Safadi: Jordan Will Not Stop Supporting Our People in Gaza - Jordan News
At the close of the first day of the workshop, Ghunaimat expressed gratitude to Speaker Safadi for his support, stating that the path to real environmental transformation does not lie in conferences or slogans alone—but in institutional action and partnerships with international allies, all in the pursuit of a future that leaves no one behind.
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Netanyahu says 'Israel' must complete defeat of Hamas to free captives
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that 'Israel' must "complete" the defeat of Hamas in Gaza to secure the release of captives, ahead of a cabinet meeting to discuss an updated war plan. "It is necessary to complete the defeat of the enemy in Gaza, to free all our hostages and to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel," Netanyahu said during a visit to an army training facility. 'Israeli' media said the premier was considering ordering the total occupation of the Palestinian territory, with public broadcaster Kan reporting that "Netanyahu wants the Israeli army to conquer the entire Gaza Strip." Netanyahu's office said he held a three-hour "security discussion" on Tuesday with army chief Eyal Zamir, but did not disclose any new war plans. The premier's office earlier said the army was prepared to implement any decision made by the security cabinet, which is due to convene later in the week to approve new instructions. Citing cabinet members, Kan reported that Netanyahu had "decided to extend the fight to areas where hostages might be held" inside Gaza. But some major media outlets such as Channel 12 have suggested that the rumoured expansion of military operations may only be a negotiating tactic. While there was no official confirmation for a plan to occupy Gaza -- from which 'Israel' withdrew troops and settlers two decades ago -- it has drawn angry reactions from the Palestinian Authority and Gaza's Hamas-run government. Hamas insisted such an 'Israeli' plan would not shift its position in ceasefire talks, demanding the withdrawal of troops from Gaza. "The ball is in the hands of... (Israel) and the Americans," senior Hamas official Hossam Badran told AFP, adding that the group wanted to "end the war and the famine". 'Agreement must be reached' Over the war's 22 months, 'Israeli' forces have devastated large parts of the Gaza Strip, where repeated warnings of famine have increased pressure on Netanyahu's government to halt the fighting. Humanitarian agencies say the territory's 2.4 million people are slipping into a catastrophic famine. Netanyahu has faced growing pressure on several fronts. Domestically, families of captives are demanding a ceasefire to bring their loved ones home. Around the world, there are increasing calls for a truce to allow in food to the starving in Gaza. The International Committee of the Red Cross on Tuesday said it was "prepared and ready to bring in medicine, food and family news for the hostages in Gaza", and to "scale up the delivery of life-saving aid safely to civilians". But "to do this, an agreement must be reached between Israel and Hamas," it said.
Jordan News
4 hours ago
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Over Two-Thirds of Jordanians Are Optimistic About the Country's Direction – Citizens' Priorities Revealed
A recent public opinion survey conducted by the Center for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan revealed that 72% of Jordanians believe the country is moving in a positive direction, while 26% think it is heading in a negative one. اضافة اعلان The survey also identified the top priorities for Jordanians. Unemployment and job creation for youth ranked as the most pressing issue, selected by 49% of respondents. This was followed by general economic reform (11%), improving public services such as healthcare and education (11%), and addressing rising prices and cost of living (11%). When asked about the government's recent decision to dissolve municipal and governorate councils and appoint interim committees until elections, 58% supported the move, while 29% opposed it. Regarding participation in upcoming local elections, 44% of respondents said they would definitely vote, 14% said they were likely to vote, and 40% said they probably would not. The survey also asked about the recent government decision to reduce taxes on certain types of passenger vehicles. 72% of respondents had heard of this decision, and 52% of those believe it benefits citizens, while 24% believe it benefits the government more. Additionally, 79% believe the decision will encourage people to purchase new cars, whereas 16% disagreed. On the political front, 97% of Jordanians believe security in the country is stable, with 57% saying it is very stable and 40% saying it is somewhat stable. Only 2% said it was unstable. In contrast, 57% believe the political situation in the region is unstable, including 10% who said it is very unstable. Meanwhile, 43% think the region is stable, with 10% saying it is very stable. When asked about the Palestinian cause, 73% of Jordanians believe it remains a top priority for the Arab world, especially in light of recent developments. In relation to the Iran-Israel conflict, 70% support the ceasefire between the two sides. 58% believe the recent attacks negatively impacted regional security, while 36% felt they had no impact. A significant majority—91%—think Jordan should strengthen its defense system in preparation for potential escalation. Only 5% disagree. On the use of sirens in Jordan during the Iran-Israel conflict, 55% said the sirens had no impact on them or their families, 43% said they caused worry and fear, and 2% said they were simply annoying. 62% reported following official safety instructions when hearing the sirens, while 38% did not. In terms of war-related preparedness, 12% of respondents said they took specific precautions, while 88% did not. Additionally, 89% reported seeing Iranian rockets, drones, or air defense responses with their own eyes, while 11% said they did not. Back on domestic issues, 63% of Jordanians said they rely primarily on social media for news and information about local events, making it the top source. Television came second at 27%, while friends and family made up 5%. Concerning recent amendments to the enforcement law regarding debtor imprisonment, 66% of respondents had heard of the changes, while 34% had not. Of those aware, 58% supported the amendments—24% strongly, 26% moderately, and 8% slightly—while 41% opposed them. When asked about social safety, 86% said they feel very or moderately safe in their communities, whereas 10% do not feel safe. Regarding the spread of drugs in society, 55% believe drugs are highly prevalent, 24% said moderately prevalent, 11% said slightly prevalent, and 5% said not prevalent at all. Respondents identified young adults aged 18–25 as the most affected age group, followed by teenagers aged 13–17 (25%), then adults aged 26–35 (13%), while 16% believe all age groups are equally affected. On the recent alcohol poisoning incident, 39% blamed regulatory authorities, 33% held the manufacturing company responsible, 20% blamed the individuals who consumed the drinks, and 5% felt all parties shared responsibility. Regarding the government's response to the incident, 60% believed the actions taken were quick and appropriate, while 27% found them delayed or inadequate. Finally, 93% of respondents expressed confidence in regulatory institutions to prevent similar incidents in the future. Specifically, 93% trust the Public Security Directorate, 73% trust the Ministry of Health, and 71% trust the Food and Drug Administration.
Jordan News
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Social Security Reform in Jordan: What Direction Do We Want? - Jordan News
From time to time, the Jordanian government, through various levels issues statements and leaks suggesting that there are challenges threatening the sustainability of the social security system, often hinting at the need to amend the governing law. These positions are frequently supported by recommendations from the International Monetary Fund and/or the World Bank. اضافة اعلان However, Jordan's recent experience has shown that what is offered under the label of 'reform' often involves reducing social entitlements rather than expanding protection or enhancing coverage. A few years ago, we witnessed a government attempt to amend more than one-third of the articles in the Social Security Law, most of which aimed at reducing protections, allowing the government to withhold part of its obligations toward military personnel, and conditioning those payments on economic growth rates exceeding 5%. Although public and parliamentary pressure prevented some of these amendments from being passed, the changes that were adopted effectively weakened the comprehensiveness and efficiency of the system. Today, with renewed calls for reforming the social security system, we must ask the fundamental question: What kind of reform do we want? Is the goal to strengthen the social protection system or simply to reduce costs at the expense of working people? The social security system is not merely a technical insurance scheme; it is one of the key pillars of social, political, and economic stability in any country. In Jordan, social security has been one of the state's most important achievements over the past decades, as it provides protection against old age, illness, disability, unemployment, and other social risks. It also contributes to poverty reduction and narrowing the social gap. Moreover, enhancing social security is no longer optional, it is a national necessity for achieving the goals outlined in the Economic Modernization Vision and the National Social Protection Strategy. Both documents identify social protection as a core pillar of economic reform. It is impossible to talk about a stable, attractive investment environment or increased productivity without a comprehensive, fair, and sustainable social security system. Likewise, any serious economic reform plan cannot succeed without a strong social safety net that protects vulnerable groups from the impacts of economic transformation and mitigates poverty and unemployment. Social security is not a burden on the economy, it is a prerequisite for its success and sustainability. If there is a genuine need to reform the Social Security Law, the starting point should be expanding coverage, not limiting it. Currently, nearly half of Jordan's labor force is not covered by social security, most of them working in the informal sector or as self-employed individuals. What we need are flexible and simplified contribution mechanisms that respond to the diversity of modern work arrangements, supported by incentivizing government policies, not exclusionary measures that increase vulnerability. The policy of expanding early retirement, especially forced retirement in the public sector, has become a burden on the system and threatens its sustainability. These policies must be halted. Exempting youth from some types of insurance coverage is a serious mistake that must be corrected, as it undermines the principle of equality and exposes future generations to weak retirement protection. Similarly, the decision to link the government's contributions for military personnel to economic growth rates must be reversed. Real reform must include all workers without discrimination and provide employment incentives that do not compromise their fundamental rights. Reforming the social security system in Jordan is not a routine technical measure, it is a political, economic, and social decision that affects the future of millions of Jordanians. Therefore, any amendments to this law must be based on principles of justice, inclusiveness, and sustainability, not on austerity approaches that threaten the structure of social protection and reduce the gains of working people. We must understand that social security is a long-term investment in societal stability, not a cost that should be minimized.
