Day: March 26, 2023

Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah hosted an Iftar banquet at Al Husseiniya Palace on Sunday for a group of accomplished Jordanian youth from across the kingdom, welcoming men and women from youth initiatives, startup owners, volunteers, entrepreneurs, journalists, and local media figures. After breaking the fast, Her Majesty wished the young men and women a blessed Ramadan and thanked those who shared their joy on the recent wedding of Her Royal Highness Princess Iman bint Abdullah II. “His Majesty and I always take great pride in our nation’s youth and everything they do to create change in their different fields,” the Queen said, adding that they are particularly proud of young people’s new ideas, passion, dedication, and love for their country. She also wished them continued success in their work and endeavors.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday evening sacked Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, following pressure exerted by Gallant over the past few days, to persuade Netanyahu to suspend legislation aimed at weakening the judicial system, in an attempt to reach a settlement with the opposition, according to a statement issued by Netanyahu’s office. According to the Israeli TV channel, KAN, Netanyahu summoned Gallant to his office and informed him that he had “lost confidence in him,” after Gallant had recently declared his opposition to Netanyahu’s controversial plan to weaken the judiciary, and announced this during Netanyahu’s visit to London on Saturday. By this decision Netanyahu has submitted to the desire of his partners in the religious Zionist movement, who oppose Gallant’s policies, which they see they restrict their efforts to implement their settlement plans in the occupied West Bank, as per the desire of the new members of the Knesset and the rising leaders of the Likud, who insist on continuing judicial legislation, contrary to the recommendation of the security agencies.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The Ifta Department has set this year’s Zakat al-Fitr at 180 piasters, and the Fidyah for making up missed Ramadan fasts is JD1 only, based on the Fatwa Council’s decision.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Chairman and members of the Board of Commissioners of the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) sworn in before Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh on Sunday, after a royal decree was issued approving their appointment. The Royal Decree was issued approving the renewal of the appointment of Dr. Khaled Toukan as Chairman of the JAEC Board of Commissioners, and the appointment of Ahmad Hisham Al-Sabbagh, Majd Al-Hawari, Firas Afana, and Khaled Khasawneh, as commissioners in the JAEC.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The Cabinet on Sunday approved the financial contribution bylaw to support political parties for 2023. The bylaw aims to enable licensed political parties, in accordance with the provisions of the law, to play their role on the basis of citizenship, equality, and commitment to democracy and political pluralism, by providing a financial contribution to the parties from the public treasury funds. The bylaw also aims to ensure an active participation of parties in public political life, and in elections through their financial contribution in order to form a Lower House of Parliament based on effective partisan parliamentary blocs, in addition to strengthening the political role of women, youth and persons with disabilities in public party life. According to the bylaw, the amount of the financial contribution provided to the parties is determined, in specific amounts, in accordance with international standards and practices related to the representation of the political party and its scores based on the general elections. The bylaw will be published in the Official Gazette following a Royal Decree approving it. Also in meeting, chaired by Prime Minister, Bisher Khasawneh, the Cabinet approved a set of bylaws, draft, decisions and recommendations related to public sector.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The quartet meeting of the agriculture ministers of Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq began in Syrian capital, Damascus, on Sunday. In a phone conversation with “Petra,” Jordanian Minister of Agriculture, Khaled Hneifat, who attended the meeting, ” said the four countries’ agriculture ministers launched the first steps of pan-Arab partnership aimed to face the food security crisis. Hneifat also noted threat of the global food crisis ” jeopardizes us all,” and this quartet meeting came to coordinate efforts to confront this dilemma, indicating that coordination between the four countries enjoys attention of the Arab countries’ leaders. In addition, Hneifat announced agriculture ministers agreed to review the rapid joint trade procedures, circulate veterinary drugs and vaccines, increase reliance on technology and cooperation to achieve food security, figure out solutions to water shortages and spread of agricultural diseases, and face difficulties in transporting and marketing agri-products. He pointed to Jordan’s “solid” relations with Syria, Iraq and Lebanon, especially since its social, cultural, commercial, political and agricultural relations are “deep-rooted.”

Source: Jordan News Agency

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Ayman Safadi, on Sunday discussed during a phone call with Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs and the National Community Abroad , Ahmed Ataf, ways to develop bilateral relations in various fields. Safadi, who congratulated Ataf on assuming his duties as foreign minister, affirmed Jordan’s keenness to enhance joint cooperation in various fields and build on the outcomes of the summit meeting between His Majesty King Abdullah II and President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in Algeria. For his part, Ataf stressed his country’s interest in expanding cooperation horizons and strengthening brotherly bilateral relations. The two sides said the summit meeting last December opened “wide” doors for “actual institutional” cooperation in various fields to serve common interests, according to a Foreign Ministry statement. The two ministers also reviewed the ongoing preparations for holding the 9th session of the joint Jordanian-Algerian committee, which is scheduled to be held in Amman next June. The duo also referred to outcomes of Jordanian ministerial delegation’s visit to Algeria last February, during which a joint roadmap was signed that featured three axes for economic cooperation in the tourism, trade, and investment sectors, as well as expansion of industrial activity, and resumption of direct air traffic between the two countries, the statement noted. The two ministers discussed a number of regional and international issues, foremost is the Palestinian cause, affirming the continued action and coordination in efforts to support Palestinian people and ensure that all their rights are met, especially their right to establish a free, independent and sovereign state on their national soil according to the two-state solution as the only way to achieve a just and comprehensive peace. In addition, the two ministers discussed efforts to solve the Syrian crisis, including the Jordanian initiative to launch a direct Arab-Syrian dialogue aimed at ending Syrian crisis and addressing all its consequences. Safadi and Ataf agreed to maintain joint communication and coordination, and lauded development of bilateral relations.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The Senate’s Palestine Committee on Sunday condemned Israeli authorities’ announcement to float tenders to build more than 1,200 new settlement units in the occupied Palestinian territories. In a statement, the committee said this Israeli action continuously breachs international law, Security Council resolutions, peace foundations and efforts aimed to achieve the two-state solution, and is a violation of int’l humanitarian law. The committee also called on the concerned international community and Arab and international parliaments to move and confront this serious attack and support Palestinian people, who now steadfastly face Israeli settlement attacks in the West Bank and Jerusalem. In addition, the committee affirmed Jordan’s support to Palestinian people and its continued readiness to defend their legitimate interests and rights in Palestine.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Secretary-General of Royal Committee for Jerusalem Affairs (RCJA), Abdullah Kanaan, said International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members reminds the world of Israel’s violations and crimes against Palestine and Jerusalem. The UN announced March 25 annually to celebrate this day aimed to mobilize efforts, demand justice, and strengthen international determination and will towards protecting UN employees, peacekeepers and all workers in non-governmental circles, including the press. In a RCJA statement, Kanaan noted Israel’s hardline measures focused on closuring international institutions operating in Palestine, and practicing persecution against UN employees, including its refusal since 2020 to grant entry visas for United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) workers to enter the occupied Palestinian territories. Kanaan noted RCJA views central global events as an opportunity to increase public awareness on Palestinian people’s rights in occupied Palestine, aimed to mobilize world support to them and end Israeli injustice and oppression. This situation comes in light of the right-wing hardline government’s escalation policy, which was reflected in increasing incursions and settlements and threatening world security and peace, he added. Palestine, Jerusalem, its people, and sanctities, will remain a top priority for Jordan’s efforts, diplomacy and media, referring to Hashemite guardianship over Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian sanctities in this regard, he pointed out.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Burning a copy of the Holy Quran by a group of extremists in Denmark is a “cowardly act that amounts to terrorism,” Lower House Speaker, Ahmed Safadi, said. During a House session on Sunday, in the presence of the Cabinet, Safadi noted this act is no less dangerous than other extremist ideas that have long contributed to fueling hatred and violence and sabotaged peaceful coexistence. He noted these practices fuel sentiments of a billion Muslims across the world, and constitute an unacceptable insult to the Holy Qur’an, which would destabilize security and stability, and flagrantly contradict human, moral and religious values and principles, calling on Danish authorities to stop these acts immediately. Expressing House’s rejection of these practices against Holy Qur’an, he called on the government to demand Danish authorities to take the necessary measures against perpetrators of this heinous crime, and ban their reoccurrence in the future, adding that desecration of Holy Quran, under ludicrous pretexts, is no longer acceptable in any way. Safadi noted freedom of opinion and expression became a pretext utilized by cowards to attack Holy Quran, which calls for tolerance, justice, and equality.

Source: Jordan News Agency