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Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Jordanians call for ouster of PM Bakhit

2011-07-09

[Arab News] Jordanians demonstrated on Friday for the fifth week in a row in several cities calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit's government, the dissolution of the lower house of parliament and taking serious moves to punish corrupt officials, witnesses said. It's the system, not the man... Hundreds of protesters erupted into the streets after Friday prayers in the city of Tafileh, 180 km south of Amman, to press their demand for Bakhit's ouster. They issued a statement rejecting last week's reshuffle of Bakhit's cabinet as a fresh evidence of the government's "weak will" to carry out the needed political reforms and a move designed to "kill the public mobility." "The decision-makers have to stop their procrastination, piracy and the cover-up they provide for corrupts," the statement said. In the reshuffle, Bakhit appointed nine new ministers, including replacements for the ministers of the Interior, Justice and Health who resigned in connection with the fleeing of the convicted tycoon Khalid Shahin. Shahin, who was serving a three-year jail term when he decamped to London on Feb. 25, is now in Frankfurt under the pretext of seeking medical treatment that he says he could not find locally. Jordanian authorities said they were in contact with the German government seeking to ensure Shahin's extradition to Jordan. Scores of activists demonstrated for the first time in the city of Mafraq, 50 km east of Amman, urging King Abdallah to sack the cabinet and dissolve the House of Representatives. They also called for Bakhit's trial over his role in the so-called 2007 casino deal, when his government then allowed a London-based investor to build a casino on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea. Samir Rifai, who succeeded Bakhit as premier, sought to annul the agreement in 2008, contending that it harmed Jordan's interests and involved taboos because Islamic teachings prohibit gambling. The lower house voted recently to clear Bakhit of wrongdoings, but implicated former Tourism Minister Osama Dabbas.

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Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Jordan king's motorcade attacked

2011-06-14

[Iran Press TV] The motorcade of the Jordan king has been attacked while he was on an official tour in the southern city of Tafileh, a security official says. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the security official said King Abdullah II was unharmed in the Monday incident but 25 coppers were maimed, one of them seriously. "(The rear) part of King Abdullah II's motorcade was attacked with stones and empty bottles by a group of men in their 20s and 30s after the king's car entered Tafileh," the official said, adding that the motorcade changed its route following the attack. The royal court and the Jordanian government, however, have denied the report that the monarch was the target of the violence in the southern town, saying angry young Jordanians attacked anti-riot police guarding the motorcade of King Abdullah II. "It is absolutely groundless. Footage taken during the visit to Tafileh proves that," a court official told AFP. "The motorcade of his majesty the king was not attacked and the visit to Tafileh was successful," government front man Taher Adwan told state-run Petra news agency. "All that happened was a quarrel between police and people who wanted to greet the king," he added. Some reports say that the violence came after Tafileh mayor barred young unemployed from a town meeting with the king and also because of the harsh treatment by anti-riot police, who beat them as they tried to line the sidewalk for the motorcade and present petitions to the king. "Those who do not represent the people of Tafileh have been chosen to sit with the king. We have been marginalized in a provocative step that shows how security apparatuses control the people," said a group calling itself the "Freemen of Tafileh." The attack came a day after King Abdullah II vowed to enhance political and economic reforms and promised a new electoral law leading to a parliamentary government in an attempt to end months of anti-government protest rallies in the country. Tafileh, about 200 kilometers (124 miles) south of the capital Amman, like other Jordanian cities, has been the scene of anti-government protests over the past months. Jordanians demand reforms, effective measures to fight corruption and the resignation of Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit and his cabinet.

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Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Jordan opposition calls for government's resignation

2011-06-01

[Arab News] Jordan's main opposition party, the Islamic Action Front ...Jordan's branch of the Moslem Brüderbund... (IAF), and the country's strongest pro-democracy coalition on Monday urged the resignation of Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit's government for its failure to adopt the needed reforms. "The way out of the deep crisis we experience lies in the formation of a national reform government, to be led by a national personality which believes in reforms and adopts a program with clear objectives, including the adoption of real, political and constitutional reforms," the IAF said in a statement. The IAF, the political arm of the Moslem Brüderbund movement, considered last week's resignation of two Cabinet ministers indicative of Bakhit's failure to fight corruption and "the unprecedented political, economic and social crisis Jordan is grappling with." Bakhit said that the Justice Minister Hussein Megalli and Health Minister Yassin Hosban resigned on Thursday to concede responsibility for the "mistakes" committed in their ministries that enabled the convicted businessman Khalid Shahin to flee from the country on Feb. 25. In his resignation letter to the prime minister, Megalli said that he had decided to resign because he found the "path of reforms deadlocked." Local media on Monday expected more cabinet ministers to quit in connection with Shahin's affair that dominated the thinking of the Jordanian public opinion over the past three months. Shahin was serving a three-year jail term after the State Security Court found him guilty of bribery in his bid to obtain a 1.2-billion-dollar contract for the expansion of the country's sole refinery. The call for Bakhit's resignation also came on Monday from the March 24 Youth group, which has set July 14 a date for a marathon rally to protest the failure to adopt the required political and constitutional reforms in the country, including an independent judiciary. "We hereby promise our people that we will not back down in our struggle to accomplish radical reforms and disclose all corruption files and ensure punishment of those involved," the gathering said in a strongly-worded statement.

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Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Jordan PM threatens tough measures against Salafists

2011-04-18

[Arab News] Jordanian Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit threatened Saturday to resort to "hard security" measures in dealing with Salafist groups which the authorities accused of injuring 83 coppers on Friday. "We will deal severely with any sedition and all attempts of cheating and behavior which is strange to our habits and conventions," Bakhit said during a visit to coppers receiving treatment at hospitals in Zarqa, 30 kms east of Amman. "These are not good Salafists but a misled group who try to exploit the atmosphere of democracy and freedom in the country," he added. On Friday Salafists held their seventh rally in three months to press for the release of about 200 comrades who are serving jail terms after being condemned by the State Security Court for involvement in terror activities. The function ended peacefully but one of the Salafist groups, wielding sticks and knives, was involved in festivities with coppers that were blamed on the Islamic fundamentals by the Public Security Chief Gen. Hussein Majali. Majali threatened to resort to the "iron fist" in dealing with Salafists that found immediate expression in the arrest of more than 50 of them Friday night and early Saturday, according to security sources. Among the jugged leaders of the Salafi movement were Abu Mohammad Tahawi, who appeared on the Doha-based Al Jizz television Friday night to deny the government charges and Saad Hunaiti, who was tossed in the calaboose along with two of his brothers.

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Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Jordan police attack female protesters

2011-03-28

[Iran Press TV] Pictures have begun circulating in some Internet websites showing security forces in Jordan cracking down on women protesters wearing Islamic hijab. Following the revelation, eyewitnesses came forth to confirm that Jordanian security force and riot police had targeted women wearing Islamic headscarves in the March 24 protest rallies and that they pulled the scarves off their heads while beating them, Fars News Agency reported. Jordanian security forces threatened female protesters and told them to leave the rally site, another eyewitness said, adding that shortly afterwards King Abdullah II's mercenaries began hurling stones at the women from the other side of Jamal Abdul Nasser square where the protesters had gathered. Security forces did nothing to stop plainclothes mercenaries from attacking the protesters. Following growing public discontent over the country's political and economic situation, a number of citizens staged a rally titled the "March 24 Movement" at Jamal Abdul Nasser square. Jordanian security forces accompanied by the regime's mercenaries attacked the protesters, killing two people and wounding more than 100 others. Jordanians want the ouster of Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit and intelligence chief Mohammed Raqqad. They say that the regime has carried out "crimes against humanity." Jordan's king, who has already offered a series of concessions to end the protests, has reportedly called for an early election by the end of 2011.

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Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Jordan Islamists to boycott dialogue with govt

2011-03-17

[Arab News] Jordan's main opposition group, the Moslem Brüderbund movement, said Tuesday that it had decided not to take part in the national dialogue proposed by the government, insisting that King Abdallah be the "reference" for any discussion relating to political reforms. The boycott decision was taken by a joint meeting of the executive bureaus of the Brotherhood and its political arm, the Islamic Action Front (IAF), a statement said. "The reference should be His Majesty the King and not the government" of Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit, the statement added. Bakhit on Monday named a 53-member National Dialogue Committee and tasked it with the adoption of political, economic and social reforms, foremost the drafting of an election law and a political parties law. The body included three prominent, but moderate, leaders of the Islamic movement--former Brotherhood leader Abdul Majeed Thuneibat, former IAF Secretary General Ishaq Farhan and current chairman of the IAF Consultative Council Abdullateef Arabiyyat. "The panel's reference and structure fail to live up to the minimum of our demands," the statement said. The Brotherhood and the IAF also demanded that the national dialogue's agenda includes items such as "constitutional reforms and the annulment of all amendments introduced into the 1952 constitution in such a manner that ensures circulation of power and the formation of governments with majorities at the parliament". The statement accused the government of adopting tactics to "silence the voices calling for reforms and stopping the popular mobility which is indicative of the people's awareness". The Brotherhood also accused the government of "mobilizing its employees and favorites, carrying them in public transport vehicles and encouraging them to threaten national symbols. " The statement referred to local media reports that the IAF Secretary General Hamzeh Mansour had received threats from "mobs" for obstructing reforms proposed by the government and for suggesting that the country be turned into a constitutional monarchy, which implies curtailing the king's powers. According to security sources, heavy security measures were taken over the past couple of days to protect Mansour and his family members. Leaders of the Islamic movement were also the target for verbal attacks by participants in massive rally on Saturday that sought to express allegiance for the king. Meanwhile, ...back at the fistfight... five small opposition parties have issued a joint statement criticizing the structure of the national dialogue body and calling for their leaders to be included in the committee.

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Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Jordanian protesters call for reforms

2011-03-12

[Iran Press TV] Hundreds of Jordanians have attended protest rallies in the capital, Amman, and other major cities, demanding sweeping government reforms. Protesters poured into the streets following the Friday Prayers and called for a constitutional monarchy and a quick dissolution of the country's parliament. "The people want regime reforms," and "What is acceptable today will not be tomorrow," as well as "We want the dissolution of parliament," protesters chanted. Surrounded by a cordon of police, the protesters also called for Jordan's new Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit to step down. "Out, out Bakhit, the turn is yours," the protesters shouted, adding that they would keep up the rallies until their demands are met. Witnesses say Friday's turnout was not as big as past days, since some of Jordan's top Mohammedan religious leaders issued a fatwa -- a religious edict -- instructing Jordanians not to take part in protests while the government and opposition parties try to hold talks. Meanwhile, ...back at the conference... Jordan's key opposition party, the Islamic Action Front (IAF) has rejected talks with the government, saying the regime does not intend to initiate reforms. IAF leaders say they want constitutional reforms, and not just amendments to the electoral law and party politics. Inspired by popular revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, Jordanians have been protesting for weeks, calling for political and economic reform.

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Israel-Palestine-Jordan

US backs Jordan's planned reforms in response to protesters

2011-03-04

[Arab News] A senior US official held separate meetings on Wednesday with Jordan's King Abdallah and Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit to relay Washington's support for the political and economic reforms recently pledged by the two leaders, according to a US embassy statement. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour Michael Posner "emphasised the strong, long-term American commitment to the well-being of Jordan and the US appreciation of Jordan's many decades of work toward regional peace and prosperity", the statement said. He also underscored the "US support for the king's call for sustained, serious and comprehensive program of political and economic reform as the key to realizing the enormous potential of Jordan and Jordanians", it added. King Abdallah recently asked his new government of Bakhit to carry out "real and speedy reforms" that would lead to the formation of cabinets by political parties or coalitions with majorities at the parliament. The monarch earlier fired the cabinet of former Prime Minister Samir Rifai in response to a series of demonstrations that drew inspiration from the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. On Friday, thousands of Jordanians demonstrated in Amman and other major cities demanding the dissolution of the newly elected lower house of parliament and going to early polls.

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Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Two demonstrations in Jordan to press for political reforms

2011-02-18

[Arab News] Jordanians demonstrated in Amman and the northern city of Irbid on Wednesday calling for political reforms and the resignation of the new cabinet that was formed last week by Marouf Bakhit, eyewitnesses said. Dozens of activists took part in a demonstration in front of the royal court in Amman to press for the annulment of amendments that were introduced into the 1952 constitution, a landmark in Jordan's democratic march. "We are here to demand the restoration of the 1952 constitution which should represent the start of the reforms era," said Mohammad Sunaid, one of the leaders of the campaign. In Irbid, about 80 kilometers north of Amman, hundreds of Jordanian activists, unionists and members of opposition parties marched calling for the resignation of the government, the dissolution of the lower house of parliament that was elected on November 9, 2010 and the trial of corrupts. Two weeks ago, King Abdallah sacked the former cabinet of Prime Minister Samir Rifai under the pressure of a series of protests that swept the country and found inspiration from the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. Rifai was replaced by Bakhit, to whom the monarch assigned the duty of conducting speedy "real political and economic reforms."

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Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Jordan blames Israel's obstinacy for escalating Arab anger

2011-02-13

[Arab News] US Assistant Secretary of State William Burns held talks on Saturday with Jordanian leaders, who warned that Israel's obstinacy in Middle East peace talks would only aggravate the "anger" of the region's peoples. Burns met with King Abdallah, Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh to discuss ways to surmount the deadlock in the Middle East grinding of the peace processor and latest developments in the region, a reference to the Egyptian uprising that toppled pro-West geriatric President Hosni Mubarak. "Israel should give up the fortress mentality and stop all unilateral actions particularly the building of settlements," Bakhit told Burns, according to a statement from the prime minister's office. "Israel should look forward to the future and realize that justice and dignity of peoples are an indispensable issue and that the continued deadlock in the grinding of the peace processor will only enhance the anger of peoples in the region as a result of their feeling of an imbalance in the criteria of justice," said Bakhit, a former ambassador in Israel. Bakhit formed his cabinet earlier this week after King Abdallah sacked the government of Prime Minister Samir Rifai under the pressure of a series of protests that swept the country over the past weeks and found inspiration from the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. He told the American envoy that his government "realized the regional changes and was taking measures to speed up the political and economic reforms" and take serious steps to fight corruption. King Abdallah also held a separate meeting on Saturday with the Russian Middle East envoy Alexander Sultanov.

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Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Jordan's tribes criticize queen's role

2011-02-10

[Arab News] Jordanian tribal figures have issued a petition urging King Abdullah to end his Paleostinian wife's role in politics, in a new challenge to the monarch grappling with fallout from uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. Evoking comparisons with the wives of Tunisia's former strongman Zine al Abidine Ben Ali and Egypt's geriatric President Hosni Mubarak, the signatories attacked Queen Rania's Paleostinian origin and accused her of using state funds to promote her image abroad without concern for the hardship of ordinary Jordanians. The 36 figures are drawn from conservative East Bank tribes who form the backbone of the Hashemite monarchy's support -- as opposed to Jordanians of Paleostinian, or West Bank, origin who are the majority of the country's 7 million population. "She is building power centers for her interest that go against what Jordanians and Hashemites have agreed on in governing and is a danger to the nation and the structure of the state and the political structure and the institution of the throne," the petition said. "Disregard for the content of the statement will throw us into what happened in Tunis and Egypt and what will happen in other Arab countries," it added. The unusually blunt statement reflects the deep rift between nationalist East Bank Jordanians and the majority Paleostinian population, rather than a direct challenge to Abdullah's rule. But it keeps up pressure on the monarch who responded to anti-government protests last week by dismissing the cabinet and appointing former army officer Marouf Bakhit as prime minister. The move, which followed a $500 million package of state aid to raise civil service salaries and curb price rises, aimed to address East Bankers' alarm over economic liberalization by the previous government which threatened their state benefits.

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Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Jordanian protesters call for reforms

2011-02-05

[Iran Press TV] Hundreds of Jordanians have gathered outside the prime minister office in the capital, Amman, calling for wide and quick political and economic reforms. Around 1,000 protesters marched toward the prime ministry following the Friday Prayers and urged Jordan's newly-appointed Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit to bring in the public on the country's decision making process. Demonstrators said they demand more government reforms than the appointment of a new prime minister. The protest was organized by the Islamic Action Front (IAF), the political arm of Jordan's Mohammedan Brotherhood. On Tuesday, after three weeks of anti-government protests, King Abdullah sacked the prime minister, Samir Rifai, and appointed Marouf Bakhit in his place, instructing him to "take practical, quick and tangible steps to launch true political reforms." The opposition, however, says Bakhit is not a reformist. "We want seriousness on the ground. We want a genuine reform. We want initiatives and now so that people feel they are partners in decision making," Secretary General of IAF Hamzeh Mansour said. "We want freedom, not martial laws. We need a government for the poor. We want electoral law that satisfies the young and old," protesters shouted. The protest came one day after Jordan's King Abdullah held a rare meeting with key Mohammedan Brotherhood leaders at the royal palace in an attempt to defuse tensions between authorities and the opposition. Protesters then left the prime minister's office for the Egyptian Embassy nearby, where they staged a sit-in in support of anti-government protests in Egypt. "We salute and support the great Egyptian people. Long live Egypt. Down with Mubarak. Fight! Fight! Fight Mubarak," the demonstrators chanted. "We are marching today to support the brave Egyptian protesters in their struggle to remove Mubarak the tyrant," Mohammedan Brotherhood leader Hammam Said told AFP.

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