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AMMAN — Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff Lt. Gen. Mahmoud Freihat on Tuesday met with commander of Allied Joint Force Command, in Naples, James Foggo, and his accompanying delegation to discuss the latest developments at the regional and international levels.

They also discussed means of cooperation on issues of mutual interest to the armed forces of both countries, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

AMMAN — The Iftaa Department on Tuesday warned against books that promote the Takfiri religious extremism, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The department said it has reviewed some books promoted through competitions and other activities, which aim to spread extremism and expose community members to extremists adopting deviant and radical thoughts that violate the moderate approach of Islam. 

AMMAN — Independent Election Commission (IEC) on Tuesday said that it is working on a strategic plan for 2018-2022 that is expected to be launched towards the end of April, a statement from the IEC said.

The strategy includes four main points which are preparing a quarterly analysis, identifying the commission's national goals, opportunities and challenges, and approving its units' programmes.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah and Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz, along with several Arab and foreign heads of state, on Monday attended the conclusion of the Joint Gulf Shield 1 drills.

Monday’s exercises, which were staged at Samet Field in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia, included a simulated counteroffensive using fighter jets, attack helicopters and various military equipment, according to a Royal Court statement.

They also featured a naval attack scenario.

Accompanying King Abdullah, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Lt. Gen. Mahmoud Freihat and Adviser to His Majesty and Director of the Office of His Majesty Manar Dabbas were also in attendance.

The month-long Joint Gulf Shield 1 military drill was conducted with the participation of units from the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF), as well as military troops from 24 countries.

The drill, the largest in the region, was aimed at enhancing the capacities of participating forces and modernising their security and military measures, while bolstering coordination and cooperation.

The event also aimed at training forces on joint strategic operational planning, unifying terms among participating armies and executing conventional and unconventional military operations in simulation for potential terrorist and extremist threats.

The exercises also covered joint tactical and strategic planning and anti-terrorism operations.

The JAF’s participation was aimed at building the capacities of its units and benefitting from the expertise of other participating forces, the statement said.

Later in the day, His Majesty returned to the Kingdom after participating in the 29th Arab summit.

Upon his return, the King tweeted: “I thank my brother the Custodian of the Two Holy Shrines and His HH Crown Prince Mohammad for hosting the summit and their hospitality and warm welcome, wishing all the best for the summit in its 29th session”. 

During his speech at the pan-Arab meeting, King Abdullah said it was necessary to reaffirm the eternal rights of Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims and Christians to Jerusalem as a key to peace in the region, urging continued support for the Palestinians to realise their legitimate right to independent statehood.

On the sidelines of the summit, His Majesty held several meetings with heads of state and representatives of countries participating in the event.

Talks during the gatherings mainly focused on bilateral ties between the Kingdom and their respective countries and the latest regional developments, in addition to means to reach solutions to regional crises and restore stability and security in the Middle East. 

AMMAN — Arab leaders’ stand in support of Jordan's Department of Jerusalem Awqaf as the sole legal entity to administer Al Haram Al Sharif/Al Aqsa Mosque came at a crucial time, reasserting the Kingdom's historic role as a caretaker of the occupied holy city, pundits said Monday.

Resolutions of the 29th Arab summit, which concluded in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, coupled with the summit's Dhahran Declaration, sent a strong and a clear message that stressed on the Hashemite custodianship and His Majesty King Abdullah's key role in defending Jerusalem, they noted.

The declaration issued at the conclusion of the highest-profile pan-Arab gathering followed the recent US decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and during preparations by the US to relocate its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, slated for this May. The announcement was “timely”, they agreed.

"The stands of the heads of Arab states were very positive amid developments related to Jerusalem, including the US decision on the city," Fahed Khitan, a political analyst, told The Jordan Times on Monday.

"These announcements about Jordan's role were clear and assertive, bringing an end to all speculations that have been circulating recently that Saudi Arabia was planning some deal with the US to solve the Palestinian issue that might affect Jordan's role in Jerusalem," Khitan said.

At the conclusion of their summit in Saudi Arabia, Arab leaders commended the efforts of His Majesty in defending Jerusalem as he performs his role as the custodian of holy places in the city, voicing support for Jordan in the face of Israeli attempts to undermine such a role.

In the Dhahran Declaration, participants said that Jordan’s Department of Jerusalem Awqaf was the sole legal institution entitled to run Al Haram Al Sharif/Al Aqsa Mosque compound and conduct the needed maintenance and restoration works. 

They urged the international community to place pressure on Israel to end its provocative measures in the holy shrine.

“The facts that such announcements were made during the Arab summit that Saudi Arabia hosted ends all rumours and speculations in this regard,” Khitan reiterated.

Jamal Al Shalabi, a professor of political science at the Hashemite University, echoed similar remarks.

“With the announcements made in Saudi Arabia about Jordan, we have passed the stage of speculations and hearsay,” Shalabi said Monday.

“The Dhahran Declaration reflects a consensus by all Arab states and leaders that Jordan’s Hashemite custodianship of Jerusalem is historical and a natural right and responsibility of the Kingdom,” Shalabi told The Jordan Times over the phone.

“No one can cast doubt on Jordan’s role in this regard and the Arab summit’s declaration reaffirms the Kingdom’s legitimate, historical and eternal role, leaving no questions unanswered about this issue once and for good,” Shalabi said.

He added that Saudi Arabia was also keen during the summit to send positive signals to all Arab states to help reach unified stances regarding all issues of concern to the Arab world, including their position on peace in the region.

“Saudi Arabia wants a solid Arab front at this stage and so it sought decisions that help build such a front,” said Shalabi.

Arab leaders’ declaration reaffirms that the custodianship over the holy sites in Jerusalem is a mission undertaken only by the Hashemites, said Tareq Momani, chief editor of Al Rai daily.

Dhahran Declaration’s reference to the Hashemite custodianship and Jordan’s role in this regard is a success for the Jordanian diplomacy at a “very challenging” time, he said.

“Such a position paves the way for a more coordinated and focused Arab response to the US move on Jerusalem,” said Momani. 

AMMAN — Since assuming the presidency of the Arab summit last year, His Majesty King Abdullah managed to steer the focus of pan-Arab action towards priority issues, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, quoted Prime Minister Hani Mulki as saying on Monday.

Chairing a meeting of the Cabinet, Mulki praised His Majesty's speech at the 29th Arab summit held in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, in which he focused on the “most important issues that are the Palestinian issue, Jerusalem, the war against terrorism and enhancing pan-Arab action”.

Jordan has led the Arab nation and the world's efforts to enhance the centrality of the Palestinian cause and help build international consensus to reject the US decision to relocate its embassy to Jerusalem.

At a press conference following the meeting, State Minister for Media Affairs Mohammad Momani said that the Council of Ministers discussed the presidency of Jordan of last year's Arab summit, during which, he said,  focus was placed on Jerusalem and its political and religious significance, and the importance of the holy city as a symbol of peace.

Momani stressed that Jordan is “proud” to be playing the role of Jerusalem’s protector on behalf of the Arab and Muslim nations under the Hashemite custodianship over the Muslim and Christian holy places in the city.   

He said that Jordan also focused on fighting terrorism, stressing that the Kingdom has not spared any opportunity and harnessed its global contacts to highlight the importance of fighting terror within a holistic approach that incorporates the military, security and ideological aspects.

Momani, who is also the government’s spokesperson, praised King Abdullah’s efficient presidency of the summit over the past year till handing it over to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The minister wished success for King Salman Bin Abdulaziz in leading the pan-Arab action dealing with the nation’s paramount issues.      

Regarding the other main decisions taken by the Cabinet, the minister noted that the government has cancelled the tax exemption on hybrid vehicles after the measure realised its goal, which is having this type of vehicles popular in the Kingdom.

He stressed that hybrids are still totally exempted from the 93 per cent special tax paid by regular gasoline cars, noting that “in the next few years, Jordanian cities will witness proliferation of electric cars”.

On the expected amendments to the Income Tax Law, Momani said that the government is studying a draft law with focus on two main points that are intensifying penalties on tax evasion and designing efficient mechanisms of tax collection to serve social justice through a cumulative basis of taxation.

He said that the draft is currently in its final technical phase.

Answering a question on the Baqoura and Ghumar areas that were restored from Israel under the 1994 peace treaty, the government’s spokesperson reiterated that they are under the territorial sovereignty of Jordan, “and we will take the decision that best serves national interests” regarding a renewal of a lease agreement with Israel as the 25-year deal will expire next year. 

AMMAN — The newly-appointed Israeli ambassador has arrived in the Kingdom, signalling an end to a ten-month Amman-Tel Aviv rift following a deadly incident in which an Israeli embassy guard killed two Jordanians last year. 

Without giving further details, a Foreign Ministry official, who requested anonymity, said that Tel Aviv's newly-appointed envoy, Amir Weissbrod, was already in Amman.

Jordan has recently agreed to the Israeli government’s nomination of Weissbrod, who replaces Einat Schlein, whose removal was a condition set by Amman after the killings that took place at a nearby residential building rented by the embassy.

On July 23rd, 16-year-old Mohammad Jawawdeh was killed, along with the landlord, Bashar Hamarneh, a doctor. The killer left Jordan to Israel, protected by his diplomatic immunity, a matter which triggered widespread public outrage in Jordan. 

Later, Amman was angered when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a hero’s welcome to the man and the Kingdom sent a letter to Israel stating that it would not allow the return of the Israeli mission until it received guarantees of a serious investigation into the case, stressing that Jordan wanted proper legal action to be taken against the suspect first.

Earlier in January, Israel officially apologised for the incident and compensated the families of the two victims and the family of Raed Zuaiter, a judge at the Amman Court of First Instance who was killed at King Hussein Bridge during an argument with an Israeli soldier in March 2014.

AMMAN — Jordan is scheduled to host Al Faris International Horseback Archery Championship III on Friday and Saturday, with the participation of 48 contestants from 25 countries.

Al Faris III is held under Royal patronage, with participants from Jordan, Australia, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the US, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Jordan hosted and organised the first two Al Faris Championships in 2011 and 2012.

According to Al Faris Championship’s organising committee, whose Honourary Chairman is His Royal Highness Prince Hashim, the chief royal councillor, the international competition is aimed at preserving and reviving the intangible cultural heritage of horseback archery, which has deep roots in Arabic, Islamic, Turkish, Asian and European cultures.

Held this year at Al-Rayah Parade Grounds in the Royal Hashemite Court, the championship also promotes interest in equestrianism and the values, arts and sports it encompasses.

Contestants will compete in three horseback archery styles representing different cultures. Winners of the first three ranks per style will be honoured, as well as the overall top three outstanding competitors.

Proceeds of Al Faris III will go to charity.

AMMAN — The European Union and UNESCO Amman office on Monday celebrated the provision of new radio and studio equipment to the Middle East University's (MEU) media centre, as part of the EU funded “Support to Media in Jordan” project. 

Launched at MEU's Faculty of Media under the patronage of Minister of State for Media Affairs Mohammad Momani, the ceremony included the handing over of new, modern radio and TV studio equipment including tripods, cameras and camcorders, monitors, screens, headphones, microphones, a mixer and a media lab composed of 20 PCs. 

Following an address by media faculty member and Master of Ceremonies Hani Al Badri, Director of Media Training Ashraf Al Manaseer introduced a video created by MEU students demonstrating the impact that the contemporary media equipment and labs have had on students and the media faculty as a whole. 

The donation came as part of a 1.5 million euro contribution to several universities and radio stations around Jordan designed to improve the beneficiaries' ability to provide high quality media content and "train the next generation of media leaders in the Kingdom".

Dean of the media faculty Ezzat Hijab commended the long lasting "fruitful cooperation" with UNESCO, outlining its "numerous and distinguished successes at the level of study plans, faculty members and improving student participation". 

"I am confident that these efforts will continue through the subsequent stages to activate the capacity of the university in general and the faculty of media in particular to strengthen and achieve the vision of preparing and qualifying distinguished graduates in media, and to provide distinguished opportunities for graduates in various media outlets in Jordan and other Arab countries,” he said.

UNESCO representative to Jordan Costanza Farina stressed UNESCO's commitment to supporting national institutions in achieving full freedom of press and free flow of information, stressing "we are collectively contributing to the realisation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to the empowerment of citizens in their crucial role of interacting with the leaders for the fulfillment of their promises”. 

Head of cooperation at the EU delegation Ibrahim Laafia reiterated the EU's continuous support to the media sector in Jordan which aims to help national institutions "promote the media's role in addressing different national development priorities".

Launched in 2014, the Support to Media in Jordan project seeks to help Jordan’s efforts in advancing the media sector to further increase its freedom, independence and professionalism, according to a UNESCO statement.  

AMMAN — Senate President Faisal Fayez on Monday commended the "high level" of relations between Jordan and Romania in the political, economic and cultural fields, calling for further enhancing them.

Fayez made his remarks during a meeting with Princess Margareta, crown princess and custodian of the crown of Romania, Prince Radu and the accompanying parliamentary delegation, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

He said that Jordan is one of the most affected countries by regional political and security crises, especially as the Kingdom presents services and aid to 1.3 million Syrian refugees despite its scarce resources and the low international support.

The Senate president estimated the cost of the assistance provided to Syrians since the outbreak of the crisis until the end of 2017 at more than $10.3 billion, highlighting that it received no more than 25 per cent of the total cost.

The Kingdom therefore incurred big economic repercussions that affected the daily lives of Jordanians and contributed to higher general debts, Fayez pointed out, calling on Romania to increase its investments in the Kingdom and to work with EU countries to increase assistance to Jordan.

For her part, Princess Margareta expressed happiness for visiting Jordan and highlighted the importance of bilateral ties at all levels, especially in the cultural field, referring to the "large" number of Jordanian students at Romanian universities.