Latest news with #Israel-Jordan
Middle East Eye
10 hours ago
- Business
- Middle East Eye
Jordan urged to cancel Israel gas deal after supply halted amid Iran war
The suspension of Israeli gas supplies to Jordan, triggered by recent attacks on Iran, has reignited calls in Amman to cancel the gas agreement with Israel. The production halt - resulting from disruptions at the Leviathan gas field - is being cited by the Jordanian National Campaign to Overturn the Gas Agreement with the Zionist Entity, known by its slogan "The Enemy's Gas is Occupation", as grounds to terminate the deal. The campaign, a coalition of public figures, political parties and professional associations opposed to normalisation with Israel, views the current situation as a legal and political opportunity to annul the agreement under the force majeure clause. This clause permits cancellation without financial penalties if unforeseen events prevent the fulfilment of contractual obligations. Under the terms of the Israel-Jordan gas deal, force majeure refers to circumstances beyond the control of either party - such as natural disasters, armed conflict or political unrest - that render the implementation of the agreement unfeasible, they say. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters "What is happening now clearly constitutes a case of the other party failing to meet its contractual obligations," the campaign told Middle East Eye. "This opens the door to cancelling the agreement without legal or financial consequences. In fact, doing so is a duty dictated by national sovereignty and the safety of our citizens." The group called on the Jordanian government to act swiftly and begin developing sovereign domestic energy resources instead of relying on Israeli gas. 'Triple crime' The gas agreement, signed in 2016 and implemented in 2019, stipulates the import of natural gas extracted from the Leviathan field, located in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Haifa. Valued at approximately $10bn over 15 years, the deal entails Jordan receiving around 300 million cubic metres of gas per year, in return for long-term payments made to Israel. Critics argue that importing gas from Israel is unacceptable for several reasons, foremost among them opposition to normalisation with the Israeli state. According to the campaign, making Jordan dependent on Israeli gas constitutes a "triple crime". 'Black day': Hundreds rally in Jordan over 'treasonous' gas deal with Israel Read More » First, they argue, the deal exposes national sovereignty to political blackmail. Second, it channels $10bn of public money into the Israeli economy. Third, it deprives Jordan of the opportunity to invest those funds in sustainable, home-grown energy alternatives. Saleh Al-Armouti, Jordanian MP and head of the Islamic Action Front parliamentary bloc, echoed these concerns. He told MEE that the interruption of gas supplies provides Jordan with solid legal grounds to cancel the agreement or pursue compensation worth billions of dollars. "It is the legal right of the Jordanian state to file a lawsuit demanding compensation for the damages caused by the supply cut-off, based on the terms of the agreement," Al-Armouti said. He added that Jordan has viable alternatives to Israeli gas. "We already have infrastructure like the floating terminal in Aqaba, which costs millions annually without being fully utilised, as well as domestic sources such as the Risha gas field and the Attarat oil shale project," he added. Emergency plan In response to the cut-off in supply, Jordanian authorities have activated an emergency plan, which includes the temporary suspension of gas supplies to certain factories connected to the national grid. Jordan's national electricity company sought to reassure the public, stating that the country's fuel reserves for power generation are sufficient to last at least 20 days, even with the halt in gas supply from Leviathan. Government spokesperson and Minister of Government Communication, Mohammad Al-Momani, said authorities responded by switching to heavy fuel oil as an alternative, "as part of the emergency strategy developed by the Ministry of Energy". 'There are no strategic, long-term solutions in place' - Musa Al-Saket, economic expert Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Saleh Al-Kharabsheh, echoed these remarks, saying that despite the regional escalation, "the electrical system in Jordan remains stable and secure". Speaking on Thursday, Al-Kharabsheh announced that the government had activated alternative supply routes, including the import of 100 million cubic feet of gas per day from Egypt, to compensate for the shortfall. He added that Jordan is incurring additional costs to bolster its stockpile of petroleum derivatives, but emphasised that power stations are fully capable of switching to alternative fuels without compromising grid efficiency. On Friday, an Israeli energy ministry spokesperson said limited gas exports to Egypt and Jordan had resumed, using "surplus" supplies not required for domestic consumption. However, large-scale shipments remain unlikely in the near future. Lack of long-term solution Economic expert and member of the Amman Chamber of Industry, the engineer Musa Al-Saket, warned of the consequences of a continued suspension in natural gas imports, cautioning that a prolonged disruption could severely affect Jordan's industrial sector - particularly by increasing production costs. "The government and the National Electric Power Company (NEPCO) have outlined short-term alternatives lasting 20 to 30 days, but there are no strategic, long-term solutions in place," Al-Saket told MEE. "Most industries lack independent emergency plans, as they depend heavily on public-private partnerships within the energy sector." Al-Saket called for broader approval for the installation of renewable energy systems and urged increased investment in domestic energy sources, including the Risha gas field, oil shale projects and solar energy. According to data from the Ministry of Energy, Jordan in 2023 relied on imported natural gas for approximately 61.1 percent of its electricity generation, compared to 26.28 percent from renewable sources (solar and wind) and 12.62 percent from heavy fuel oil. The country's power stations consume around 1.5 billion cubic feet of gas per day, while installed renewable capacity stands at roughly 2,681 megawatts - meaning any sustained disruption in gas supply could pose a threat to the stability of the power grid. Jordan is contending with mounting economic challenges amid ongoing regional instability, driven by Israel's wars on Gaza, Lebanon and now Iran. The repercussions extend far beyond energy. Tourism - a cornerstone of the Jordanian economy - has been severely impacted, with rising tensions deterring international visitors. Jordan's geographical location - lying along the flight paths of Iranian missiles and Israeli fighter jets - has heightened its exposure to regional security threats and prompted costly defensive measures to safeguard its airspace and sovereignty.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Log on to portal: Embassy to students stuck in Israel
Kolkata: A day after India announced Operation Sindhu to evacuate Indian nationals from Israel, a number of students from Bengal have started registering themselves with the Indian embassy for evacuation. Nilabja Roychowdhury, a research scholar with the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Safed, has registered with the embassy in Israel for evacuation. Roychowdhury, who was not ready to evacuate and had decided to wait, said on Friday: "The embassy officials will take care of the visa, and the journey to Jordan is also likely to be arranged by them." While Safed, located in northern Israel, was not much at risk, the unpredictable situation has prompted him to change his mind. Aniruddha Bera, a research fellow at Tel Aviv University, who was also hoping for the situation to improve, has also registered himself with the Indian embassy. "The situation is under control so far, but I have registered myself with the embassy," he said. Divya Mukhopadhyay, a resident of Khardah, who is pursuing post-doctoral research in plant pathology at the University of Jerusalem, initially decided to stay back for a few more months. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2 & 3 BHK Homes Near Padur, OMR Starting @ ₹72.50 Lakh* TVS Emerald Undo He has only four months left to complete his research. But the evolving situation prompted him to rethink his decision. "The students will be taken to the Israel-Jordan border by Indian embassy officials. From there, they will be flown out of Jordan," said Subhomoy Mukhopadhyay, Divya's uncle. "I spoke to my son on Friday morning. He said that his name didn't appear in the first list. Although he has not taken a final decision about leaving Israel, he is likely to be included in the second allotment if he opts to return. He told us that things are still normal for him — he's attending classes," said Sudhamoy Mukhopadhyay, his father. Sankhanava Kundu, who moved out of Israel after completing his research at the University of Haifa a few months back, said, "When everyone decided to move out of Israel last year, seven of us stayed back. The university was closed, and most of the students left Israel. We decided to finish our project, come what may. We were self-alert and were very responsive to sirens. It took us immense courage to stay put there, and the Indian Embassy was constantly in touch with us. But we sailed through," he said.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Fly back via Jordan: Embassy to students stranded in Israel
1 2 3 4 5 6 Kolkata: The news that the Indian govt is likely to start operating rescue flights for the evacuees from Israel soon has come as a breather for Bengal students stranded in the war-torn country. The Indian embassy in Israel has advised them, especially those at universities in central Israel, to to register themselves and move out of the country through Jordan. "The students will have to travel to the Israel-Jordan border. From there, they will have to reach the airport and fly out from there," said Akash Panja, who is pursuing research in medicinal chemistry at Ariel University, Israel. While Panja and his wife have decided to stay back and wait for the situation to improve, students who faced the war-like situation for the first time are looking at ways to move out. Abir Mukhopadhyay, a research scholar from Asansol, is stranded in Rehovot. He is pursuing his post-doctoral research at the Weizmann Institute of Science. Earlier this week, when Iran dropped missiles in Rehovot, it destroyed a number of laboratories, including those catering to cardiac regeneration and cancer research. "We are glued to the television now and following the developments there. We want him back in India now. We are talking to him multiple times during the day. He told us that the MEA is reaching out to students for evacuation," said Subhashis Mukhopadhyay, father of Abir. "We have sent a letter to the Indian govt, and Nabanna is also intervening to expedite the process," he said. "I am confused with the developments. I will take some time to decide if I am ready to take the journey," said Aniruddha Bera, a research fellow at Tel Aviv University. Aniruddha's father, Asim Bera, a retired teacher, said, "We are worried, but there's nothing we can do in this situation. We have to wait until the Indian govt rescues them." Divya Mukhopadhyay, a researcher from Khardah, is pursuing post-doctoral research in plant pathology at the University of Jerusalem. The missiles struck areas barely 1.5 km from his residence. Despite the threat, he has decided to wait, hoping for the situation to improve. "Shops are open, and people are managing. He was working from home, as per Israel govt advisories. He will watch the situation for a few more days," said his uncle, Subhamay Mukhopadhyay.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump, speaking in Saudi Arabia, says he wants Iran deal, will add more countries to Abraham Accords
President Donald Trump, speaking at the Gulf Cooperation Council in Riyadh on Wednesday, reiterated his desire to make a deal with Iran and called for building upon the progress of the Abraham Accords by adding more countries to the historic agreement. Trump made the comments while addressing leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council as part of his four-day visit to the region. "I want to make a deal with Iran. I want to do something if possible. But for that to happen, it must stop sponsoring terror, halt its bloody proxy wars, and permanently and verifiably cease its pursuit of nuclear weapons. They cannot have a nuclear weapon," Trump said. Trump Says He'll Drop Sanctions On Syria In Move To Normalize Relations Trump praised the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain for "their vision and courage in signing the historic Abraham Accords," an agreement brokered by the U.S. in 2020. As part of the agreements, the UAE and Bahrain recognized Israel's sovereignty and established full diplomatic relations. It marked the first time Israel had established peace with an Arab country since 1994, with the Israel-Jordan peace treaty. "In the future, we'll continue that progress by adding more countries to the Abraham Accords," Trump said. Read On The Fox News App The remarks, made just moments after Trump met with Syria's Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines, came a day after Trump announced his administration was lifting sanctions on Syria. Trump also said that Lebanon had a "new chance for a future free from the grip of Hezbollah terrorists if the new president and prime minister can rebuild an effective Lebanese state." Trump's Middle East Tour Begins With Syria Looming As Strategic Opportunity "This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to forge a Lebanon that is prosperous and at peace with its neighbors," Trump said. At the end of his remarks, Trump appealed to the entire region more broadly, saying: "We're going to forge a Middle East that will be a thriving commercial, diplomatic and cultural crossroads at the geographic center of the world. It's what it is, it's the center of the world." Trump will head to Qatar later Wednesday for his second stop on the four-day Middle East tour. Fox News Digital's Emma Colton contributed to this report. Original article source: Trump, speaking in Saudi Arabia, says he wants Iran deal, will add more countries to Abraham Accords
