategy to deal with challenges facing the region, calling on Arab and Muslim leaders to find common ground to boost cooperation.


Recommendations at the conference, which was organised by the Middle East Studies Centre in association with the Kuwait-based Al Mujtama magazine, also included a call on Arab and Muslim nations to support resistance in Palestine, Iraq, Lebanon, Somalia and Sudan

[MARTYR]

JPA to sue gov't over columnists' club

AMMAN - The Jordan Press Association (JPA) will bring a lawsuit against the government for licensing a new club for columnists, which the association says violates the JPA Law.


During a meeting on Wednesday, the JPA council decide to contest the licensing of the club in court, based on Article 2 of the JPA Law No. 15 for the year 1998, which requires all journalists to be members of the association, JPA President Abdul Wahab Zgheilat told The Jordan Times on Thursday.


"Many of the club's founding council are not JPA members, which is a clear violation of the JPA Law. This move by the government undermines the association's mission and objectives in overseeing media affairs in the Kingdom," Zgheilat said.


He stressed that the association is not against the idea, but that such a club should have been established under the JPA's supervision in order to keep all media activities under one umbrella.


Citing societies that have been established under the umbrella of other associations, Zgheilat said the JPA should have been consulted before the licence was issued.


The JPA president stressed that the association addressed the Ministry of Culture, which approved the licensing of the club, but did not receive any response, which he said also goes against the right of access to information.


Meanwhile, Fahd Kheitan, a columnist and founding member of the club, stressed that the club is not meant to compete with the association or undermine its role.


"The club will not be concerned with the demands of the media sector. Its main objective is to bring together regular writers of dailies, weeklies or news websites with politicians in workshops that aim to discuss news developments, either local or regional or even at the international level," Kheitan said.


He noted that the founding committee discussed the idea of the club with the JPA council, but the latter refused to cooperate.

[MARTYR]

Survey finds most Jordanians distrust elected representatives

28 October 2009
AMMAN - More than two-thirds of Jordanians do not trust their representatives in Parliament and almost half the population believes "the government has not achieved anything worthy of recognition", according to poll results released on Tuesday.


Funded by the USAID ), the public opinion poll on "National Priorities, Governance and Political Reform in Jordan" was conducted by the US-based International Republican Institute (IRI), a "nonprofit, nonpartisan organisation dedicated to advancing democracy, freedom, self-government and the rule of law worldwide".


Middle East Marketing and Research Consultants (MEMRC) carried out the fieldwork of the poll, IRI Country Manager in Jordan Paul McCarthy said yesterday.


Between August 8 and 11, 1,000 Jordanian citizens, both men and women, were interviewed at 100 sites randomly selected throughout the Kingdom for the poll, which also showed that more than half of Jordanians believe their country is going in the right direction, while less than a third believes things are going in the wrong direction.


This reflects a significant improvement over the IRI’s August 2008 poll when nearly one half of respondents said the country was going in the wrong direction, McCarthy added.


Jordanians are more positive about the shape of the economy than they were last year, the poll indicated, highlighting that a majority of the respondents described the current economic situation as very good or somewhat good.


However, citizens continue to express low satisfaction rates across an array of quality-of-life indicators such as standard of living, jobs, future financial security, their children’s future and the state of the nation, according to the poll.


Jordanians remain disinclined to trust their elected representatives, according to the survey, with more than half the respondents saying they are unsatisfied with the performance of the current Parliament elected in November 2007, while a small minority said they are satisfied.


Three quarters said Parliament has not achieved anything worthy of recognition, according to the poll, which indicated that a significant percentage of respondents want to see changes in key aspects of the current parliamentary electoral system.


Starting with its first survey in July 2005, IRI-MEMRC polling in Jordan has sought to gauge the perceptions of Jordanians on their priorities and concerns, democratic processes, voter attitudes and electoral culture, political life and governance for the benefit of decision makers, elected officials and the general public.

[MARTYR]

35% of East Jerusalem expropriated

28 October 2009
AMMAN - Israel has expropriated some 35 per cent of East Jerusalem's territory, over 24,000 dunums of land, from its Palestinian owners despite the fact that in 20 years the majority of Jerusalem's population will be Palestinians, a study said.


According to the study, compiled by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Palestinians currently make up 35 per cent of the city's population compared with 25.5 per cent in 1967, adding that "in the absence of a political agreement on the borders of the city and the status of its Palestinian residents, Jerusalem is approaching a bi-national urban reality".


The study by the Germany-based organisation examined the building policies in Jerusalem intended to change the facts on the ground and ensure a solid Jewish majority in the city, said a statement e-mailed to The Jordan Times yesterday.


"The study highlights that since 1967, Israeli governments developed building and planning policies that were designed primarily according to the current struggle occurring in Jerusalem. The central tool used by the Israeli governments was the expropriation of land from private hands," the press release said, adding: "Since 1967, Israel has expropriated over 24,000 dunums, mostly from their Palestinian owners."


The report, which was prepared in partnership with the Macro Centre for Political Economics, indicated that about 50,000 housing units were built exclusively for the Jewish Israeli population within the framework of new neighbourhoods/settlements, while for the Palestinian population, Israel has built fewer than 600 housing units since 1967 in the scope of government assistance, the most recent of which was built over 30 years ago.

By Hani Hazaimeh

[MARTYR]

Obama marks Jordan-Israel peace deal as reminder of hope

28 October 2009
AMMAN (JT) - US President Barack Obama has said the peace treaty signed 15 years ago between Jordan and Israel is a reminder that peace is always possible, despite obstacles that may seem impossible to overcome, the Associated Press reported from Washington.


Obama said Monday that as he and other administration officials work to restart stalled peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis, they are inspired by what Jordan and Israel achieved 15 years ago, "knowing that the destination is worthy of the struggle".


His Majesty the late King Hussein and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin signed the treaty in 1994 in Wadi Araba near the Jordanian-Israeli border. The Kingdom was the second Arab country to make peace with Israel after Egypt, which signed the Camp David Accords in 1978.


The Kingdom's relations with Israel have come under stress recently after repeated violations by Israeli forces of Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem, which remain under Jordanian supervision per the terms of the treaty.


Opposition groups in the Kingdom have voiced dissatisfaction with the treaty and have repeatedly called on the government to revoke it.


Marking the treaty's 15th anniversary on Monday, senior opposition leaders said the treaty has produced few if any benefits for Jordan and has legitimised illegal acts by Israel.

[MARTYR]

Hadidi meets with Kazakhstani delegation

28 October 2009
AMMAN (Petra) –– Industry and Trade Minister Amer Hadidi on Tuesday underlined the strong cooperation between Jordan and Kazakhstan, particularly in the fields of economy and trade. Hadidi made the remark during a meeting with a Kazakhstani media delegation, where he expressed the Kingdom’s keenness to boost bilateral cooperation ties and build economic partnerships that serve the interests of the two countries. The two sides also discussed means to increase trade volume and establish joint ventures in the fields of agriculture and medicinal industries.

The Kingdom and Kazakhstan are bound by several agreements in agriculture, tourism, transport and health fields. As part of their visit, the delegation yesterday visited the Free Trade Zones Corporation and was briefed on its mission and achievements.

[MARTYR]

US Mideast envoy in Israel to renew peace talks bid

JERUSALEM, Oct 29, 2009 (AFP) - US envoy George Mitchell was in Israel on Thursday in another bid to rescue the hobbled Middle East peace process, as Palestinian divisions have heightened fears that it might collapse altogether.

Mitchell joined Israeli dignitaries in attending a ceremony commemorating prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was gunned down 14 years ago by a Jewish extremist opposed to peace with the Palestinians.

US President Barack Obama's Middle East envoy, who is preparing the ground for a weekend visit by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, was scheduled to meet Defence Minister Ehud Barak later in the day.

Mitchell, a frequent visitor to the region, was due to meet hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, and also expected to hold talks with Palestinian leaders.

"Every effort should be made to start negotiations and move forwards with the Palestinians; it is possible," Barak told public radio.

But there was little hope a breakthrough could be achieved anytime soon.

The Palestinians insist they will not resume negotiations that broke off in December over Israel's Gaza offensive unless the Jewish state completely freezes construction in its settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Israel has rejected US-led international pressure to apply such a freeze on the settlements, which the international community considers illegal, offering instead to implement a partial moratorium on construction.

"The atmosphere is not good," said Israeli Vice Premier Silvan Shalom. "The Palestinians have reached the conclusion that Obama and his administration will obtain concessions from Israel and that they won't have to give up anything. That's why they drag their feet thinking the Americans will do the work for them," he told public radio.

Deep divisions among the Palestinians -- between the Fatah faction of secular president Mahmud Abbas and the Islamist Hamas movement that rules the Gaza Strip -- have cast further doubts over the future of the peace process.

Hamas rejects the legitimacy of Abbas, who holds sway only in the West Bank.

The Islamists said this week they will ban the holding of elections which Abbas called for the Palestinian territories in January, further widening the intra-Palestinian divide.

[yazm1991]

‘Mideast stalemate recipe for more serious conflicts’

His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday said the region and the world are facing a crucial moment regarding efforts to make peace in the Middle East.

He warned against wasting more time as the alternative for peace is aggravating conflicts and a heavier price all will pay.

The King made his remarks at a meeting with a delegation representing the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), also attended by Her Majesty Queen Rania.

Discussions at the meeting focused on the need to overcome obstacles to efforts geared towards resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution within a regional context, according to a Royal Court statement.

King Abdullah said the path to peace is clear and a settlement of the conflict can be done through the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state in accordance with the international resolutions and relevant terms of reference, especially the Arab Peace Initiative.

The peace proposal, the King said, provides an unprecedented opportunity to attain reconciliation between Israel and all Arab and Islamic states that support the overture, which was approved by Arab leaders at their 2002 Beirut summit. It offers Israel peace and full normal ties with the neighbourhood in return for its withdrawal from Arab lands it occupied in 1967, in addition to a workable solution to refugee issues.

The Monarch cautioned against the consequences of continued attempts to undermine efforts aimed to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and waste the opportunity at hand to attain peace.

King Abdullah said Israel should choose between peace that ensures security and acceptance within a comprehensive settlement in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative, and the fortress mentality in a tense and volatile region.

He said peace negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis should start where they previously ended. The region cannot afford a new peace process that does not yield swift results.

The King said it is important that all parties including the Jewish American organisations support the two-state formula, which, he said, is in the best interests of all parties.

King Abdullah said resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict would defuse tension in the region and create genuine stability that would open the doors for progress and prosperity.

Meanwhile, King Abdullah stressed Jordan's rejection of any military operation against Iran, emphasising the need to adopt dialogue for settling the dispute over the Iranian nuclear file.

Also yesterday, King Abdullah met with Ammar Hakim, leader of the Supreme Islamic Council in Iraq, and discussed with him means to bolster bilateral ties.

The King reiterated Jordan's support for efforts to achieve security and stability in the neighbouring country to enable Iraqis to overcome the difficult conditions they encounter.

Hakim commended Jordan’s support for Iraq, highlighting measures taken by the government to facilitate the entry of Iraqis into the Kingdom.

Also yesterday, Hakim met separately with Prime Minister Nader Dahabi, Senate President Zeid Rifai and Lower House Speaker Abdul Hadi Majali, and discussed ways to boost cooperation between Jordan and Iraq.

In an address delivered during a ceremony held in honour of the visiting AIPAC delegation, Dahabi stressed that Jordanian-US relations are a model of cooperation and understanding, highlighting the two countries’ constant efforts to arrive at a just, durable and comprehensive peace in the Middle East, in which the Palestinian question is the principal issue.

The prime minister stressed the importance of pursuing efforts towards the two-state solution, underlining the US role as an honest broker in order to achieve progress in the stumbling peace negotiations.

The Palestinians have come a long way and acknowledged Israel’s right to exist, he said, and now it is time for Israel to acknowledge the Palestinians’ right to exist.

17 November 2009

[yazm1991]

'Jordan eager to expand cooperation with Egypt'

His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday emphasised keenness to continue coordination between Jordan and Egypt on political and economic issues.

In a verbal message to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, conveyed by Prime Minister Nader Dahabi at a meeting with Mubarak in Cairo Monday, the King expressed wishes of prosperity to the Egyptian people, as the two countries concluded extensive talks by signing 10 bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoU).

The deals, officials said, were designed to boost and streamline cooperation between the two countries at the conclusion of the meetings of the Joint Jordanian-Egyptian Higher Committee.

Dahabi's meeting with Mubarak included discussions on means to bolster cooperation in political, economic and commercial fields.

Talks also focused on several Arab and regional issues, mainly efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East that leads to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Dahabi and his Egyptian counterpart, Ahmad Nazif, also briefed Mubarak on the results of the joint committee's meetings.

At the conclusion of the meetings, Jordan and Egypt signed an MoU to enhance cooperation between the stock markets of both countries, in addition to a similar deal for cooperation in the water sector.

They also inked a programme for cooperation in higher education for the years 2010-2012 and an MoU for cooperation in the field of potable water and sewage.

The deals and memoranda signed also cover means to improve competitiveness and combat market saturation, along with cultural and industrial cooperation. A twinning agreement was also signed between Al Salt Handicraft Training Centre, affiliated with the Labour Ministry, and the Foustat Traditional Crafts Centre affiliated with the Egyptian ministry of culture.

At a joint press conference following the meetings, Dahabi said the meetings helped remove obstacles to trade and investment and will reflect positively on the increasing trade volume between Jordan and Egypt, which reached $828 million in 2008 and $634 million during the first three quarters of this year.

Dahabi said several strategic projects are under way between the two countries, adding that other such ventures will be announced in the near future.

The premier stressed the government's readiness to facilitate Egyptian investment in the Kingdom and its commitment to removing most of the obstacles that have hampered the growth of investment and trade exchange.

Egyptian investments in Jordan totalled more than $800 million at the end of August 2008, distributed among several industrial, agricultural, transport, water, gas and oil distribution companies.

At the press conference, Dahabi said work is under way to create an Arab customs union, adding that Egypt and Jordan will be the nucleus of the union through establishing a bilateral body to govern customs cooperation.

Referring to the regional electric grid project, Dahabi said there are plans to increase the number of countries covered by the project, especially after nuclear energy is used for the generation of power.

In response to a question regarding the ongoing fighting on the border of Yemen and Saudi Arabia, the premier stressed Jordan's support for Saudi Arabia in defending its territories against any external threats, adding that Jordan and Egypt take the same stance on this issue.

The Egyptian prime minister highlighted the increase in investments between the two countries, especially in the energy sector, and added that several obstacles have been removed, a matter that will help enhance economic integration.

He also underlined the importance of the role of the private sector in both countries in conducting joint ventures and creating jobs.

In an interview with the Middle East News Agency that was published Monday, Dahabi highlighted Egypt's key role in the region.

Dahabi also referred to the Egyptian labourers in the Kingdom and the government's keenness to preserve the rights of guest workers in the country.

[yazm1991]

King urges European pressure to halt Israeli measures in Jerusalem

His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday urged a more active European role in removing obstacles that hinder efforts to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, according to a Royal Court statement.

During a working lunch with the ambassadors of European Union member states in Amman, the King stressed the need to intensify efforts to relaunch serious negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis within a clear time frame that tackle final status issues and guarantee the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state that can live in peace and security next to Israel.

The Monarch called on European countries to place more pressure on Israel to halt its unilateral measures in occupied Jerusalem, saying that these measures seek to change the identity of the city by forcing Muslims and Christians to leave their homes and lands and threaten Islamic and Christian holy places.

He commended the efforts of Sweden, which currently presides over the EU, to forge a unified European stance that recognises East Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian state.

A row has broken out between Israel and the EU over the proposal that the bloc call for an "independent, democratic, contiguous and viable state of Palestine comprising the West Bank and Gaza and with East Jerusalem as its capital," Agence France-Presse reported.

The draft text was prepared for a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Wednesday, but diplomats said it could change ahead of the talks because of opposition from member states, AFP said.

Israel occupied and annexed East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war and considers it the Jewish state's "eternal indivisible capital", in a move never recognised by the international community.

King Abdullah told the EU envoys that ending the conflict according to the two-state solution is the sole means to bring security and stability to the region.

His Majesty reviewed Jordan’s efforts to implement development and reform programmes to achieve sustainable growth in various fields.

He stressed the Kingdom’s keenness to upgrade cooperation with EU countries, expressing hope that the endorsement of the Lisbon Treaty as of this month will boost the European role in the international arena and reinforce partnerships with countries in the region.

[eastwest]

BREAKING NEWS

Samir Rifai appointed Prime Minister


2009-12-09
AMMAN - His Majesty King Abdullah II on Wednesday asked Samir Rifai to form a new government after Nader Dahabi’s government submitted its resignation to King Abdullah today.

(Petra)
Ammon News