The occasion of the 15th anniversary of the Jordanian-Israeli peace treaty was not a reason for celebration. Actually it has never been before, at least in open gestures but this year the disappointment and resentment amongst Jordanians was in its most crystallised form. With the dangerous developments at Al Aqsa mosque and the hardline policy of the Israeli government, the prospects of a just and... [read more]

Within the volatile debate about the rights and responsibilities of new media outlets in Jordan, I have been really impressed with this article published by Dr Hasan Al Barari, who is the co-publisher of the news portal www.ammantimes.net as he places the importance of values at a high priority rank for the successful performance of new media. Here is the full article published in the Jordan... [read more]

Yesterday marked the global Blogging Action Day 2009 with the all important theme of Climate Change being the common denominator of all the blogs posted on that particular day, almost 10,000 posts. The Jordanian Minister of Environment Khalid Irani provided an unprecedented expression from an Arab official using modern social media tool. Here is his post written for 7iber.com which is Jordan's... [read more]

All thanks for the Jeeran team who have translated this article which was originally posted in my Arabic blog).   Marwa’s brutal death awakened thousands of angry Arabs and Muslims around the world. Marwa Sherbini was a 32 year-old Egyptian pharmacist, wife of a PhD student in the renowned Max Planck Institute, pregnant and mother of a 3 year-old. She was viciously stabbed to death in a courtroom... [read more]

It has been almost three months since my last update for this blog. Actually my last two entries in March were about the critical health condition that my baby boy Zaid was suffering from. He is recovering now, at home depending on doses of medication and hoping for the best options with time. I hope that the worst days of this turmoil are over now and I can start take control again of some main aspects... [read more]

Jordan has developed into a vibrant business market in the Middle East. The country is strategically located in the heart of the Middle East and has taken an early informed judgment to open up its economic policy and fully integrate within the global economic system. Between 1999 and 2003 Jordan has established three pillars of trade liberalization by joining the WTO, developing a bilateral FTA with... [read more]

This article was originally published in Jordan Property Magazine issue of May 2009   The year 2009 will be exceptional for global climate change policies. Denmark will host the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 15) in December. The meeting will hopefully mark the turning point in the world’s effort to effectively combat climate change and it will be the last chance for a new global... [read more]

After two weeks of suffering and intense emotional distress for me and the family baby Zaid is back home and he is OK now. Thank you all for your prayers that have surely helped him. The two operations he was about to have are cancelled now since they are too risky and he is too young. We are now depending medically on Cortisone for reversing the growth of the haemangioma and it has been proven OK... [read more]

Dear Readers of my blog;   Please help me in praying for my two months old baby Zaid who is bravely struggling against a viscious haemangioma that is attacking his respiratory tract. Next 48 hours will be the most critical and every hope will be appreciated. God bless you all.  [read more]

One of the most disappointing decisions taken by the previous government was its refusal to grant Radio Al Balad a license to open a community radio for women in Jordan Valley. The decision is totally against all values and principles of media freedom always promoted by the King and by the government itself sometimes. The community radio station was a symbol of a fantastic voluntary work by rural Jordanian... [read more]

To begin with, I am attaching at the end of this post the full manuscript of the paper that caused the controversy in Jordan regarding the findings of high concentrations of Radium in samples from the Disi aquifer. I have received the paper from my fellow blogger Mohannad Arabiyat only minutes after publishing my initial post. He accessed it through his University library. Few hours ago I received... [read more]

High controversey has been generated in Jordan in the last couple of days after the biggest global news agency "Reuters" published a news item about a scientific study claiming high levels of radioactive isotopes found in Jordan major strategic water reservoir; the Disi Basin. The scientific study was conducted by a team of researchers composed of 9 researchers from the USA, Jordan, Israel and Palestine... [read more]

I have been a silent follower of the media generated fiasco regarding the former head of the Royal Court Dr. Basem Awadallah which has ended with his resignation from the illustrious post. The campaign that has targeted Dr Awadallah was one of the most exposing elements of the reality of Jordanian media landscape that I have ever wittnessed. I think any researcher in Jordanian media dynamics should... [read more]

A few months ago, I started what I thought to be my dream job and the main development in my career. As I assumed my responsibility in a United Nations agency in Amman with a fixed term contract including the much sought after UN package of pension and insurance, I thought I have reached a stage of career maturity and that I will remain a UN staff until my retirement. I joined the UN not mainly due... [read more]

Some key events do define how life changes as it has never been before. In our lives, such events are usually sad but in some occasions they can be lovely and thrilling events but still pose a considerable challenge. On January 15th my life had more and more value after becoming the proud parent of a twin (Zeid and Yara) who have arrived to this world 8 years after my first and lovely child Suzan... [read more]

This is the best article I have read in western media about the current massacre in Gaza. It is by Prof. Avi Shalaim the renouned Israeli professor of International relations and lecturer at Oxford University and the author of the landmark book "Lion of Jordan: King Hussein's Life in War and Peace". http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/07/gaza-israel-palestine    ... [read more]

It does not depend on a certain political perspective, nationality, religion or race to feel so outraged by the barbaric crimes of Israel in Gaza, you needs only to be a human being with a functioning heart. This region has witnessed more than its fair share of atrocities against human dignity in the past few decades. We sadly confess that a portion of these atrocities were conducted by official... [read more]

A continuation of the Alexandria declaration. I think cultural reform is the most crucial, yet the most difficult aspect of anticipated reform in the Arab World   Fourth: Cultural Reform   34- Participants in the conference took into consideration all local and regional cultural problems and challenges, addressing them from a perspective that asserts a set of indispensable cultural priorities... [read more]

A continuation of the Alexandria declaration in 2004. In my opinion, this section on social reform should be the biggest priority for any reform effort in the region   Third: Social Reform   30- Recognizing that the Arab community as a whole possesses great social and cultural resources, it is time to make maximum use of these resources to establish a viable, cohesive Arab society that... [read more]

A continuation of the Alexandria declaration 2004   Secondly: Economic Reform   17- Economic reform includes all legislation, policies, and measures that would free the national economy and turn it efficiently in accordance with market mechanisms. This would be done in a manner that would ensure economic prosperity and facilitate integration with regional and global economies   ... [read more]