Day: February 3, 2023

Washington, DC, His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday met with representatives of international and US Jewish organisations in Washington, DC, and stressed the importance of these organisations supporting efforts to achieve just and comprehensive peace.

Accoeding to a royal court statement, King Abdullah stressed the need to step up efforts to push towards restoring calm and de-escalating in the Palestinian Territories, while ceasing all unilateral measures that would lead to instability and undermine peace prospects.

His Majesty said Jordan will continue efforts to safeguard Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, under the Hashemite Custodianship.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan, and Jordan’s Ambassador in Washington, DC, Dina Kawar attended the meeting.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Washington, DC, His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday held talks with US Vice President Kamala Harris, covering opportunities for enhancing the strategic partnership between Jordan and the United States.

According to a royal court statement, the two sides highlighted the importance of cooperation between Jordan and the United States in supporting regional integration projects in the fields of energy, food security, and water.

The meeting, attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, also covered issues of mutual concern, with King Abdullah pointing to the importance of stepping up collective efforts towards calm and de-escalation in Palestinian Territories, as well as working with the international community to reach just and comprehensive peace, on the basis of the two-state solution.

His Majesty called for maintaining the historical and legal status quo in Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif.

Regional and international developments were also discussed in the meeting, in addition to means of reaching political solutions to regional crises.

For her part, Vice President Harris reaffirmed her country’s commitment to supporting Jordan in various fields, highlighting the Kingdom’s important role in maintaining the status quo in Jerusalem, and safeguarding holy sites in the city, in line with the Hashemite Custodianship, on top of the Jordanian efforts to promote peace.

She also reiterated the United States’ support for de-escalation in the region, and enhancing prospects of economic integration.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan, and Jordan’s Ambassador in Washington, DC, Dina Kawar attended the meetings.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Washington, DC, His Majesty King Abdullah and US President Joe Biden on Thursday discussed means of bolstering cooperation between Jordan and the United States to enhance regional stability and ensure de-escalation in the Palestinian Territories.

During a meeting at the White House, attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, King Abdullah commended the United States’ crucial efforts in restoring calm and creating a political horizon that maintains prospects for just and comprehensive peace, based on the two-state solution, according to a royal court statement.

His Majesty stressed the need to cease Israeli measures that undermine the two-state solution and push towards escalation, calling for stepping up efforts to support the Palestinian people in attaining their just and legitimate rights, by establishing an independent Palestinian state on the 4 June 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living side-by-side with Israel in peace and security.

President Biden reaffirmed his support for the two-state solution, noting the vital role of the Hashemite Custodianship of holy sites in Jerusalem.

President Biden also emphasised the importance of preserving the status quo in Al Haram Al Sharif.

Moreover, the leaders discussed the deep-rooted, strategic partnership between Jordan and the United States, and keenness to enhance it across various sectors.

The King expressed appreciation of the deep friendship between the governments and peoples of the two countries, thanking the United States for its continued support for Jordan in various fields.

President Biden thanked His Majesty for the partnership between Jordan and the United States and for his leadership as a stabilising force in the Middle East, stressing the United States’ commitment to the Kingdom’s stability and economic prosperity, amid various regional and international challenges.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Washington, DC, His Majesty King Abdullah met with US Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power on Thursday, according to a royal court statement.

The meeting, attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, covered USAID-supported projects and plans, most notably the recent memorandum of understanding between Jordan and the United States, which provides support for the Kingdom as it moves forward with political, economic, and administrative modernisation.

King Abdullah expressed appreciation of the United States’ important role in supporting Jordan’s development efforts, especially those related to infrastructure and water, which will benefit the entire region.

The meeting also covered Jordan’s efforts in hosting Syrian refugees, and the importance of the international community’s continued support for the Kingdom to enable it to continue providing humanitarian, health, and education services to refugees.

For her part, Administrator Power commended Jordan’s efforts on regional integration projects, particularly in the water and energy sectors, to promote stability in the region and address various crises and their economic ramifications.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan, and Jordan’s Ambassador in Washington, DC, Dina Kawar attended the meeting.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Washington, DC, His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington, DC, and discussed the strategic relations between the two countries, as well as joint efforts to promote stability in the Middle East.

At the meeting, attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, King Abdullah highlighted the importance of maintaining coordination and cooperation between the two countries, expressing appreciation of the United States’ support for the Kingdom, according to a royal court statement.

Regional and international developments were also discussed, especially the Palestinian cause and efforts to push towards calm and de-escalation, as well as ceasing unilateral measures in the Palestinian Territories, which undermine peace prospects.

For his part, Secretary Blinken underlined the deep-rooted partnership between the two countries, commending Jordan’s efforts in political, economic, and administrative modernisation.

Blinken pointed to the importance of the Hashemite Custodianship of holy places in Jerusalem in safeguarding the historical and legal status quo in Al Haram Al Sharif.

Discussions also covered efforts to reach political solutions to regional crises.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan, and Jordan’s Ambassador in Washington, DC, Dina Kawar attended the meetings.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman, Jordan Young Scientist Initiative (JoYS) held its first orientation sessions for the panel of judges to get ready for the initial round of judging to determine what projects are eligible for the exhibition, which will be held at Al-Hussein Technical University at the end of next June.

JoYS Scientists is a new national initiative for Jordanian youth based on a proven model implemented in Ireland. Its purpose is to improve the motivation and rewards for young people who wish to study science and apply it to transform society, according to a statement.

It has the potential to transform Jordan by empowering young people to develop solutions to social, technological and economic challenges through the application of evidence-based scientific approaches.

The exhibition of the JoYS initiative was held on June 8, 2022, with the participation of 20 private and public schools.

As for 2023, 120 schools participated, with 185 participating projects from all over Jordan representing the public, private, military, and UNRWA. The projects are competing to qualify for the second stage of the competition.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Washington, DC, His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday said that to Jordan and the Hashemite family, Jerusalem has never been about politics, but an issue of personal concern for more than one hundred years.

Delivering the keynote address at the 71st National Prayer Breakfast Gathering in Washington, DC, King Abdullah said, “for more than a hundred years, we have been entrusted with the Hashemite Custodianship of the city’s Muslim and Christian holy sites”, noting that the Hashemites’ lives have been entwined with that of the city for generations, according to a royal court statement.

In the address delivered to a number of political, ideological, and religious leaders from the United States and other countries, in the attendance of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II His Majesty recalled his late grandfather King Abdullah I’s assassination on the steps of Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa Mosque.

“My father, the future King Hussein, was standing at his grandfather’s side. He survived the bullets by a miracle. His experience that day and his trust in God flowed into a life-long, relentless pursuit of peace,” the King continued.

“I remember so well how in his last days, he flew here to DC from Mayo Clinic, during his chemotherapy treatment, to help see through a new round of peace talks. For him, peace was always possible, and always the priority,” His Majesty added.

The King stressed that “there is always a chance for peace”, noting that “the different peoples of the Middle East have lived in harmony far more than they have lived in discord”.

His Majesty said that instead of more political process, “we need our faith: the moral imagination to believe in a better, more just world,” to achieve peace.

“We need the will to see our common humanity, rise above divisive rhetoric, and build the mutual trust our future desperately needs,” the King added.

This starts with words of mutual respect, His Majesty continued, “like our conversation today” at the National Prayer Breakfast gathering, which brings together thought and political leaders from different religious backgrounds and beliefs.

The event also featured remarks via telepresence from US President Joe Biden, and a recorded video message from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Cairo, The Arab League Friday condemned extremist Jewish settlers’ storming of the ‘Prison of Christ’ site in occupied Jerusalem after they had vandalised it and attempted to set it on fire.

In a statement, Saeed Abu Ali, Assistant Secretary-General for Palestine and the Occupied Arab Territories of the Arab League, held the Israeli authorities responsible for the incident and violations against Islamic and Christian sanctities in occupied Palestine, especially Jerusalem.

Abu Ali urged the “necessity” of prosecuting the perpetrators of “terrorist” crimes, calling on international institutions related to the application of international law and the protection of religious places to break their silence that “encourages the occupation and its extremist settlers to continue their incursions and attacks on Islamic and Christian sanctities in the occupied city of Jerusalem.”

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman, Senate Speaker Faisal Fayez said the UN is still “unable” to play its role in ending conflicts and crises, especially ending the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

This came during a student workshop on the role of the UN and the goals on which it was founded. The event was organised in the English Schools on the occasion of the birthday of the King on Thursday evening.

He said the UN has been unable to end the Israeli occupation of Palestine and has not been able to take any decision regarding the crimes and massacres committed by the Israeli authorities daily against Palestinians.

He added that the UN is unable to end the conflicts and political crises in Syria, Yemen and Libya.

Fayez added that the UN needs to play a more “effective” role in ending regional conflicts and enabling its people to live freely and safely.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman, The police Friday unravelled the murder case of two brothers found a few days ago in the southern town of Tafilah and arrested the main suspect.

Public Security Directorate (PSD) said that local police in Tafilah had received a report that the bodies of two brothers were found in a forest area in Tafilah and showed gunshot wounds on them.

Investigations narrowed suspects to the main suspect, who had confessed to the murder. He said he shot them after they had altercations over the right to grazing lands.

The suspect is being held by the police for 15 days for homicide charges pending a court hearing.

Source: Jordan News Agency