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AMMAN — Jordan's stance towards the Palestinian cause and Jerusalem remains firm despite growing challenges and obstacles, Acting Lower House Speaker Nassar Qaisi reiterated on Wednesday.

During a meeting with a delegation of Jerusalemite students, Qaisi said that Jordan will maintain its unaltered stance until Palestinians attain their legitimate right to establish an independent state, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Hashemite Custodianship over Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem is a source of pride to Jordanians, he said, pointing out that Jordan's role in defending Jerusalem's holy sites has been made clear through the expression of its position at international forums.

Reiterating the centrality of the Palestinian cause, he said that the settlement of the Palestinian issue tops Jordan's diplomatic agenda, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The Lower House has monitored Israeli violations and the Knesset's "racist" establishment of 156 laws and bills that support the occupation, he said, pointing out that the Lower House  has shared this information with regional and international parliamentary forums.

He added that the House has issued a number of statements denouncing Israeli violations, the most recent of which was Tuesday's condemnation of the US Secretary of State's remarks declaring Israeli settlements “not inconsistent with international law". 

The US decision will lead to the escalation of the Arab-Israeli conflict and undermine peace efforts, he added, expressing the Lower House's support of Palestinians in their efforts.

For their part, the guest delegation expressed appreciation for Jordan's role in the Palestinian cause, highlighting that the Hashemite Custodianship over Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem has safeguarded the Holy City against Israeli practices.

The student delegation's visit falls within a recently launched initiative designated to shed light on the suffering of Jerusalemites, Petra added.   

AMMAN — Constitutional Court President Hisham Tal on Wednesday received a copy of the annual report on the condition of human rights in Jordan, handed by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Centre for Human Rights (NCHR) Rhail Gharaibeh.

Tal said that the court supports the efforts of the NCHR and follows up on the annual report, noting that the report is evaluated with court members to discuss main indicators and outcomes, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

For his part, Gharaibeh reviewed the centre's role in preserving human rights according to "subjective standards and high proficiency". 

AMMAN — Aqaba is expected to celebrate 1 million tourists by the end of 2019, Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) said on Tuesday.

The number of visitors to Aqaba stood at 700,000 in 2017, over 900,000 in 2018 and more than 1 million tourists are expected by the end of 2019, ASEZA’s Commissioner for Economic Affairs Sharhabeel Madi told The Jordan Times. 

The increase in the number of tourists creates job opportunities for Jordanians from all around the Kingdom, Madi said, adding that over 50 per cent of tourists visiting the “Jewel of the Red Sea” are foreigners, which enhances the city’s economic and trade activity as well.  

He also noted that the average stay for international tourists visiting Aqaba is three nights, which gives them time to enjoy its “fascinating sites”. 

Negotiations are being made with tour operators to designate the coastal city as the first destination for tourists visiting the Kingdom, Madi said, noting that Aqaba is accessible by land crossings, seaports and airlines, making it a “portal” to the rest of Jordan.  

Aqaba has become a “stand-alone destination” and has the capacity to welcome up to 1.25 million tourists a year, Madi said, noting that the city’s sites, accommodation and facilities can accommodate the rising number of tourists and provide them with “unique” services.

The ASEZA commissioner added that the city, globally acknowledged as “a first-class tourist destination”, is part of Jordan’s “Golden Triangle”, alongside Wadi Rum and Petra. 

Besides its “astonishing attractions”, Aqaba’s local community, which is welcoming, accepting of other cultures and ready to mingle with tourists, make the city a distinctive place to visit, Madi said.

In 2020, ASEZA aspires to establish new markets, airlines and accommodations in Aqaba. It also aims to expand the city’s participation in marketing and promotional activities around the globe, according to Madi. 

Also on Wednesday, Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) Chief Commissioner Suleiman Farajat said that the rose-red city is preparing to celebrate welcoming its 1 millionth visitor this year for the first time in its history on Thursday. 

PDTRA will hold a ceremony to mark the occasion, Farajat added, noting that the increase in the number of visitors is a sign of cooperation between PDTRA and its partners, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.  

The total number of visitors to the ancient city of Petra stood at 620,000 in 2017, 827,000 in 2018 and 875,000 up to the end of October 2019, Farajat recently told The Jordan Times.

AMMAN — Deputising for His Majesty King Abdullah, Royal Court Chief Yousef Issawi on Wednesday visited the UAE embassy in Jordan to pay his respects over the passing of Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE president's representative, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

During a meeting with Emirati Ambassador to Jordan Ahmed Ali Balushi, Issawi relayed His Majesty’s condolences to UAE President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. 

AMMAN — The Cabinet on Wednesday listened to a briefing by Minister of Local Administration Walid Masri on the way municipalities and joint service councils are handling the unstable weather conditions that have affected the Kingdom over the past few days.

Masri outlined the precautionary measures that have been taken to mitigate these conditions’ impact, such as cleaning clogged culverts across the Kingdom, the Jordan News Agency, Petra reported.

The intensity of rainfall during the past 48 hours has exceeded the usual level for this time of year, resulting in material damages, road closures and power outages in some areas, Masri said. 

AMMAN — The strenuous economic conditions in Jordan caused by sudden population growth, due to the forced migration of citizens from neighbouring countries over the past two decades, have hindered the implementation of vital projects within the transport sector, Minister of Transport Khalid Saif said on Wednesday. 

During the inauguration of a workshop on the environmental impact of the transport sector at the ministry’s headquarters, Saif said these factors have thwarted the growth of the sector, leading citizens to eschew public transport services and travel in their own vehicles, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The minister added that that the number of private vehicles in the Kingdom has reached 1.5 million, 1.2 million of which are based in Amman. 

The ministry of transport has taken measures and established projects to rectify the situation, including the Bus Rapid Transport, which is expected to “change the nature of public transport in the Kingdom through the utilisation of smart tools such as pre-booking, electronic payment and ensuring accurate departure and arrival times”, Saif underlined. 

Over the past few years, the government has encouraged electrical transport by offering tax and customs exemptions on electric cars, he said.

On Monday, the government reduced taxes on electric cars from 25 per cent to 10 per cent for vehicles with a 250 kilowatt engine capacity. Taxes on electric cars with an engine capacity of 251 kilowatts or more were reduced from 25 per cent to 15 per cent.

The transport sector’s current status requires a “broader understanding” of sustainable transport by decision makers and experts to better grasp its positive overall and economic impact, the minister noted.  

AMMAN — Cancelling some departments and entities affiliated with the Jordan Water Authority and merging others with the Water Ministry is part of the government's efforts to enhance efficiency and boost performance, as many of these departments share similar jurisdictions, the Water Ministry said on Wednesday.

In a statement carried by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, the ministry said that the decisions seek to eliminate overlap between the sector’s institutions to maximise governance efficiency and productivity and reduce spending and operating costs.

Studies and analysis have highlighted the need to swiftly implement these measures to face the challenges facing the sector and further the ability to plan and implement projects in pursuit of a unified water law, according to the ministry. 

AMMAN — Expediently lowering sales tax, energy prices and customs fees are “vital” steps to stimulating the national economy in a way that enables it to overcome challenges and improve the living conditions of citizens, the Amman Chamber of Commerce (ACC) said on Wednesday. 

In a statement carried by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, the ACC stressed that Jordan needs a national economic reform programme that meets and realises His Majesty King Abdullah's aspirations, which he “clearly announced” during meetings with economic experts.

Improving the living conditions of Jordanians is among His Majesty's top priorities and would contribute to stimulating commercial activities that have declined over the past two years, which has negatively affected Treasury revenues, said the chamber.

The ACC called on the government to urge banks to reduce their interest rates, enabling economic sectors to secure the funds necessary to expand businesses and investments and increase their competitiveness domestically and externally, which would, consequently, create new jobs. 

Taxes should be tangibly reduced on items and services, and should be cancelled on food goods, medical equipment and children’s and school items, as rates on such commodities reach up to 51 per cent, according to the ACC. 

The chamber highlighted the importance of unifying customs fees at low rates to contribute to decreasing prices and limiting tax evasion, adding that the 5 per cent fee for customs service allowance on imported goods should be scrapped.

The ACC also noted that the decisions and procedures announced by the government earlier in the week included “positive aspects”, calling on the government to make quick decisions that take into consideration the level of recession and “remarkable decline” in the local market.  

AMMAN — The Jordan Integrity and Anti-corruption Committee (JIACC) has referred 54 cases mentioned in the Audit Bureau report to the judiciary, President of the Lower House Finance Committee MP Khalid Bakkar said on Tuesday.

During a meeting with Audit Bureau President Assem Haddad, Bakkar said that the panel had received a follow-up report from the JIACC on procedures that were implemented after the Lower House adopted the committee's recommendations in the previous session, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The MP noted that the Treasury in 2019 received more than JD189 million as a result of conciliations among citizens. Haddad said that the bureau has a main monitoring role in preserving public money, highlighting the importance of following up on bureau reports.  

AMMAN — The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) have signed a Letter of Agreement to support raising awareness of the “sensible” use of antibiotics in Jordan to minimise the impact of the global threat of Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR). 

In a statement on Wednesday, the FAO stressed that “immediate action” will be taken to raise awareness of AMR by developing communication and advocacy products that target different sectors, as described in the National Action Plan of Jordan in collaboration with the World Health Organisation country office.

 “We are honoured to facilitate the collaboration between the FAO and JUST through signing this agreement in the framework of the One Health approach, which will support the faculties of medicine and veterinary medicine at JUST through initiating mutual practices towards AMR in human and animal health,” Alexis Bonte, FAO representative ad interim, was quoted in the statement as saying.

“This is a continuation of collaboration with national specialised entities to support the concerted efforts. The signing of the Letter of Agreement coincides with World Antibiotics Awareness Week 2019,” he said.

Vice President of JUST Sarhan Haddad said: “This agreement will help the community to raise awareness on the use of antibiotics on the farm, para-vet, community and veterinarian levels in the various directorates of agriculture,” according to the statement.

Haddad also stressed the importance of the Regional Centre for Infectious Diseases and AMR as it is the “only support centre for infectious diseases in the livestock sector”.

He stressed that the university, with its scientific and technical cadres, is “supporting the National Action Plan of One Health to support AMR and raising awareness on the unregulated use of antibiotics”.

The agreement seeks to contribute to minimising the threat of AMR as an integral part of food security, the statement concluded.