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AMMAN — Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Sunday said the government will not submit a draft elections law at this stage and will instead focus on the political parties and municipalities bills.

His remarks came during the Sunday’s session of the Lower House.

The announcement was made amid a public debate over a possible peace deal between the Palestinians and the Israelis that might leave the majority of Palestinian refugees in their host countries. 

There have been warnings against putting the elections bill on the table at this particular stage because it would be perceived as part of a plan to permanently settle Palestinian refugees in Jordan, especially if the bill would ensure Jordanians of Palestinian origin more representation in Parliament. 

However, House Speaker Saad Hayel Srour criticised Ensour for a different reason. He charged that delaying the law suggests that the House will be dissolved so that another Chamber will be elected to decide on the most important, and sensitive, political reform-related law.

Last week, the premier said that the government plans to submit the bill to push forward the political reform agenda. However, his remarks caused MPs and politicians to express fears that there is an intention to dissolve Parliament before it completes its four-year term. 

AMMAN — Jordan will not accept any solution to the Palestinian refugee issue without taking into consideration its national interests including those of its citizens of Palestinian origin, a senior official said on Sunday.

Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh told lawmakers that the Kingdom retains its right “to reject, accept or express reservation” over any solution that comes at the expense of the country’s national rights.

His remarks came during a Lower House meeting designated to discuss US Secretary of State John Kerry’s ongoing efforts to push the Mideast peace process forward and hammer out a framework agreement to the almost seven-decade-old Middle East conflict. 

Judeh stressed that Kerry’s approach in this regard is compatible with Jordan’s vision of a solution to the conflict based on ending the occupation, establishing an independent Palestinian state within pre- June 4, 1967 lines and a just and agreed upon solution to the refugee issue according to international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative.

“We do not negotiate on behalf of the Palestinians, but we are a key and central stakeholder in these negotiations, as we are concerned with certain final status issues… that directly touch on our higher national interests.”  

Judeh vowed continued support for the Palestinians “at this critical stage of their struggle to reach a two-state solution”.

However, MPs accused Kerry of “attempting to impose an unjust peace solution”.

The majority of around 100 MPs who spoke during the meeting warned against “serious threats” to the national interests, in particular, the refugee issue.

Jordan is the largest host of Palestinian refugees who fled or were forced to leave their lands after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, which ended in the creation of Israel.

Leading MPs expressed their fears that the “vague” plan, which is not officially out yet, would risk Jordan’s rights in the process, reminding the government of the 1993 Oslo Accords between the Israelis and the Palestinians, when the two parties negotiated a peace agreement behind closed doors and then came out with “shocking announcement” after Jordan was kept in the dark.

During a meeting with leading journalists in Amman last week, Assistant US Secretary of State William Burns stressed that Jordan is being kept abreast with progress in the negotiations under way between the Palestinians and the Israelis.  

AMMAN — A programme implemented by Jordanian and Spanish organisations to improve the living conditions of people with disabilities concluded late last week after three years, according to a Spanish embassy statement issued on Sunday.

Spanish Ambassador to Jordan Santiago Cabanas Ansorena attended the closing ceremony.

The project’s activities, which cost around 500,000 euros (around JD476,283), targeted Palestinian refugees at the Zarqa camp, children and Syrian refugees, the statement said.

The programme offered physical rehabilitation, psycho-social support, group therapy sessions, training activities and capacity building for professionals dealing with people with disabilities, in addition to several other activities, the statement said.

The programme also included people with disabilities in Lebanon and Palestine.

GAZA — A delegation from Jordan’s military field hospital, “Gaza 28”, headed by its commander, Mohammad Hamouri, visited the Hamas government’s interior ministry on Sunday.

Interior Minister Fathi Hammad said the Jordanian and Palestinian people are one, commending the Kingdom’s support to the Gaza Strip and its efforts to defend the Palestinian cause.

Hamouri said the hospital is ready to provide medical services to all Gazans, both within the facility and through organising free medical days.

AMMAN — The Jordan Media Institute (JMI) is organising a conference, which opens on Monday at the Dead Sea, on the role of radio in development and democracy.

Supported by the Norwegian Institute for Journalism, the two-day conference includes 90 participants who are experts, academics and broadcasters in the field of radio journalism, in addition to representatives of local radio stations, according to a JMI statement.

During several sessions, research papers will be discussed on topics such as the practices and standards of Jordanian radio stations, media freedoms and the role of community radio stations in the detection of violations, and local radio stations as a medium for development and social change, the statement said.

AMMAN — Minister of Interior Hussein Majali on Sunday decided to name Samir Mubaideen as the ministry’s secretary general as of February 16.

AMMAN — Some 284 tonnes of vegetables and fruit were sent back to Syria on Sunday for not complying with local specifications.

Also on Sunday, employees at the Jaber border crossing sent back 44 tonnes of apples to Turkey and destroyed 5.5 tonnes of pomegranates found in violation of the Kingdom’s health standards.

AMMAN — Agriculture Ministry Secretary General Radi Tarawneh on Sunday met with US Forest Service Chief Thomas Tidwell and discussed the possibility of enhancing bilateral cooperation.

Tarawneh highlighted the Kingdom’s efforts to protect forests and increase green areas.

AMMAN — Culture Minister Lana Mamkegh on Sunday met with Spanish Ambassador to Jordan Santiago Cabanas Ansorena and discussed means to boost cultural cooperation.

Talks also covered the possibility of holding a conference on Islamic architecture in Spain, stressing the need to coordinate organising cultural activities.

The minister voiced her appreciation for the Spanish government’s efforts in preserving Jordan’s archaeological sites.

AMMAN — Thirteen people were injured on Sunday when a bus owned by a private tourism company overturned in Balqa Governorate.

Civil Defence Department staff administered first aid to the injured and took them to Southern Shuneh Public Hospital, where they were listed in fair condition.