6 july 2015
The Al Maghtas site in Jordan
Designation of World Heritage Site said to prove authentic biblical location does not lie in Israel, as Israeli officials deny existence of controversy.
The announcement of the Al Maghtas site in Jordan – believed by many Christians to be where Jesus was baptized – as a UNESCO World Heritage Site was greeted enthusiastically in that country on Sunday, with Jordanian newspaper Al Rai declaring that the move "put an end to the Israeli claims" that the authentic location is beyond the Jordan River in Israeli territory.
Israeli officials, for their part, insisted that there was no controversy over the site.
In 2011, Israel officially opened the Qasr el Yahud site on the west bank of the Jordan River after a decades-long closure. According to Jewish tradition, this was where the Israelites crossed the Jordan River as they entered Canaan, and supposedly was where Jesus was baptized. Some in Jordan were then angered by the ceremonial reopening, claiming that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist at the Jordanian location and noting that the Vatican had recognized this when Pope John Paul II was present at the ceremony marking the site's opening in 2000.
These voices accused Israel not only of rewriting history, but also of attempting to attract Christian tourism at Jordan's expense.
Al Rai wrote on Sunday that UNESCO's decision settled the matter. "Since the site was discovered, Israel has not stopped trying to deal it and attribute it to the occupied side of the Jordan River," said the paper. "This despite the religious and historical documents that prove that the baptism of Jesus, peace be unto him, is on the Jordanian side of the Jordan River."
The director of the EcoPeace Friends of the Earth Middle East, Gidon Bromberg, told Ynet that recognition of the Jordanian spot as a world heritage site points to the Hashemite kingdom's astuteness in advancing the issue and being aware of the potential tens of millions of Christian visitors interested in being baptized in the Jordan River.
Bromberg said the heritage site designation could hurt tourism at the Qasr al Yahud site. "As far as we know, around 300,000 Christian pilgrims arrive at the Israeli site every year, while on the Jordanian side the number is around 100,000 pilgrims a year."
However, despite the UNESCO listing, which will certainly boot tourism for the Jordanian site, Bromberg pointed to what he said was the real problem – one shared by Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinians: "Whether it's listed by UNESCO or not, ultimately the quantity and quality of the Jordan River's water is so poor."
Meanwhile, Israeli officials said there was no difference of opinion or battle against the Jordanians on the issue, and that "we are talking about pure anti-Israeli propaganda."
According to an Israeli official, the original Jordanian proposal to UNESCO stated that there were plans to expand the site in the future in cooperation with "the neighboring country". The Lebanese ambassador demanded changing the phrasing to "Palestine", a request that was accepted.
Diplomatic officials said that Israel had no problems with the Jordanian proposal and did not lobby against it – quite the opposite, in fact. The relations between the Israeli and Jordanian delegations to UNESCO are considered strong.
The Jordanian ambassador was one of of the first to congratulate the Israeli ambassador after the recognition Beit She'arim in the Galilee as a heritage site.
The Palestinians are also recognized as a state in UNESCO, so Israel was not in a position to prevent the textual change to Palestine anyway.
UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, which met in Bonn, Germany, declared the national park in Beit She'arim in the lower Galilee as a World Heritage Site on Sunday. Beit She'arim was a thriving village in biblical times, and the site includes 30 burial caves in which the noble class weere buried, including Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi, the writer of the Mishnah.
The site in Beit She'arim is one of nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Israel. Among the 21 member states, 17 states voted in favor of including Beit She'arim, including India, Turkey, and Senegal. Four states voted against the move -- Lebanon, Qatar, Algeria, and Malaysia.
Designation of World Heritage Site said to prove authentic biblical location does not lie in Israel, as Israeli officials deny existence of controversy.
The announcement of the Al Maghtas site in Jordan – believed by many Christians to be where Jesus was baptized – as a UNESCO World Heritage Site was greeted enthusiastically in that country on Sunday, with Jordanian newspaper Al Rai declaring that the move "put an end to the Israeli claims" that the authentic location is beyond the Jordan River in Israeli territory.
Israeli officials, for their part, insisted that there was no controversy over the site.
In 2011, Israel officially opened the Qasr el Yahud site on the west bank of the Jordan River after a decades-long closure. According to Jewish tradition, this was where the Israelites crossed the Jordan River as they entered Canaan, and supposedly was where Jesus was baptized. Some in Jordan were then angered by the ceremonial reopening, claiming that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist at the Jordanian location and noting that the Vatican had recognized this when Pope John Paul II was present at the ceremony marking the site's opening in 2000.
These voices accused Israel not only of rewriting history, but also of attempting to attract Christian tourism at Jordan's expense.
Al Rai wrote on Sunday that UNESCO's decision settled the matter. "Since the site was discovered, Israel has not stopped trying to deal it and attribute it to the occupied side of the Jordan River," said the paper. "This despite the religious and historical documents that prove that the baptism of Jesus, peace be unto him, is on the Jordanian side of the Jordan River."
The director of the EcoPeace Friends of the Earth Middle East, Gidon Bromberg, told Ynet that recognition of the Jordanian spot as a world heritage site points to the Hashemite kingdom's astuteness in advancing the issue and being aware of the potential tens of millions of Christian visitors interested in being baptized in the Jordan River.
Bromberg said the heritage site designation could hurt tourism at the Qasr al Yahud site. "As far as we know, around 300,000 Christian pilgrims arrive at the Israeli site every year, while on the Jordanian side the number is around 100,000 pilgrims a year."
However, despite the UNESCO listing, which will certainly boot tourism for the Jordanian site, Bromberg pointed to what he said was the real problem – one shared by Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinians: "Whether it's listed by UNESCO or not, ultimately the quantity and quality of the Jordan River's water is so poor."
Meanwhile, Israeli officials said there was no difference of opinion or battle against the Jordanians on the issue, and that "we are talking about pure anti-Israeli propaganda."
According to an Israeli official, the original Jordanian proposal to UNESCO stated that there were plans to expand the site in the future in cooperation with "the neighboring country". The Lebanese ambassador demanded changing the phrasing to "Palestine", a request that was accepted.
Diplomatic officials said that Israel had no problems with the Jordanian proposal and did not lobby against it – quite the opposite, in fact. The relations between the Israeli and Jordanian delegations to UNESCO are considered strong.
The Jordanian ambassador was one of of the first to congratulate the Israeli ambassador after the recognition Beit She'arim in the Galilee as a heritage site.
The Palestinians are also recognized as a state in UNESCO, so Israel was not in a position to prevent the textual change to Palestine anyway.
UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, which met in Bonn, Germany, declared the national park in Beit She'arim in the lower Galilee as a World Heritage Site on Sunday. Beit She'arim was a thriving village in biblical times, and the site includes 30 burial caves in which the noble class weere buried, including Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi, the writer of the Mishnah.
The site in Beit She'arim is one of nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Israel. Among the 21 member states, 17 states voted in favor of including Beit She'arim, including India, Turkey, and Senegal. Four states voted against the move -- Lebanon, Qatar, Algeria, and Malaysia.
30 june 2015
Hebrew newspaper Haaretz, today, revealed that Israel and Jordan have been involved in negotiations for a number of months concerning reopening Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock on Temple Mount to non-Muslim visitors.
According to the PNN, Haaretz further clarified that there would be procedures put in place in order to prevent visitors being refused entry on the grounds of their religion.
Al-Aqsa Mosque has been closed to non-Muslims since the outbreak of the third Intifada in 2000, before which Jewish and Christian people were also allowed to enter freely.
Although Palestinians hold custodianship of the holy site through Muhammad Ahmad Hussein, head imam and manager of al-Aqsa Mosque, Israel claims sovereignty over all of Temple Mount.
Israeli forces are permitted to patrol the site despite control of the mosque officially being held by the Islamic Waqf Trust, who are independent of the Israeli government.
According to the PNN, Haaretz further clarified that there would be procedures put in place in order to prevent visitors being refused entry on the grounds of their religion.
Al-Aqsa Mosque has been closed to non-Muslims since the outbreak of the third Intifada in 2000, before which Jewish and Christian people were also allowed to enter freely.
Although Palestinians hold custodianship of the holy site through Muhammad Ahmad Hussein, head imam and manager of al-Aqsa Mosque, Israel claims sovereignty over all of Temple Mount.
Israeli forces are permitted to patrol the site despite control of the mosque officially being held by the Islamic Waqf Trust, who are independent of the Israeli government.
29 june 2015
The then-new fence bordering Egypt seen in 2012
Fence along Egyptian border to be expanded as gov't fears illegal immigrants and armed militants may take advantage of porous border.
Israel's security cabinet has approved extending the fortified fence along its Egyptian border into a section of the frontier with neighboring Jordan, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday.
Jordan and Israel closely coordinate security for their 240 km (150 mile)-long border as well as for the strategic 95 km (60 mile)-long Jordan Valley within the West Bank.
But the Netanyahu government worries that African immigrants and armed jihadi infiltrators might try to reach Israel via Jordan after the Egyptian Sinai border was fenced off with a 5 meter (16 foot)-high razor-wire barrier in 2013. That fence runs from the Palestinian Gaza Strip to the southern Red Sea resort of Eilat.
Briefing Israeli lawmakers, Netanyahu said his security cabinet on Sunday gave the green light for a new 30 km (18 mile) stretch of fence that will run northward from Eilat along a now often porous Jordanian border.
He said the fence would help protect an Israeli airport due to open next year at Timna, 19 km (12 miles) from Eilat, and which has been billed as a wartime alternative should Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion airport come under rocket attack.
"This is an important matter. It is part of our national security," Netanyahu said.
"It is an addition security fence we built along our border in the Sinai, which prevented the entry of illegal infiltrators into Israel, and of course of the various terror organizations. This step is also an addition to the fence we built on our border in the Golan Heights.
The fence, he said would go up in Israeli territory, "without in any way harming the sovereignty or national interests of the Hashemite kingdom of Jordan".
Israel signed a peace treaty with Jordan in 1994 and one with Egypt in 1979.
The country has already built high-tech fences in the north on the Lebanon border and along the Golan Heights boundary with Syria. Much of the West Bank is also divided by a network of fences, barriers and walls, while the Gaza Strip is closed off behind high fences and walls.
A fence along the Jordan frontier would leave Israel surrounded by a steel and concrete ring.
Fence along Egyptian border to be expanded as gov't fears illegal immigrants and armed militants may take advantage of porous border.
Israel's security cabinet has approved extending the fortified fence along its Egyptian border into a section of the frontier with neighboring Jordan, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday.
Jordan and Israel closely coordinate security for their 240 km (150 mile)-long border as well as for the strategic 95 km (60 mile)-long Jordan Valley within the West Bank.
But the Netanyahu government worries that African immigrants and armed jihadi infiltrators might try to reach Israel via Jordan after the Egyptian Sinai border was fenced off with a 5 meter (16 foot)-high razor-wire barrier in 2013. That fence runs from the Palestinian Gaza Strip to the southern Red Sea resort of Eilat.
Briefing Israeli lawmakers, Netanyahu said his security cabinet on Sunday gave the green light for a new 30 km (18 mile) stretch of fence that will run northward from Eilat along a now often porous Jordanian border.
He said the fence would help protect an Israeli airport due to open next year at Timna, 19 km (12 miles) from Eilat, and which has been billed as a wartime alternative should Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion airport come under rocket attack.
"This is an important matter. It is part of our national security," Netanyahu said.
"It is an addition security fence we built along our border in the Sinai, which prevented the entry of illegal infiltrators into Israel, and of course of the various terror organizations. This step is also an addition to the fence we built on our border in the Golan Heights.
The fence, he said would go up in Israeli territory, "without in any way harming the sovereignty or national interests of the Hashemite kingdom of Jordan".
Israel signed a peace treaty with Jordan in 1994 and one with Egypt in 1979.
The country has already built high-tech fences in the north on the Lebanon border and along the Golan Heights boundary with Syria. Much of the West Bank is also divided by a network of fences, barriers and walls, while the Gaza Strip is closed off behind high fences and walls.
A fence along the Jordan frontier would leave Israel surrounded by a steel and concrete ring.
25 june 2015
Palestinian man stabbed a occupation policeman in the neck near Jerusalem’s Damascus Gate. The Palestinian was shot afterwards.
Jordanian journalists Thursday rebuked the Israeli embassy in Amman after the mission had protested a June 24 article in the daily newspaper Al-Dustur, allegedly expressing sympathy with the Palestinians.
The article described two recent incidents, that have led to one Israeli dead in the West Bank and one occupation police officer wounded by stabbing in Old Jerusalem by a Palestinian, who was shot briefly after.
The Israeli embassy protested the article, deeming it “ugly and shameful…incitement to kill Israelis.”
Al-Dustur rejected the embassy’s protestations, calling the Palestinian actions “martyrdom operations in heroic defense of their land and rights.”
“Just as [Israel] rejects these operations, we reject the killing of unarmed innocents…in Palestine and their displacement from their land and the desecration of their holy places in front of their eyes,” the newspaper wrote.
Jordanian journalists Thursday rebuked the Israeli embassy in Amman after the mission had protested a June 24 article in the daily newspaper Al-Dustur, allegedly expressing sympathy with the Palestinians.
The article described two recent incidents, that have led to one Israeli dead in the West Bank and one occupation police officer wounded by stabbing in Old Jerusalem by a Palestinian, who was shot briefly after.
The Israeli embassy protested the article, deeming it “ugly and shameful…incitement to kill Israelis.”
Al-Dustur rejected the embassy’s protestations, calling the Palestinian actions “martyrdom operations in heroic defense of their land and rights.”
“Just as [Israel] rejects these operations, we reject the killing of unarmed innocents…in Palestine and their displacement from their land and the desecration of their holy places in front of their eyes,” the newspaper wrote.
24 june 2015
Jordanian article calling the attacks against Israelis heroic
In response to Jordanian Ad- Dustour article praising 'heroic' attacks against civiliains, Israeli embassy posts message expressing its disgust at the incitement to violence.
Jordanian newspapers quoted a message Wednesday from the Israeli embassy in Amman, in which it asked the Hashemite Kingdom's media to refrain from praising attacks against Israelis.
The message referred to an article in Jordanian newspaper Ad-Dustour entitled "We have to rely on the heroic acts in the West Bank and Jerusalem".
The article praised the recent attacks in Jerusalem and the West Bank and the Israeli embassy's message forcefully came out against the author, claiming that he is increasing the tension between the Israelis and the Palestinians. The heading of the Embassy's message argued that it amounted to "incitement to kill Israelis in a Jordanian newspaper."
The message said that "The Israeli Embassy expresses its disgust and its absolute opposition to such shameful words that call to harm innocent civilians. This is incitement to killing and violence in every meaning of the word."
The message also stated that "we expect the publication of such barbaric articles, that are likely to cause damage and injury to civilians and to increase tension between the Israelis and the Palestinians, to cease."
It has been a while since the Israeli embassy in Jordan has tried to print messages in Jordanian newspapers, and so far the Kingdom's media has refused to publish them. Only after the insistence of embassy spokesman Gilad Nol, was it ultimately decided to refer to Israel's message.
The Foreign Ministry said in response that "the Israeli embassy in Jordan follows the Jordanian media and responds through their Facebook page regarding every publication containing anti-Semitism or incitement to terror.
"This is a praiseworthy and important activity. This is what was done this time and we are pleased that the Jordanian media chose to report the the embassy's reaction."
In response to Jordanian Ad- Dustour article praising 'heroic' attacks against civiliains, Israeli embassy posts message expressing its disgust at the incitement to violence.
Jordanian newspapers quoted a message Wednesday from the Israeli embassy in Amman, in which it asked the Hashemite Kingdom's media to refrain from praising attacks against Israelis.
The message referred to an article in Jordanian newspaper Ad-Dustour entitled "We have to rely on the heroic acts in the West Bank and Jerusalem".
The article praised the recent attacks in Jerusalem and the West Bank and the Israeli embassy's message forcefully came out against the author, claiming that he is increasing the tension between the Israelis and the Palestinians. The heading of the Embassy's message argued that it amounted to "incitement to kill Israelis in a Jordanian newspaper."
The message said that "The Israeli Embassy expresses its disgust and its absolute opposition to such shameful words that call to harm innocent civilians. This is incitement to killing and violence in every meaning of the word."
The message also stated that "we expect the publication of such barbaric articles, that are likely to cause damage and injury to civilians and to increase tension between the Israelis and the Palestinians, to cease."
It has been a while since the Israeli embassy in Jordan has tried to print messages in Jordanian newspapers, and so far the Kingdom's media has refused to publish them. Only after the insistence of embassy spokesman Gilad Nol, was it ultimately decided to refer to Israel's message.
The Foreign Ministry said in response that "the Israeli embassy in Jordan follows the Jordanian media and responds through their Facebook page regarding every publication containing anti-Semitism or incitement to terror.
"This is a praiseworthy and important activity. This is what was done this time and we are pleased that the Jordanian media chose to report the the embassy's reaction."
14 june 2015
Jordanian unionists and activists on Saturday staged a picket outside the Professional Associations Complex in Amman to protest the detention and trial of citizens on charges of their support of the Palestinian resistance.
The Engineers Association, organizer of the event, said it would stage another sit-in outside the Jordanian cabinet headquarters next Tuesday to demand an end to what they described as "wasting the dignity of the Jordanian citizen who supports the resistance."
The participants in the protest condemned the Jordanian government's security coordination with Israel and demanded the immediate release of all detainees charged with their support for the Palestinian resistance.
During the sit-in, the protestors carried banners and chanted slogans supporting the Palestinian resistance and denouncing the government for considering the Palestinian resistance a terrorist group.
The Engineers Association, organizer of the event, said it would stage another sit-in outside the Jordanian cabinet headquarters next Tuesday to demand an end to what they described as "wasting the dignity of the Jordanian citizen who supports the resistance."
The participants in the protest condemned the Jordanian government's security coordination with Israel and demanded the immediate release of all detainees charged with their support for the Palestinian resistance.
During the sit-in, the protestors carried banners and chanted slogans supporting the Palestinian resistance and denouncing the government for considering the Palestinian resistance a terrorist group.
4 june 2015
A number of Jordanian members of parliament demanded the Ministry of Interior untie its legal and administrative ties with the West Bank and consider a number of Jordanian nationals as Palestinians, Quds Press revealed.
In a memorandum presented to the parliament speaker, Atef Tarawneh, the MPs asked for citizens who lived in the occupied West Bank before 31 July 1988, those who hold green ID cards when crossing the Allenby Bridge, those who work or worked in the Palestinian National Authority, the cadres of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) excluding those who entered Jordan before 1983, those who leave the West Bank through Israeli ports under Israeli travel documents, and those who left the West Bank after 1 June 1988 amongst others be considered Palestinian and not Jordanian citizens.
The execution of this disengagement, according to the memorandum, will result in withdrawing the Jordanian nationality from more than 300,000 Jordanian citizen of Palestinian origin who have been living in Jordan since 1948.
The memorandum, which was issued under the theme of "disengagement decisions", was signed by MP Raed Al-Khalayleh, Abdul Raheem Al-Beqa'i and Nidal Al-Hiyari.
This comes after the developments that followed the FIFA presidential elections, after reports said that the head of the Palestinian Football Union, Jibril al-Rajoub, did not give Palestine's vote for the Jordanian Prince, Ali Bin Al Hussein, which was later denied by al-Rajoub in official statements.
An official document, obtained by Quds Press, a request by the Director of Monitoring and Inspection Directorate, of the Interior Ministry in Jordan, in which he asked the Director of the Civil Status and Passport Directorate to probe into the grounds that the decision to grant the President of the Palestinian Football Union, Jibril al-Rajoub, a Jordanian nationality was based on.
The document, written on June 1, 2015, under the title of "Jibril al-Rajoub, born on 1953", details the request submitted by the Director of Monitoring and Inspection Directorate to inquire about the legal basis for the decision to grant al-Rajoub a Jordanian nationality, and details of his civil registration, and any changes thereto.
The document, finished and sealed by the governor of the circuit and issued by the Jordanian Ministry of Interior, also reads urgent at its bottom.
In a memorandum presented to the parliament speaker, Atef Tarawneh, the MPs asked for citizens who lived in the occupied West Bank before 31 July 1988, those who hold green ID cards when crossing the Allenby Bridge, those who work or worked in the Palestinian National Authority, the cadres of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) excluding those who entered Jordan before 1983, those who leave the West Bank through Israeli ports under Israeli travel documents, and those who left the West Bank after 1 June 1988 amongst others be considered Palestinian and not Jordanian citizens.
The execution of this disengagement, according to the memorandum, will result in withdrawing the Jordanian nationality from more than 300,000 Jordanian citizen of Palestinian origin who have been living in Jordan since 1948.
The memorandum, which was issued under the theme of "disengagement decisions", was signed by MP Raed Al-Khalayleh, Abdul Raheem Al-Beqa'i and Nidal Al-Hiyari.
This comes after the developments that followed the FIFA presidential elections, after reports said that the head of the Palestinian Football Union, Jibril al-Rajoub, did not give Palestine's vote for the Jordanian Prince, Ali Bin Al Hussein, which was later denied by al-Rajoub in official statements.
An official document, obtained by Quds Press, a request by the Director of Monitoring and Inspection Directorate, of the Interior Ministry in Jordan, in which he asked the Director of the Civil Status and Passport Directorate to probe into the grounds that the decision to grant the President of the Palestinian Football Union, Jibril al-Rajoub, a Jordanian nationality was based on.
The document, written on June 1, 2015, under the title of "Jibril al-Rajoub, born on 1953", details the request submitted by the Director of Monitoring and Inspection Directorate to inquire about the legal basis for the decision to grant al-Rajoub a Jordanian nationality, and details of his civil registration, and any changes thereto.
The document, finished and sealed by the governor of the circuit and issued by the Jordanian Ministry of Interior, also reads urgent at its bottom.
19 may 2015
The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA), earlier this month, arrested the Jordanian engineer Malek Abdul Rauf al-Khabas on his way back home to Jordan via the King Hussein Bridge.
Malik’s mother said in press statements Tuesday: “While I was on my way back home to Jordan with Malik, after we attended the wedding of his niece, the Israeli intelligence deployed at King Hussein Bridge summoned him for interrogation. I kept waiting for three hours before I was updated on his detention without any reason or explanation.”
She said the family has not been in touch with Malik since his arrest as the IOA slapped family visit bans on him.
The detainee’s family called on the Jordanian authorities to step in so as to keep tabs on Malik’s current situation at the Israeli penitentiaries and work on his release without further delay.
Earlier, on Monday, Haaretz said the Shin Bet security service has arrested a Jordanian-Canadian millionaire and held him for 12 days without permitting him to see a lawyer.
58-year-old Ibrahim Seyam was invited by Abbas to attend a conference in Ramallah on developing the PA economy. But when he arrived together with a group of other Jordanian businessman at the Allenby Bridge border crossing about two weeks ago, he was arrested by the Shin Bet and taken to the Kishon interrogation center for questioning.
The number of Jordanians detained by the IOA has reportedly gone up to 26 so far.
Malik’s mother said in press statements Tuesday: “While I was on my way back home to Jordan with Malik, after we attended the wedding of his niece, the Israeli intelligence deployed at King Hussein Bridge summoned him for interrogation. I kept waiting for three hours before I was updated on his detention without any reason or explanation.”
She said the family has not been in touch with Malik since his arrest as the IOA slapped family visit bans on him.
The detainee’s family called on the Jordanian authorities to step in so as to keep tabs on Malik’s current situation at the Israeli penitentiaries and work on his release without further delay.
Earlier, on Monday, Haaretz said the Shin Bet security service has arrested a Jordanian-Canadian millionaire and held him for 12 days without permitting him to see a lawyer.
58-year-old Ibrahim Seyam was invited by Abbas to attend a conference in Ramallah on developing the PA economy. But when he arrived together with a group of other Jordanian businessman at the Allenby Bridge border crossing about two weeks ago, he was arrested by the Shin Bet and taken to the Kishon interrogation center for questioning.
The number of Jordanians detained by the IOA has reportedly gone up to 26 so far.
18 may 2015
The Shin Bet security service has arrested a Jordanian-Canadian millionaire and held him for 12 days without permitting him to see a lawyer, Haaretz reported Monday.
58-year-old Ibrahim Seyam was invited by Abbas to attend a conference in Ramallah on developing the PA economy. But when he arrived together with a group of other Jordanian businessman at the Allenby Bridge border crossing about two weeks ago, he was arrested by the Shin Bet and taken to the Kishon interrogation center for questioning.
Seyam is a businessman with a Palestinian descent. He left the country some 30 years ago and moved to live between Canada and Jordan.
His lawyer has appealed to the Supreme Court against the Shin Bet’s refusal to let him meet with his client. The military court, meanwhile, extended his remand twice.
Both Jordan and Canada have protested Seyam's detention to the Israeli foreign ministry, and particularly the fact that he hasn't been allowed to see an attorney.
58-year-old Ibrahim Seyam was invited by Abbas to attend a conference in Ramallah on developing the PA economy. But when he arrived together with a group of other Jordanian businessman at the Allenby Bridge border crossing about two weeks ago, he was arrested by the Shin Bet and taken to the Kishon interrogation center for questioning.
Seyam is a businessman with a Palestinian descent. He left the country some 30 years ago and moved to live between Canada and Jordan.
His lawyer has appealed to the Supreme Court against the Shin Bet’s refusal to let him meet with his client. The military court, meanwhile, extended his remand twice.
Both Jordan and Canada have protested Seyam's detention to the Israeli foreign ministry, and particularly the fact that he hasn't been allowed to see an attorney.
17 may 2015
The Jordanian Minister of Industry and Commerce Maha al-Alion Sunday met with Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah in Ramallah to discuss Palestinian-Jordanian economic relations.
The discussions focused on the formation of a "higher joint committee" between the two countries, which Hamdallah said would be a helpful tool for increasing commercial exchange between Jordan and Palestine as well as with other countries around the world.
Hamdallah and al-Ali discussed other ways that cooperation with Jordan could support the Palestinian economy.Suggestions included encouraging religious tourism from Jordan to Palestine, establishing joint commercial centers, and increasing the list of products imported and exported between the two countries.
The Palestinian economy, which is heavily burdened by the Israeli occupation, has been in a dire state for years.
The discussions focused on the formation of a "higher joint committee" between the two countries, which Hamdallah said would be a helpful tool for increasing commercial exchange between Jordan and Palestine as well as with other countries around the world.
Hamdallah and al-Ali discussed other ways that cooperation with Jordan could support the Palestinian economy.Suggestions included encouraging religious tourism from Jordan to Palestine, establishing joint commercial centers, and increasing the list of products imported and exported between the two countries.
The Palestinian economy, which is heavily burdened by the Israeli occupation, has been in a dire state for years.
10 may 2015
The First Jerusalem anti-Normalization Conference, held by the Islamic Action Front Party (IAFP), has seen the day in the Jordanian Capital, Amman.
Speakers at the inaugural address of the two-day conference stressed the need to fight normalization and mobilize mass support for de-normalization initiative.
The speakers denounced a decision by the Jordanian security apparatuses on Saturday to slap an entry ban on the Head of the Lebanon-based Islamic Group, Azzam al-Ayoubi.
The set of activities performed on the inaugural session includes presentations about and discussions of key-concepts related to the nature, strategies and repercussions of normalization.
Secretary General of the Islamic Action Front, Mohamed Awad al-Zyoud, called, in his inaugural speech, for the need to devise an Arab anti-normalization strategy, saying all deals struck with the Israeli occupation are devoid of any popular, ethical, and legal legitimacy.
Al-Zyoud’s note further laid emphasis on the need to join forces to fight the occupation in light of the simmering ad-hominem campaigns propagated on the political and socio-cultural arena in an attempt to chip away at resistance.
Al-Zyoud reiterated Jordanians’ firm rebuff of any normalization accords with the Israeli occupation, saying the Gas deal, recently struck with Israel, "does not only represent a flagrant breach to the terms of the constitution but also pools the wool over the eyes of the Council of Deputies and the Jordanian people."
Chairperson of the IAFP Women’s Sector, Hayat al-Masimi, said the party has always taken it upon itself to stand as Jordan’s bulletproof vest against the normalization virus targeted at the Kingdom and the Islamic project as a whole.
She said the Israeli occupation stakeholders have gone on the rampage to snuff out the flames of such a normalization wave and force their way out of such a swelling state of isolation.
For her part, Chairwoman Dr Dima Tahboub, stated that anti-normalization is not an option for it has been criminalized and de-legitimized by over 51 scholars.
“To defend Jordan and to do so Palestine are just one and the same,” she concluded.
Speakers at the inaugural address of the two-day conference stressed the need to fight normalization and mobilize mass support for de-normalization initiative.
The speakers denounced a decision by the Jordanian security apparatuses on Saturday to slap an entry ban on the Head of the Lebanon-based Islamic Group, Azzam al-Ayoubi.
The set of activities performed on the inaugural session includes presentations about and discussions of key-concepts related to the nature, strategies and repercussions of normalization.
Secretary General of the Islamic Action Front, Mohamed Awad al-Zyoud, called, in his inaugural speech, for the need to devise an Arab anti-normalization strategy, saying all deals struck with the Israeli occupation are devoid of any popular, ethical, and legal legitimacy.
Al-Zyoud’s note further laid emphasis on the need to join forces to fight the occupation in light of the simmering ad-hominem campaigns propagated on the political and socio-cultural arena in an attempt to chip away at resistance.
Al-Zyoud reiterated Jordanians’ firm rebuff of any normalization accords with the Israeli occupation, saying the Gas deal, recently struck with Israel, "does not only represent a flagrant breach to the terms of the constitution but also pools the wool over the eyes of the Council of Deputies and the Jordanian people."
Chairperson of the IAFP Women’s Sector, Hayat al-Masimi, said the party has always taken it upon itself to stand as Jordan’s bulletproof vest against the normalization virus targeted at the Kingdom and the Islamic project as a whole.
She said the Israeli occupation stakeholders have gone on the rampage to snuff out the flames of such a normalization wave and force their way out of such a swelling state of isolation.
For her part, Chairwoman Dr Dima Tahboub, stated that anti-normalization is not an option for it has been criminalized and de-legitimized by over 51 scholars.
“To defend Jordan and to do so Palestine are just one and the same,” she concluded.
17 apr 2015
The Jordanian ministry of foreign affairs said that its government is committed to fulfilling its responsibilities towards the Aqsa Mosque.
Spokesman for the ministry Sabah al-Rafei said that the government continues to carry out construction and restoration projects at the Aqsa Mosque, which comes in the context of the Hashemite custodianship of the holy Mosque.
She added that the last of these projects was providing the Marwani Mosque with a new carpet donated by His Majesty.
Rafei made his remarks in response to statements by the Israeli minister of construction and housing, in which he threatened to prevent the Awqaf Department from carrying out maintenance works at the holy shrine.
"The Jordanian Government, and through diplomatic channels, has protested the remarks of the minister," the official said, adding that the Israeli government affirmed that such statements do not represent its position.
The Israeli government, she noted, has reiterated its respect of the Hashemite custodianship of the holy places in east Jerusalem, in accordance with the peace treaty.
Spokesman for the ministry Sabah al-Rafei said that the government continues to carry out construction and restoration projects at the Aqsa Mosque, which comes in the context of the Hashemite custodianship of the holy Mosque.
She added that the last of these projects was providing the Marwani Mosque with a new carpet donated by His Majesty.
Rafei made his remarks in response to statements by the Israeli minister of construction and housing, in which he threatened to prevent the Awqaf Department from carrying out maintenance works at the holy shrine.
"The Jordanian Government, and through diplomatic channels, has protested the remarks of the minister," the official said, adding that the Israeli government affirmed that such statements do not represent its position.
The Israeli government, she noted, has reiterated its respect of the Hashemite custodianship of the holy places in east Jerusalem, in accordance with the peace treaty.
13 apr 2015
Jordan has reiterated on Sunday its rejection of an Israeli plan to build the Timna airport at its current location on the Jordanian border near the King Hussein Airport in Aqaba.
Ministry of Transport spokesman Ali Odaibat said the government has not changed its position, noting that some media reports have no basis.
He added that the concerned authorities have notified the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in this regard, and the government’s objection will be voted on regarding the establishment of the Israeli airport, in terms of its impact on Jordan's sovereign airspace and public safety in that area.
Odaibat noted that related government bodies, represented by the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Transport, are in touch with international organizations on this issue, stressing Jordan's keenness to "protect the airspace from any violation and maintain the security and safety of aviation in our airspace."
Ministry of Transport spokesman Ali Odaibat said the government has not changed its position, noting that some media reports have no basis.
He added that the concerned authorities have notified the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in this regard, and the government’s objection will be voted on regarding the establishment of the Israeli airport, in terms of its impact on Jordan's sovereign airspace and public safety in that area.
Odaibat noted that related government bodies, represented by the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Transport, are in touch with international organizations on this issue, stressing Jordan's keenness to "protect the airspace from any violation and maintain the security and safety of aviation in our airspace."
3 apr 2015
The Israeli government on Thursday officially signed an agreement with its Jordanian counterpart to provide the latter with natural gas.
The agreement was approved by Israeli premier Benyamin Netanyahu and his energy minister Silvan Shalom.
According to the deal, two Jordanian companies will buy about 2.2 billion cubic meters of gas over 15 years from the Israeli gas field of Tamar.
Shalom stressed the importance of the deal, which he said would "pave the way for similar agreements with other countries in the region."
The agreement was approved by Israeli premier Benyamin Netanyahu and his energy minister Silvan Shalom.
According to the deal, two Jordanian companies will buy about 2.2 billion cubic meters of gas over 15 years from the Israeli gas field of Tamar.
Shalom stressed the importance of the deal, which he said would "pave the way for similar agreements with other countries in the region."
28 feb 2015
Political bureau member of Hamas Sami Khater denied claims that the group might have been partly responsible for the ongoing divisions between Jordanian Islamists.
According to Khater, pointing the finger at Hamas is either the by-product of ad hominem campaigns targeting the group’s reputation or claims released by uniformed parties.
He voiced deep disappointment over the “scramble for lashing out at Hamas and the Palestinian resistance” propagated by Egyptian and Arab media outlets.
“Such accusations are groundless and sheer lies,” he said.
Khater slammed allegations on Hamas’s partial involvement in ongoing tensions between Jordanian Islamists, saying: “Everybody knows that Hamas has never meddled in Jordan’s internal affairs. It is a national liberation movement and a Palestinian resistance group with the sole aim of ending the Israeli occupation of Palestine.”
According to Khater, pointing the finger at Hamas is either the by-product of ad hominem campaigns targeting the group’s reputation or claims released by uniformed parties.
He voiced deep disappointment over the “scramble for lashing out at Hamas and the Palestinian resistance” propagated by Egyptian and Arab media outlets.
“Such accusations are groundless and sheer lies,” he said.
Khater slammed allegations on Hamas’s partial involvement in ongoing tensions between Jordanian Islamists, saying: “Everybody knows that Hamas has never meddled in Jordan’s internal affairs. It is a national liberation movement and a Palestinian resistance group with the sole aim of ending the Israeli occupation of Palestine.”
Egyptian strategist Adel Suleiman has warned that the Dead Sea canal project between Jordan and Israel would torpedo the Palestinian cause entirely.
Suleiman, head of the International Center for Future and Strategic Studies, stated on his Twitter page that this project would liquidate the Palestinian cause forever and give Israel a chance to control a lifeline to Jordan and the West Bank.
He said the executive agreement of the canal project would link the interests of Jordan, Israel and Palestine together in the framework of regional arrangements for a new Middle East.
Jordan and Israel on Wednesday signed a cooperation agreement to build a desalination plant in the Gulf of Aqaba and a pipeline linking the Red Sea with the Dead Sea.
Regardless of its threat to the Palestinian cause, the Jordanians believe the agreement with Israel is important to provide their country with a source of fresh water and save it from its severe water crisis, and also to revive the receding Dead Sea.
Suleiman, head of the International Center for Future and Strategic Studies, stated on his Twitter page that this project would liquidate the Palestinian cause forever and give Israel a chance to control a lifeline to Jordan and the West Bank.
He said the executive agreement of the canal project would link the interests of Jordan, Israel and Palestine together in the framework of regional arrangements for a new Middle East.
Jordan and Israel on Wednesday signed a cooperation agreement to build a desalination plant in the Gulf of Aqaba and a pipeline linking the Red Sea with the Dead Sea.
Regardless of its threat to the Palestinian cause, the Jordanians believe the agreement with Israel is important to provide their country with a source of fresh water and save it from its severe water crisis, and also to revive the receding Dead Sea.
10 feb 2015
The Jordanian authorities afternoon Monday denied the newly-released detainee Hamza al-Dabbas access into Jordan after he had served a 45-month sentence in the Israeli occupation jails.
Family of the Jordanian ex-prisoner, Hamza Al-Dabbas, said the Jordanian authorities forced their son back to the Israeli occupation authorities via the King Hussein Bridge after having interrogated him for more than two hours.
Hamza's father added that the Jordanian forces shackled his son and forced him into a transfer-truck in such a remarkably humiliating and aggressive manner.
“How on earth can we receive our heroes, who have written bright episodes in Jordan’s history, in such a way? Is this the way we should reward the ones who endured incarceration on charges of resisting the occupation?” the father wondered.
Meanwhile, media spokesman for the Committee of Prisoners and Missing Jordanians, ex-prisoner Fadi Farah, slammed the move, dubbing it “a blot against the world’s free people.”
Prisoner Dabbas was released Friday after having served a 45-month prison-term at the Israeli occupation jails.
Family of the Jordanian ex-prisoner, Hamza Al-Dabbas, said the Jordanian authorities forced their son back to the Israeli occupation authorities via the King Hussein Bridge after having interrogated him for more than two hours.
Hamza's father added that the Jordanian forces shackled his son and forced him into a transfer-truck in such a remarkably humiliating and aggressive manner.
“How on earth can we receive our heroes, who have written bright episodes in Jordan’s history, in such a way? Is this the way we should reward the ones who endured incarceration on charges of resisting the occupation?” the father wondered.
Meanwhile, media spokesman for the Committee of Prisoners and Missing Jordanians, ex-prisoner Fadi Farah, slammed the move, dubbing it “a blot against the world’s free people.”
Prisoner Dabbas was released Friday after having served a 45-month prison-term at the Israeli occupation jails.
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