Latest news with #Shehadeh
L'Orient-Le Jour
02-05-2025
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Shehadeh calls for disarming Hezbollah 'as soon as possible'
BEIRUT — In an interview with the Russian news agency Sputnik shared on Wednesday, the Minister of Displaced Persons, Kamal Shehadeh, emphasized 'the need to disarm Hezbollah as soon as possible to obtain foreign support." The discussions over Hezbollah's arsenal take place as Hezbollah emerges weakened from the war with Israel that started in October 2023 and escalated in September 2024, and in which much of the party's leadership was assassinated, including the leader himself. Also on Wednesday, President Joseph Aoun told Sky News Arabia that 'the decision to remove weapons' not under state control 'applies to the whole of Lebanese territory' but that 'the priority concern is the south of the country' where Hezbollah has a strong presence. Shehadeh said in the Sputnik interview, relayed by the state-run National News Agency, that Lebanon was "on the path toward a resolution regarding Hezbollah's weapons." The minister emphasized the need to disarm Hezbollah as soon as possible to obtain foreign support and restore the confidence of the Lebanese in the country, adding that 'no country is willing to invest in the reconstruction of Lebanon if the danger still exists, and the possibility of entering another war may lead to the destruction of what would be built.' In response to a question about the government's priorities of demilitarization or Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon, Shehadeh commented: 'Both are priorities and the [cease-fire] agreement is clear: the state must extend its sovereignty over all Lebanese territories... most of the south is now under the control of the Lebanese state apparatus.' A cease-fire agreement between Lebanon and Israel was reached in late November 2024, but it has since been violated numerous times. Although the Israeli army withdrew from Lebanese villages before Feb. 18, it is still present in five strategic points inside Lebanese territory. Shehadeh added that all components of the government agree on "an exclusive control of arms, reconstruction and reform of the economy and administration.' In this context, he revealed that 'the foreign vision of the government's plan, whether in terms of arms control or the start of economic reforms, is good." 'We have obtained confidence from the international community and there is support for the government's plan and a welcoming attitude toward the measures taken to date in terms of legislation and economic reforms,' he said. Earlier this month, the Cabinet adopted a draft law on banking restructuring. This law is considered crucial concerning the financial reforms that Lebanon must undertake after six years of an exceptionally intense economic and financial crisis. Last Thursday, the Lebanese parliament approved a long-awaited bill lifting banking secrecy, a key reform on which financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is dependent. '100,000 IDPs have not returned home' Regarding the situation of displaced persons in Lebanon, Shehadeh stressed that this file is one of the priorities of the Ministry of Displacement, revealing that 'about 200,000 housing units were destroyed by Israel during the recent war, and about 100,000 people have not returned to their homes.' He stressed that 'the government's priority is to help the displaced and rebuild these homes, and this is the responsibility of the government as a whole, not just the Ministry of Displacement.' Regarding Syrian refugees, the minister said: 'The situation in Syria has radically improved and the situation allows for the return of displaced Syrians to their country." 'The money spent in Lebanon to support the Syrians has a negative impact on the Lebanese economy ... if this money were spent to rebuild cities and villages in Syria, it would help create an economic dynamic that Syria needs," he added. Lebanon hosts more than a million Syrian migrants, who fled the civil war in their country since 2011. Following the fall of the former Syrian regime in December 2024, many Syrians refugees have returned home. However, last March, massacres on the Syrian coast, in predominantly Alawite villages, drove more than 20,000 Syrians to seek refuge in North Lebanon, primarily in Akkar villages.
Jordan Times
22-04-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
Shehadeh underlines ‘solid' Amman-Washington political, economic relations, says gov't seeks to double bilateral trade
Minister of State for Economic Affairs Muhannad Shehadeh speaks at a forum hosted by the Amman Group for Future Dialogues (Petra photo) AMMAN — Minister of State for Economic Affairs Muhannad Shehadeh has affirmed the deep Jordan-US political and economic relationship, emphasising the pivotal role of the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in solidifying the partnerships between the two countries. The minister highlighted the FTA's positive impact, generating a $3.1 billion trade surplus for Jordan and facilitating a $5 billion two-way trade flow. Speaking at a forum hosted by the "Amman Group for Future Dialogues," Shehadeh stressed Jordan's strategic intent to deepen this economic partnership with the US across various verticals, with a target of increasing trade exchange to $10 billion, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 'This ambition aligns with leveraging dynamic shifts in the global trade landscape,' he said, citing the 'constructive' visit Prime Minister Jafar Hassan has recently made to Washington, where he held high-level talks with key stakeholders within the US administration. Shehadeh affirmed the Jordanian economy's sustained resilience and macroeconomic stability, notwithstanding significant headwinds from the external environment. "The Jordanian Dinar remains robust, underpinned by record foreign exchange reserves exceeding $22 billion, providing 11 months of import cover, alongside a substantial strategic gold reserve," he said. He reiterated that the US dollar's valuation is fundamentally driven by global supply and demand dynamics. The minister emphasized the government's 'unwavering commitment to establishing a 'complementary' relationship with the private sector as a catalyst for economic expansion. 'This is can be seen in policy initiatives designed to cultivate a business-friendly investment ecosystem and encourage corporate social responsibility aligned with national development objectives.' He also highlighted the government's belief in the strategic importance of Islamic finance as a key enabler of capital formation and economic development, announcing the launch of t a tradable "Ijara Sukuk" (Islamic lease certificate) to further deepen Islamic capital markets. Shehadeh highlighted the government's citizen-centric economic strategy, prioritising inclusive and sustainable growth beyond short-term profitability metrics. He reiterated the government's primary mandate to achieve growth trajectories that demonstrably reduce poverty and unemployment while enhancing aggregate factor productivity. He also underlined the cross-governmental Economic Modernisation Vision as a core tenet of the government's agenda over the preceding seven months, complemented by 92 targeted economic policy interventions primarily aimed at streamlining processes for citizens and businesses. 'These measures have yielded tangible results, with the economy registering a 2.7 per cent growth rate, exceeding the initial year-end projection of 2.3 per cent.' The minister also underscored the imperative of export-led growth, citing the previous year's expansion in exports, with the services sector contributing approximately 50 per cent. 'This growth was attributed to government incentives, including a 10-year export tax holiday and a reduced 5 per cent income tax rate on export revenues, alongside customs facilitations aimed at bolstering domestic production for international markets.' He said that the government has also focused on injecting liquidity into the financial system through the expedited disbursement of accumulated tax refunds and the resolution of long-standing tax disputes via penalty waivers, a 'strategic economic decision prioritising market dynamism over purely accounting-based considerations, as evidenced by improved growth metrics and enhanced market liquidity.' Shehadeh affirmed the government's commitment to deploying allocated capital expenditure towards high-impact projects with significant output and employment multipliers, citing in this regard the 'prime minister's directive to expedite the implementation of budgeted projects and pursue new strategic investments, with a mid-year budget review slated for July.' Regarding mega infrastructure projects, Shehadeh said the National Water Carrier is progressing according to schedule with approved financial appendices, and the national railway project, advancing steadily with a projected cost of JD2.3 billion. This railway infrastructure is expected to provide a significant logistical advantage to the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company (JPMC) and Arab Potash Company (APC), enabling production scaling through reduced freight costs. Shehadeh reiterated the government's firm commitment to optimising public debt management through the issuance of JD 400 million in competitively priced Islamic bonds to refinance approximately $1 billion in maturing Eurobonds in June and July. This strategy leverages previously underutilized Islamic finance instruments, alongside securing concessional financing at favorable interest rates. He indicated that another $1 billion Eurobond maturity is scheduled for January of the following year, and the government will proactively manage this refinancing operation, aiming to minimize reliance on domestic capital markets and secure lower borrowing costs.
Jordan News
20-04-2025
- Business
- Jordan News
Minister of State for Economic Affairs Comments on IMF Praise for Jordan's Economic Resilience - Jordan News
Minister of State for Economic Affairs Comments on IMF Praise for Jordan's Economic Resilience The Minister of State for Economic Affairs, Muhannad Shehadeh, expressed his gratitude to all those who contributed to the swift and efficient completion of the latest IMF mission review, emphasizing that it reflects the government's ongoing commitment to strengthening national economic stability. اضافة اعلان In a post on his LinkedIn page, Shehadeh said: "I am proud to express my appreciation to everyone who contributed to the successful and efficient completion of the review process. Your dedication and hard work are deeply valued." Commenting on the International Monetary Fund's statement, which noted that Jordan's economy continues to show resilience and maintain macroeconomic stability despite significant external shocks, Shehadeh said this international recognition is a testament to the strength and adaptability of the Jordanian economy: 'This achievement is proof of our economic resilience. Despite repeated external shocks, we have demonstrated our ability to react swiftly, remain flexible, and adapt.' He affirmed the government's commitment—under the leadership of Prime Minister Dr. Jaafar Hassan—to taking the necessary measures to stimulate economic growth in line with His Majesty King Abdullah II's vision for modernization. Completion of Third Review of Extended Fund Facility The IMF team concluded its mission to Jordan, which took place from April 6 to 17, 2025, as part of the third review under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF). The team reached a staff-level agreement with Jordanian authorities, and a report will be presented to the IMF's Executive Board following management approval. IMF Mission Chief Ron van Rooden stated: 'Program performance remains strong despite a challenging external environment. All quantitative performance criteria were met, and there has been tangible progress on structural benchmarks. The program is on track to meet its overarching objectives, including good progress toward meeting benchmark requirements for future reviews.' The statement noted that, despite rising global uncertainty—due to escalating trade tensions and continued regional conflicts—growth in Jordan is picking up. Economic growth is projected to reach 2.7% in 2025, supported by recovering domestic activity, tourism, and increased foreign investment inflows. The current account deficit is expected to be contained at 5.5% of GDP, with rising tourism revenues offsetting higher imports and potential export challenges from global trade barriers. Inflation is projected to remain low, at just over 2%, reflecting the Central Bank of Jordan's strong commitment to maintaining monetary stability. The bank continues to uphold its peg of the Jordanian dinar to the US dollar, backed by robust foreign currency reserves. The statement also highlighted notable progress in public policy discussions aimed at addressing long-term vulnerabilities in the water and electricity sectors, as well as strengthening Jordan's preparedness for health emergencies, including future pandemics. These efforts could be supported through a Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). — (Petra News Agency)
Jordan Times
19-04-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
Jordan, IMF reach staff-level agreement on third EFF review, $130m tranche expected
AMMAN — A staff team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), led by Ron van Rooden, has recently concluded its mission to Jordan as part of the third review under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF). The mission also engaged in initial discussions regarding a prospective arrangement under the IMF's Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), the Jordan News Agency, Petra reported. The IMF team and the Jordanian government had reached a staff-level agreement on the third review, Petra reported. Subject to approval by IMF management and the Executive Board, the agreement would release SDR 97.784 million (approximately $130 million) from a total programme size of SDR 926.370 million (about $1.2 billion). 'Programme performance continues to be strong, despite a challenging external environment,' van Rooden said in a statement. 'All quantitative performance criteria for the third review were met, and steady progress is being made toward achieving the programme's overall objectives, including key structural benchmarks.' The IMF noted that Jordan maintained macroeconomic stability in 2024, achieving a GDP growth rate of 2.5 per cent and keeping inflation below 2 per cent. Fiscal performance was described as solid, with the budget deficit target achieved through strong policy measures, despite a drop in domestic demand and export prices. Looking ahead, economic growth is projected to accelerate to 2.7 per cent in 2025, driven by a rebound in domestic economic activity, a recovery in tourism, and higher levels of foreign direct investment, according to the IMF. The IMF also commended Jordan's commitment to advancing structural reforms aimed at promoting stronger, more inclusive growth and job creation, particularly targeting high unemployment among youth and women. Priority reforms include improving the business climate, enhancing market competition, increasing labour market flexibility, and expanding the social safety net. The government also plans to further streamline regulations and digitise public services, including tax and customs administration. The IMF staff will submit their findings to the Fund's management and Executive Board for final review and approval, according to Petra. Minister of State for Economic Affairs Muhannad Shehadeh has commended the swift and successful conclusion of the mission review, describing it as "a reflection of the government's ongoing commitment to economic stability and reform." On a post on LinkedIn, Shehadeh expressed appreciation to all those involved in the process, saying: 'I am immensely proud to express my gratitude to everyone who contributed to the swift review process, adding, "Your dedication and hard work are truly appreciated." Shehadeh also welcomed the IMF's assessment, which said that Jordan's economy continues to show resilience and maintains macroeconomic stability despite global challenges. 'This accomplishment stands as a testament to our economic resilience. In the face of repeated external shocks, we have proven our ability to remain responsive, agile, and adaptable,' he noted. The minister also reiterated the government's commitment to implementing key reforms that stimulate economic growth, in line with His Majesty King Abdullah's vision for comprehensive modernisation.
The Guardian
13-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Forgotten: Searching for Palestine's Hidden Places and Lost Memorials review
Raja Shehadeh – lawyer, activist and Palestine's greatest prose writer – has long been a voice of sanity and measure in the fraught, tendentious world of Arab-Israeli politics. His first non-academic book, When the Bulbul Stopped Singing, chronicled the 2002 siege of his hometown, Ramallah, while Palestinian Walks, which won the Orwell prize, traced how Israel's de facto occupation of the West Bank had fundamentally altered both its geography and its history. Last year, Shehadeh published What Does Israel Fear from Palestine?, his first book since the attacks of 7 October. It was a work in two parts: the first, a characteristically measured analysis of how history led us to this point; the second, a bitterly furious record of the devastation wrought upon Gaza. The overwhelming impression was of a man who, after decades of engagement, had finally, tragically, succumbed to despair. So it is an unexpected relief to find in Forgotten something different: a Shehadeh who is engaged, forensic, alert to history's weight but unwilling to let it crush him. Perhaps this is due to the presence of his co-author, his wife, the academic Penny Johnson. The prose remains lawyerly, precise to the point of fastidiousness, but the collaboration lends it a quiet strength. The first-person plural voice used throughout the book is intimate yet resolute, while the occasional references to 'Raja' and 'Penny' in the third person suggest a certain distance – a recognition that they, too, are subjects in this vast historical tragedy, just as much as its narrators. The project of Forgotten echoes Palestinian Walks, but this time there is a clear objective to Shehadeh and Johnson's wanderings. They are searching for evidence of Palestinian history in the West Bank – traces both ancient and recent of the thriving culture that has endured here for millennia, and the memorials that bear witness to the suffering of those who call this place home. Again and again, I thought of WG Sebald as I read Forgotten. The resemblance lies not only in the mournful elegance of the prose but also in its method: a meditative excavation of history embedded in the landscape. Readers of The Rings of Saturn, in which Sebald wanders the East Anglian coast uncovering the buried violence of empire, will recognise the impulse. But here, in occupied Palestine, the violence is neither buried nor historical. It is immediate, ongoing. 'How many human lives and how many futures would have been preserved … had the Israeli government … prevented further settlements?', the authors ask. 'Thousands have died since, and so here we were, on our way to see how Palestinians memorialise their dead in Nablus.' At the heart of Shehadeh's work – and the conflict itself – is the idea of biopolitics, as explored by thinkers such as Michel Foucault and Giorgio Agamben. Forgotten, like Palestinian Walks, examines the way geography and history are manipulated, controlled and erased. To move through Palestine is to navigate a web of restrictions – permits, checkpoints, detours – designed not only to obstruct but to exhaust. It is a book about memory and memorials, but also about the sheer difficulty of reaching them. 'Checkpoints, closures and a regime of exclusions have deprived new generations from gaining an impression of the country as a geographical unit,' write Shehadeh and Johnson. And that, of course, is precisely the point. The writers seek out the ruins of Kafr Bir'im, a Palestinian village in Galilee destroyed by the Israeli army in 1953, and the tomb of Mahmoud Darwish, Shehadeh's friend and Palestine's great poet. They visit Ottoman khans – way stations for desert caravans – and search for the remnants of ancient Gibeon and Qasr al-Yahud on the River Jordan, the site of Christ's baptism. They find a monument to a squadron of Turkish aeronauts and the only public memorial to the Nakba, the 1948 expulsion of 750,000 Palestinians. Everywhere, history is distorted or obliterated, rewritten by Israeli power. And yet, for all this, Forgotten is a book of resistance – not just political, but existential. Shehadeh and Johnson, now in their 70s, offer a vision of Palestinian heritage that refuses to be erased, tracing a lineage that stretches back millennia and persists today despite the relentless attempts to efface it. History, like the land itself, cannot be so easily obliterated. Even after bulldozers and bombs, flowers bloom, trees reclaim razed earth, red anemones push through rock. Shehadeh and Johnson remain awed by the hills, by vultures and eagles wheeling above them, by the annual clouds of almond blossom. All this layered past, Forgotten insists, holds within it the promise of a future just as rich, just as enduring. In previous reviews, I wrote that Shehadeh's books are like beacons held up against the darkness of Israeli oppression. Forgotten is perhaps the brightest light of all. Forgotten by Raja Shehadeh and Penny Johnson is published by Profile (£14.99). To support the Guardian and Observer order your copy at Delivery charges may apply
