News from Jordan

Jordan

OCTOBER 25

The number of Syrians fleeing to Jordan is plummeting in the face of what activists describe as the regime’s renewed attempts to tighten its hold over the border region. | Jordan Times

The Independent Elections Commission issued a draft of the executive regulations governing the proportional national list and published it in news outlets and on its website, seeking feedback from the public. | Jordan Times

OCTOBER 24

Jordan Television will air a program on political parties every Sunday at 6:30 p.m., starting the first Sunday after Eid Al Adha. | Jordan Times

Authorities plan to launch a media campaign next month to promote the government’s proposal to lift fuel subsidies. | Jordan Times

OCTOBER 23

King Abdullah instructed the government to release 20 Jordanian pro-reform activists who were arrested and detained pending trial in the past two months. | Ammon News

King Abdullah II called on Jordan’s fragmented opposition to organize to run in the upcoming elections, an implied rebuke to groups that have opposed his parliament-driven reform program in favor of a boycott and street protests. | AP

OCTOBER 22

The Jordanian General Intelligence Department announced on Sunday that it had foiled a major terrorist attack that was in the planning stages by a group of eleven Jordanian nationals. | Ammon News; Reuters

A Jordanian soldier was killed in clashes with Islamist fighters trying to cross the country’s northern border into Syria; meanwhile the Jordanian Salafi Jihadi current announced that it sent 250 members to fight Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria. | Reuters; Ammon News

Online media stakeholders ended a month-long protest against the amended Press and Publications Law on Sunday, but said they would not back down on their call to have the recently enacted law withdrawn or amended. | Jordan Times

OCTOBER 19

More than 63 percent of the total registered voters for the parliamentary elections came from Jordan’s three largest cities; while Amman led the country with more than 31 per cent of the total registrants, it has the lowest registration percentage among its eligible voters (less than 50 percent). | Jordan Times

OCTOBER 18

The cabinet froze appointments in all ministries, official departments, committees and other independent public institutions until after the January 23 parliamentary elections. | Jordan Times

The prominent figure in the Salafi Jihadist current in Jordan Abu Muhamamad al-Maqdisi, who is in prison for allegedly financing terrorist groups, went on hunger strike in protest of "abuse" by the prison administration. | Ammon News

OCTOBER 17

Prime Minister Abdullah Nsour announced that the Jordanian government is considering opening a new refugee camp for Syrians fleeing into the country in the area of Mreijib al-Fhoud, 20 kilometers east of Zarqa. | Ammon News

Three detained protesters entered the third day of a hunger strike as their peers vowed to continue ongoing demonstrations demanding their release. | Jordan Times; Ammon News

OCTOBER 16

Despite the end of the voter registration process and the imminent official announcement of the parliamentary elections’ exact date (January 23), the government is still open for dialogue with groups that have decided to boycott the polls. | Jordan Times; AFP

The Jordan Press Association asked Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour to suspend the newly-endorsed press and publications law and consult the media body to arrive at "conciliatory" legislation. | Ammon News

The Youth and Popular Coalition for Reform and opposition parties announced that they will organize a rally next Friday against the presence of U.S and foreign troops in Jordan. | Ammon News

OCTOBER 15

Registration for the upcoming parliamentary elections concludes today as the Independent Elections Commission said it is satisfied with all stages of the process so far. | Jordan Times

In reaction to media reports of the presence of foreign military forces in the country, Jordan’s Islamist movement called for the ouster of these forces, considering that their presence infringes on Jordan’s national sovereignty. | Ammon News

Authorities have chosen a site near the city of Zarqa for its second Syrian refugee camp in the face of a refugee influx expected to reach 250,000 by the end of the year. | Jordan Times

OCTOBER 11

King Abdullah swore in a new government led by reformist politician Abdullah Ensour and charged him with preparing for Jordan’s first post-Arab Spring parliamentary elections. | Reuters

Figures from across Jordan’s political spectrum welcomed the appointment of Abdullah Ensour as prime minister as a “positive step,” cautioning that the veteran lawmaker’s ability to save the reform process will hinge upon his government’s action plan. | Jordan Times

Britain has sent military personnel to Jordan, where U.S. army experts are helping to contain the fallout from the war in Syria, as well as preparing for the possibility of the Syrian regime losing control of its large chemical weapons stockpile. | Ammon News; Reuters

OCTOBER 10

King Abdullah appointed Abdullah Nsour as prime minister to succeed Fayez Tarawneh. | Ammon News

The US military secretly sent a task force of more than 150 planners and other specialists to Jordan to help the armed forces there handle a flood of Syrian refugees and be positioned should the turmoil in Syria expand into a wider conflict. | Ammon News

The Muslim Brotherhood said they were still interested in helping revive Jordan’s gas agreement with Egypt, despite having cancelled a planned trip to Cairo to encourage the Egyptian government to resume pumping gas. | Jordan Times

OCTOBER 9

The embattled Syrian regime was involved in a number of secret plots that aimed at shaking the security and stability of its neighbor Jordan and turning the peaceful protests into armed strife, Syrian security documents obtained by Al Arabiya revealed. | Ammon News

The Global Organization of the Muslim Brotherhood in Cairo dissolved the executive office of the Jordan Muslim Brotherhood for the purpose of restructuring it, following reported complaints by 'moderates' within the movement of suspected internal graft and exploitation. | Ammon News

King Abdullah II of Jordan has as part of his reform initiatives set up a constitutional court comprising nine members. | AFP

OCTOBER 4

The Independent Elections Commission said it decided to divide the Kingdom into four regions, appointing commissioners in each area to ensure better management of the electoral process.| Jordan Times

The “Youth Loyal to the Nation and King” movement decided to postpone their planned rally that was supposed to be held downtown Amman at the same time as a mass demonstration called for by Islamists and pro-reform movements on Friday. | Ammon News

Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh confirmed his intention to recommend to King Abdullah to dissolve the parliament, in preparation to hold early elections. | Ammon News

OCTOBER 3

Police detained fifteen members of the Salafi trend in Rusaifah north of Zarqa governorate. | Ammon News

A showdown is looming between Jordan’s government and the Islamist opposition, with two massive rival demonstrations slated for Friday in the capital Amman, raising fears of an escalation of tension. | AFP

Foreign aid in the form of grants and soft loans extended to support the state budget and development projects in the Kingdom for this year is expected to reach JD1.7 billion (around $2.48 billion). | Jordan Times

OCTOBER 2

Syrian refugees gathered in the Zatari desert refugee camp amid heavy presence of gendarmerie forces in anticipation of any riots; international relief organizations were asked to evacuate after reports that elements linked to Syrian armed groups are operating in the camp. | Ammon News

Organizers of a planned Amman rally this Friday, billed as Jordan’s largest protest in years, laid out their reform demands on Monday as the announcement of a counter-protest sparked concerns of potential clashes. | Jordan Times

Jordan and the United States signed five grant agreements worth $356.9 million, increasing Washington’s overall assistance for this year to $474 million. | Jordan Times

OCTOBER 1

More than 70 political groups and coalitions have vowed to hit the streets of Amman on Friday in what organizers are billing as the largest protest since the start of the Arab Spring; media reports claim that security will be absent during the protest. | Jordan Times; Ammon News

The Jordanian Society for Human Rights called for moving the Zaatari Refugee Camp to another location as soon as possible and finding alternatives to tents before the start of winter. | Jordan Times

Jordan is under pressure from the International Monetary Fund to cut subsidies on the one hand, while reducing subsidies will draw a popular backlash on the other hand. | Gulf Today

SEPTEMBER 28

Jordan, struggling to speed up its pace of economic and regulatory reforms, expects foreign direct investment to drop next year before ultimately rebounding. | Reuters

Jordan may need to offer investors more than lower-rated Lebanon when selling as much as $1.5 billion in bonds as regional unrest strains its budget and outweighs the benefits of International Monetary Fund aid. | Bloomberg

SEPTEMBER 27

The UN and Jordan are set to upgrade the housing for hundreds of Syrian refugees as part of an overall bid to improve living conditions in the country’s lone Syrian refugee camp. | Jordan Times

Jordan and Qatar signed a framework memo to regulate the disbursement of the Gulf country’s $1.25 billion grant to the Kingdom and discussed projects suggested to be funded under the donation. | Jordan Times

Journalists announced that they will continue their protest at the sit-in journalists’ tent in Amman until reaching their demands of toppling the newly endorsed 2012 Press and Publications Law. | Ammon News

SEPTEMBER 26

Authorities unveiled a series of new security procedures for the Zaatari camp in light of riots late Monday, including separating single Syrian men from families in the 32,000-strong camp. | Jordan Times

The number of registered voters for the parliamentary elections reached more than 1.6 million; meanwhile, the civil coalition Rasid, an elections watchdog, called on the IEC to extend the voter registration period for at least another week. | Jordan Times

SEPTEMBER 25

A young activist who was arrested and detained last week in Hashemiyya Prison over writing an article criticizing the regime went on a hunger strike three days ago in protest of being held in solitary confinement in prison. | Ammon News

A total of 66 youth, tribal, and popular reformist movements announced that they will participate in the mega pro-reform protest organized by Jordan's Islamist Movement slated to be held on Friday, October 5. | Ammon News

A security meeting was held in the border city of Mafraq over the riots which erupted in the Syrian refugee camp Monday night. | Ammon News

SEPTEMBER 21

Jordan and Iraq agreed to construct a pipeline to supply the Kingdom with crude oil and natural gas. | Jordan Times

Pro-reform protesters took to the streets in a number of governorates in Jordan and the capital Amman blasting the government for cracking down on public freedoms and arresting activists. | Ammon News

SEPTEMBER 20

King Abdullah signed a law that will enforce more restrictions on internet use by requiring news websites to obtain licenses through governmental registration and gives the government the authority to block and censor sites. | Daily News Egypt

In an unprecedented move, the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood is looking to officially advocate changing the government structure of Jordan to stop the king exercising full executive power. | Daily News Egypt

Chairman of the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission Khaled Toukan urged the IAEA to maintain strong cooperation with Jordan to support its program and help it expand the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. | Jordan Times

SEPTEMBER 19

Jordan’s Islamic movement called for a serious and deep dialogue, "which would prevent the country from reaching a stalemate," adding that all previous dialogue with the group "lacked seriousness." | Ammon News

Jordanian news websites announced that they will begin "electronic disobedience," expressing rejection of the 2012 Press and Publications Law endorsed by King Abdullah. | Ammon News

SEPTEMBER 17

A Royal Decree was issued adjourning parliament’s third extraordinary session, which observers see as a step toward dissolving parliament and holding early elections. | Jordan Times

A long-awaited law allowing Jordan to issue sukuk has been cleared by both houses of parliament, paving the way for the government to tap a strong global appetite for Islamic bonds as it tries to repair public finances. | Reuters

SEPTEMBER 14

Police officials said they were negotiating with the kidnappers of two Jordanian peacekeepers who were abducted in Sudan last month and that both officers were still alive. | Jordan Times

The Senate endorsed the 2012 Islamic Sukuk Law during a session chaired by Senate President Taher Masri; the law will permit more cash to flow into the country by allowing bonds to be issued in the market to finance investments. | Jordan Times

Hundreds of Jordanians plan to hit the streets in cities across the country on Friday to protest the ongoing detention of protesters from Amman and Tafileh. | Jordan Times

SEPTEMBER 13

Lower House Speaker Abdul Karim Dughmi adjourned Wednesday’s Chamber of Deputies session due to a lack of quorum; this is the third time that deputies disrupt discussions of the amendments to the 2012 Landlords and Tenants Law. | Jordan Times

Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh discussed preparations to dispatch an EU monitoring mission to observe the various phases of the electoral process with an EU delegation. | Ammon News

The government disputed claims that the draft amendments to the Press and Publications Law, currently in the hands of the Senate, would have a negative impact on investments in the ICT sector. | Jordan Times

SEPTEMBER 12

The Lower House passed the controversial amendments to the 2012 press and publications draft law after adding minor changes; journalists gathered near Parliament, calling on the deputies to reject the bill and described it as a return to the “martial law” era. | Jordan Times

Police arrested an Amman activist, Abdullah Mahadeen, for allegedly chanting illegal slogans as political groups vowed to continue protests urging the release of “political prisoners.” | Jordan Times

Jordan's King Abdullah vowed to have a new parliament by the new year, saying a decision by Islamists to boycott the vote was "a tremendous miscalculation." | AFP

SEPTEMBER 11

According to a survey conducted by the Center for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan, nearly two-thirds of Jordanians favor closing the Kingdom’s borders to more Syrian refugees. | Jordan Times

Schools that can host up to 4,000 students will be built for Syrian children at the Zaatari Refugee Camp in Mafraq, under an agreement signed by the Bahraini Royal Charity Organization and the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization. | Jordan Times

The total number of eligible voters who have registered for the upcoming parliamentary elections crossed the one million mark on Monday. | Jordan Times

SEPTEMBER 10

Demonstrators in Ramallah called on President Abbas to resign as protests over the rising cost of living continue in the West Bank; a public transport strike paralyzed the West Bank as popular action continued.  | Maan News Agency

SEPTEMBER 6

Islamists said they will reveal to the public what they said are 70,000 “forged civil identification cards that were used during the 2010 parliamentary elections and could be used to rig the upcoming polls,” but an election official dismissed their claims. | Jordan Times

The Lower House National Guidance Committee began its deliberations over the draft amendments to the Press and Publications Law by meeting with online publishers to discuss their objections to the controversial bill. | Jordan Times

SEPTEMBER 5

Jordan is preparing to open additional Syrian refugee camps after a month that saw a record 30,000 Syrians flee to the country. | Jordan Times

Independent Elections Commission officials acknowledged that mistakes had been made in the voter registration process, but said the IEC was responding to them swiftly and in accordance with the law. | Jordan Times

SEPTEMBER 4

King Abdullah moved quickly to block a recent increase in fuel prices after angry protesters took to the streets over the weekend, raising the specter of renewed social and political unrest in the kingdom. | New York Times; Ammon News

Hours after King Abdullah ordered the government to freeze a hike in oil derivative prices, lawmakers halted a motion to seek a vote of no confidence in the government. | Jordan Times

A Jordanian source revealed that Syrian families residing in Za’tari refugee camp fled the camp and others returned to Syria upon their request. | Ammon News

AUGUST 30

Deputies reversed their decision to give themselves and their predecessors permanent diplomatic passports and recommended instead that such documents be given only to serving parliamentarians; they also scrapped the article stipulating that women need their spouses’ agreement to obtain travel documents. | Jordan Times

UNICEF is intensifying its efforts to ensure that Syrian children who fled to Jordan enjoy their rights by working to finalize an agreement with the Ministry of Education to cover the cost of providing education for them at public schools. | Jordan Times

The Zaatari Refugee Camp received a total of 5,000 Syrian refugees on Monday and Tuesday. | Jordan Times

AUGUST 29

Jordanian websites have gone offline today in protest of proposed government censorship plans and new restrictions on the Internet. | Global Voices

Government officials announced on Tuesday that Jordan is nearing completion of the country’s second Syrian refugee camp as Syrians continue to flee to the Kingdom in record numbers. | Jordan Times

AUGUST 28

The government and the UN launched a $429 million aid appeal to provide basic services for a Syrian refugee population growing by some 2,300 persons per day. | Jordan Times

The deadline for registering for the upcoming parliamentary elections is expected to be extended with projections that the number of registered voters will reach half-a-million by the end of the week. | Jordan Times

A group of Jordanian Internet citizens have initiated a campaign calling on Jordan's leading online news portals and websites to hold a one-day blackout on Wednesday, August 29th to protest the proposed amendments to the Press and Publications Law. | Ammon News

AUGUST 27

Seven people were injured on Saturday during riots that erupted in the Za'atari Camp for Syrian Refugees after a number of Syrians staged a sit-in in the camp in protest of lack of services and demanded to go back to Syria. | Ammon News

Jordan and the United Nations Children's Fund issued separate appeals urging financial help for a growing number of Syrian refugees flooding the country; Jordan said it needs $429.7 million for the long-term hosting of Syrian refugees, while UNICEF asked for $54 million in urgent funds. | AFP

AUGUST 24

Scores of online media publishers, owners and workers demonstrated at the Jordan Press Association to express their rejection of the draft amendments to the Press and Publications Law approved by the government a day earlier. | Jordan Times

Cleaners working at the Zaatari Refugee Camp near Mafraq went on strike and held a sit-in to protest their employer’s plans to replace them with Syrian workers. | Jordan Times

AUGUST 23

The Cabinet approved the 2012 draft law amending the Press and Publications Law, which limits crimes and penalties and enables those who have been offended to get compensation through quick judicial procedures; the law also encompasses websites. | Ammon News

With only two weeks left in the registration process for parliamentary elections and only 8 percent of eligible voters registered, authorities are racing against time to hold the vote before the end of the year. | Jordan Times

AUGUST 22

Two Jordanian peacekeepers from the African Union-UN mission in the Darfur region of western Sudan have gone missing, officials said on Tuesday. | Ammon News

Government Spokesperson Samih Maaytah told the Jordan Times that the number of Syrians fleeing to Jordan fluctuated based on the level of violence in Syria, but has averaged around 1,000 per day. | Jordan Times

AUGUST 20

Jordan reproached Syria for artillery shelling that wounded a girl in a border village and panicked other civilians, Information Minister Sameeh Maaytah said. | Huffington Post

The Jordanian government is set to open a school in the country’s first Syrian refugee camp, officials say, in the latest sign that Amman is bracing for an extended stay of its Syrian guests. | Ammon News

AUGUST 16

Grants from the US and EU to support the state budget are set to exceed JD200 million this year, according to Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Jafar Hassan. | Jordan Times

Centrist parties launched a campaign to encourage citizens to register for the parliamentary elections and urge the opposition, including Islamist groups, to take part in the polls. | Ammon News

AUGUST 15

Prominent Jordanian political analyst and government critic Labib Kamhawi may face prosecution and even incarceration for inciting revolt and defaming Jordan's King Abdullah II; Kamhawi denied any wrongdoing and vowed to contest the charges. | AP

Japan has decided to extend a low interest, long-term loan to Jordan worth JD110 million ($156 million) to finance development projects listed in 2012 state budget. | Jordan Times

AUGUST 14

Jordanian officials in Amman are openly expressing concern over the possible existence of a “Jordanian Michel Samaha” in the country, noting that they have repeatedly arrested members of “Syrian sleeper cells” in a number of Jordanian cities hosting large numbers of Syrian refugees. | Ammon News

Germany granted Jordan 10 million euros to improve water supplies and health services in the northern region, where the majority of Syrian refugees reside. | Jordan Times

AUGUST 13

French military medics started to set up a field hospital at Jordan's main camp for Syrian refugees on Sunday, as residents expressed fears that their stay could turn into a long one. | Jordan Times

A military source told The Jordan Times that the Jordanian Armed Forces had turned down a request by the Syrian air force to send Syrian pilots to Jordan to fly the Syrian MiG-21 jet fighter that landed in the Kingdom in June back to Syria for security reasons on Sunday. | Jordan Times

AUGUST 10

The Kingdom’s streets are expected to be largely free of demonstrations on Friday as the protest movement continues to lose steam during the holy month of Ramadan. | Jordan Times

AUGUST 8

Efforts are underway to improve difficult Syrian refugee camp conditions; aid officials’ main target is replacing tents with trailers capable of shielding families from the harsh climate though the prospect of providing proper housing for residents remains “far off”. | Jordan Times; Ammon News

AUGUST 7

The Anti Corruption Commission said it had copies of contracts between the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company and several news websites in which the outlets agreed to promote the company and avoid publishing unfavorable news. | Jordan Times

The number of Syrians who have fled to Jordan has passed the 150,000 mark, renewing calls on the international community to help the government cope with an emerging humanitarian crisis. | Jordan Times

AUGUST 6

Registration for the upcoming parliamentary elections starts on Tuesday; the registration process will “start from scratch” to establish new electoral records that will be the reference for any future parliamentary elections. | Jordan Times

The government is set to open a school in the country’s first Syrian refugee camp in the latest sign that Amman is bracing for an extended stay for its Syrian guests. | Jordan Times

AUGUST 2

Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh said that parliamentary elections will be held before the end of this year in line with the law and that no new amendments will be made to the elections law. | Ammon News

Jordan closed its first unofficial Syrian refugee camp, marking a new era in the country’s approach to a brewing humanitarian crisis. | Jordan Times

Jordan’s exports of agricultural produce to Syria have fallen to almost zero recently due to the ongoing violence sweeping the Kingdom’s northern neighbor. | Jordan Times

AUGUST 1

Joint security and military forces raided a safe house of an armed group in Kamaliyyah district northwest of Amman suspected of intending to carryout violent acts, and arrested eleven suspects during a heavy exchange of gunfire. | Ammon News

A worker’s rights advocacy group called on the authorities to enforce the Labor Law, citing complaints by laborers over violations to their rights with regard to salaries, working hours and other issues. | Jordan Times

JULY 31

Islamists are ready to discuss a new formula for the Elections Law provided that the one-person, one-vote system is abolished. | Jordan Times

Hundreds of Syrians protested against their transfer to a recently opened refugee camp as authorities imposed new regulations restricting their movement within the country. | Jordan Times

JULY 30

The Independent Elections Commission is capable of running the elections before the end of the year, but hundreds of Jordanian public figures urged King Abdullah to delay them, warning that holding the polls amid a nationwide boycott may tip the country into a deep political crisis. | Jordan Times; Jordan Times

Jordanian authorities opened the country’s first Syrian refugee camp, the Zaatari camp, a collection of some 2,000 tents on the outskirts of the northeastern city of Mafraq with the capacity to house some 10,000 persons. | Jordan Times

News of Jordanian and Syrian forces exchanging gunfire in the border region early Friday morning prompted dozens of Jordanians to stage a protest in front of the Syrian embassy calling on the Jordanian government to expel the Syrian diplomatic mission from Jordan. | Ammon News

JULY 25

The International Monetary Fund announced it had reached a preliminary deal with Jordan for a $2 billion loan to steady the country's battered economy. | Jordan Times

With Jordan’s opposition parties lined up to boycott upcoming elections, support for postponing the polls is gaining ground and may be the "last chance" for decision makers to save the country’s reform process. | Jordan Times

Standard & Poor’s (S&P) affirmed its long- and short-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings on Jordan at ‘BB/B’ with a negative outlook. | Reuters; Jordan Times

Fearing the fallout and the spread of the uprising in Syria, activists say that Jordanian officials have recently moved more forcefully to restrain opponents of the Syrian government who have fled to Jordan. | New York Times

Jordan is set to “easily” exceed its $2 billion investment inflow target for this year, according to Jordan Investment Board CEO Awni Rushoud, noting that the volume of investments that benefit from incentives reached nearly $1 billion in the first half of this year. | Jordan Times

JULY 24

The European Council authorized an additional protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement with the Kingdom during a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, which will open new areas of cooperation. | Jordan Times

Syrian refugees residing at the Bashabsheh housing complex in Ramtha will move to the new camp in the northern town of Zaatari near the border city of Mafraq within one week. The move is designed to prevent problems that might arise from camps residing in residential neighborhoods. | Jordan Times

JULY 23

A Royal Decree was issued on Monday approving the amendments to the 2012 Elections Law as enacted by the two Chambers of Parliament. | Jordan Times

Police used tear gas to disperse Ramtha residents who converged at a compound housing Syrian refugees after residents and refugees threw stones at each other; over 15 Syrian refugees were injured.A similar number of Ramtha citizens and one police officer were also injured. | Jordan Times

JULY 22

The National Front for Reform, headed by former premier Ahmad Obeidat, announced it would boycott the upcoming parliamentary elections. | Jordan Times

An explosion rocked the Egyptian pipeline built to carry natural gas to Jordan, this being the 15th time it has been attacked since the start of the Egyptian uprising that toppled president Hosni Mubarak in early 2011. | Jordan Times
 
The United States will grant Jordan an additional $100 million to help the Kingdom address its fiscal difficulties and continue its humanitarian services to Syrian refugees. | Jordan Times

JULY 18

Police secured a hand-made explosive device that was found under the car of the owner of the Syrian refugee camp in the border city of Ramtha. | Ammon News

JULY 17

Syrian refugees in Jordan urged British Foreign Secretary William Hague to “get rid of” Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, as Secretary Hague visited Bashabsheh housing complex near the Syrian-Jordanian border. Secretary Hague is in Jordan for a two-day official visit. | al-Arabiya; Telegraph; Jordan Times

The United Nations reported that the number of Syrian refugees who have sought UN help since April has almost tripled to 112,000. The UNHCR acknowledged the work of the Jordan Council of Ministers and Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization in aiding Syrian refugees in Jordan, whose number has reached almost 35,000. | Reuters; Washington Post

JULY 16

The Phoenix Centre for Economic and Informatics Studies (PCEIS) published a report stating that the number of labor-related protests in Jordan rose by 16 percent during the past six months compared to the same period last year. | Jordan Times

JULY 15

Despite its public posturing the Muslim Brotherhood remains open to reversing its recent boycott decision; analysts suggest that postponing the polls could be the best option to get the country out of the present political stalemate. | Jordan Times; Jordan Times
 
A Jordanian security official says police have fired tear gas to disperse some 200 Libyans trying to break into their country's embassy, angry at their government's failure to pay the cost of medical treatment and other expenses in the kingdom. | AP

JULY 13

Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood will boycott the upcoming parliamentary elections in protest over recent changes in the kingdom's election legislation. | AP

Opposition groups and reform coalitions are scheduled to hold protests on Friday in what they describe as the first step in an election boycott campaign. | Jordan Times

Jordanian police questioned 12 Libyan police trainees who allegedly set fire to a sports facility at the Jordanian International Police Training Centre the day before in protest against a delay in their return flight to Libya; 60 people were injured. | Jordan Times

JULY 12

With the expected passage of the amended Elections Law experts say the Senate will deliver a major setback to Jordan’s reform drive and warn that the controversial legislation may plunge the Kingdom into what they describe as a "political crisis”. | Jordan Times

The number of registered Syrian refugees in Jordan has passed 30,000 as relief agencies continue to struggle to raise funds to provide basic services to the vulnerable community. | Jordan Times

JULY 10

Opposition leaders have suggested that parliamentary elections be delayed until next year so that the government will have time to draft a new elections law acceptable by all. | Jordan Times

The Cabinet agreed to establish “emergency camps” for Syrian refugees and start receiving Syrians residing in Jordan to live in them. | Jordan Times

Lawmakers and activists have called on the government to suspend the country’s nuclear program, accusing officials of violating a parliamentary motion calling for halting the project. | Jordan Times

JULY 9

Jordanian MPs amended a controversial electoral law giving more seats to party candidates (increased from 17 to 27), but failed to satisfy the Islamists who threatened to boycott early polls this year. | Daily Star; Ammon News

According to UNHCR a Syrian military crackdown is preventing “thousands” of refugees from entering Jordan as the kingdom witnessed a “dramatic” drop-off in refugee arrivals over the weekend, with 74 Syrians crossing into the country between Friday and Saturday. | Jordan Times

The head of Hamas Political Bureau, Khaled Meshaal, confirmed that Hamas and Jordan will start a new phase after a rupture between the two parties started the deportation of Hamas' leaders from Jordan in 1999. | Palestine News Network

JULY 5

A report issued by Human Rights Watch claims that Jordanian authorities have forcibly returned some Palestinians who arrived recently from Syria and threatened to deport others; Jordanian officials dismissed these allegations of discrimination as baseless. | Jordan Times; AP

About 600 Syrian refugees arrived in Jordan Wednesday morning after passing through the borders in the northern city of Ramtha. | Ammon News

For four days in a row this week, Jordanian youth hurled rocks at police officers and burned tires in the city of Salt. While local tribal leaders and professional associations called for calm, they also called on the government to address long-term grievances. | Ammon News

JULY 3

King Abdullah stressed the need for the Independent Elections Commission to start taking necessary measures to ensure smooth elections, adding that his directives to the government to revisit the Elections Law are meant to widen public participation in the polls. | Jordan Times

Analysts believe that Jordan is trying to woo the Muslim Brotherhood after it gained more ground following the election of Islamist Mohamed Morsi as Egypt's first civilian president. | AFP

A UN official says a refugee camp must be opened in Jordan to address the spike in the numbers of Syrians crossing the border; early morning on Tuesday about 290 Syrian Refugees fled to Jordan. | Washington Post; Ammon News

JULY 2

Jordan’s King Abdullah II called on opposition parties, particularly Islamists, to take part in general elections later this year after they threatened to boycott the polls. | Al Arabiya

Jordanians have once again taken to the streets in Amman to protest recent hikes in commodity prices and the delay in implementing reforms. | Ammon News

A recent study funded by the International Labor Organization to examine loopholes in the Kingdom’s laws governing pay equity found a total lack of legal protection against gender discrimination in wages. | Jordan Times

JUNE 29

King Abdullah summoned parliament for an extraordinary session at the start of next month to amend the Elections Law to raise the number of seats allocated for the national list, as “a cornerstone for developing partisan life.” | Jordan Times

Jordanian opposition groups expressed guarded optimism over the King’s calls for a revision of the Elections Law, suspending their boycott campaign until after the outcome of the amendments.| Jordan Times

Jordan refuted as baseless news reports alleging the arrest of Jordanian security officials in Syria, underlining the Kingdom’s respect for Syria’s sovereignty. | Jordan Times

JUNE 28

Political activists called on King Abdullah to reject the elections law recently passed by Parliament as protests against the legislation stretched into their eleventh day; activists say the law is the same as the controversial one-person, one-vote electoral system. | Jordan Times

Jordan’s King Abdullah ordered parliament to amend a controversial electoral law after opposition Islamists threatened to boycott general polls expected to be held by the end 2012. | Al Arabiya

Jordan's King Abdullah met with top Hamas leaders as part of an about-face effort to engage with Islamists, who have been gaining ground in the Middle East. | AP

JUNE 27

The Muslim Brotherhood renewed its threat to boycott upcoming parliamentary elections, giving authorities a “last chance” to rewrite the controversial elections law recently passed by both Houses of Parliament.| Jordan Times

JUNE 26

Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh said that more “corrupt people” would be referred to justice soon, stressing that combating corruption is a key component of the reform process. | Jordan Times

JUNE 25

The Senate passed the 2012 draft elections law as amended by deputies, approving a mixed electoral system that features a majority vote at the governorate level and a closed proportional list at the national level. | Jordan Times

Jordanian political groups finalized their decision to boycott upcoming parliamentary elections as political coalitions and reformists took a united decision to forego upcoming polls within hours of the Senate’s passage of an elections law they claim is “undemocratic”. | Jordan Times

JUNE 22

Activists across the political spectrum are planning a series of protests on Friday that they say may serve as the foundation of a wider election boycott campaign. | Jordan Times

The Muslim Brotherhood is in talks with various political forces to form a “shadow government” in the latest sign that the Jordanian opposition is preparing to boycott upcoming parliamentary polls. | Jordan Times

The Jordanian authorities agreed to grant political asylum to the defecting Syrian pilot who landed his military jet in a Jordanian airbase earlier Thursday. | Ammon News

JUNE 21

Women’s rights activists expressed dissatisfaction with the number of seats allocated for women (15 seats) under the quota in the draft elections law. | Jordan Times

According to a U.S. State Department report, Jordan maintains its Tier 2 ranking for the fourth year in a row as a destination and transit country for adults and children subjected to forced labor and, to a lesser extent, commercial sexual exploitation. | Jordan Times

The UN will call on the international community later this month to boost its commitments to the Syrian refugee community in Jordan, which is growing by the “hundreds” each day and expected to reach 70,000 in Jordan alone. | Jordan Times

JUNE 20

The Lower House passed the 2012 draft elections law after three days of deliberations over the bill, completing all political reform-related laws; if passed by the two Houses, all laws governing the political reform process will have been completed. | Jordan Times

Political groups say they are set to boycott elections, describing the elections law as little more than a “rehash” of the one-person, one-vote electoral system that supported individual candidates at the expense of political parties; Muslim Brotherhood of Jordan denies reports of boycott. | Jordan Times; Ammon News

Jordan's trade deficit widened 34.2 percent to 3.24 billion dinars ($4.56 bln) in the first quarter of this year against the same period in 2011 due to a higher bill for imported Saudi oil and other petroleum products. | Reuters

JUNE 19

The Lower House endorsed a mixed electoral system that features a majority vote at the governorate level and a closed proportional list at the national level under the 2012 draft elections law. | Ammon News

Jordan has toughened its screening procedures for Syrian refugees, refusing entry to dozens as the number of individuals submitting false asylum claims is on the rise, government and U.N. officials said. | Ammon News

JUNE 18

Deputies began their deliberations over the 2012 draft elections law, voting down a proposal to allow Jordanian expatriates to take part in parliamentary elections; the session was adjourned after legislators scuffled during a heated debate over an election draft law. | Jordan Times; Al Jazeera

Jordan has entered talks with the International Monetary Fund to borrow up to $1.4 billion to ease strained public finances in the absence of help from its richer Arab neighbors. | Reuters

In a rare show of unity thousands of Islamists, liberals, nationalists and youth activists demonstrated in eight of Jordan's 12 provinces calling for the government to resign over rising fuel prices and delays in introducing democratic reforms. | Ammon News

JUNE 15

Leaders of political parties expressed frustration over the 2012 draft elections law, mainly for its “disappointing” electoral formula, arguing that it is just another version of the controversial one-person, one-vote system. | Jordan Times

JUNE 14

Abdul Ilah Khatib, President of the Independent Elections Commission, said the monitoring body will exert its utmost efforts to conduct fair and transparent parliamentary elections before the end of this year. | Jordan Times

The Jordanian Lower House’s Legal Committee endorsed the remaining provisions of the 2012 draft elections law, recommending a mixed electoral system that features a majority vote at the governorate level and a closed proportional list at the national level.| Jordan Times

In a series of rallies and sit-ins across the capital, dozens of activists called on the Jordanian government to resign over a fuel price hike activists claim is “strangling citizens.” | Jordan Times

JUNE 13

The Lower House Legal Committee completed its deliberations over the draft elections law, endorsing 73 articles of the bill and tabling for further discussion three provisions related to the electoral system. | Jordan Times

Jordan has raised the price of lower grade gasoline, which is used by the poor, by 12.9 percent two weeks after a substantial hike in prices of premium gasoline as part of IMF-guided austerity steps to ease a worsening budget deficit.| Ammon News

Jordan reaffirmed that the northern borders remain “open” amid accusations of authorities turning back Syrians fleeing ongoing violence in their homeland. | Jordan Times

JUNE 12

In an attempt to arrive at a broad consensus over an electoral system, a group of MPs are expected to meet outside Parliament in a closed door meeting today to discuss the draft elections law. | Jordan Times

The Iraqi government has approved an agreement paving the way for the construction of a long-awaited gas pipeline to Jordan.| Jordan Times

JUNE 11

The Lower House Legal Committee approved 42 articles of the draft electoral law and tabled controversial Article 21 (concerning constituencies) for future sessions; PM Tarawneh said the government is working to hold the parliamentary polls before the end of the year. | Ammon News; Jordan Times

Egyptian state news agency MENA reported that a trial run of Egyptian natural gas exports to Jordan has been cut for reasons that remain unclear. | Ammon News

JUNE 8

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres said that Jordan is paying a high price for hosting Syrian refugees who sought protection and the international community should support the Kingdom in facing this challenge. | Jordan Times

JUNE 7

King Abdullah called for expediting the completion of the elections law, stressing the need for all to recognize the importance of speed at this stage, which requires immediate work to meet citizens’ expectations. | Jordan Times; Ammon News

Jordan’s Lower House of Parliament approved the draft political parties law as referred from the Senate, although the House's Legal Committee rejected most amendments made by the Senate. | Ammon News

Nearly half of the 120,000 displaced Syrians in Jordan are in need of urgent assistance, relief agencies said, as the UN recorded the highest number of refugee registrations in a single month. | Jordan Times

JUNE 6

Independents, leftists, and the Muslim Brotherhood are launching a national council, the National Reform Congress, to confront decision makers’ “reversal” on political reform pledges; they hope to unite a protest movement that remains “fractured.” | Jordan Times; Ammon News

Jordanian police have arrested two alleged militants on their way to Syria to fight against President Bashar Assad; this is the first time that Jordan has publicly stated that its own militants are joining other Arab fighters to support the Syrian opposition. | Ammon News

President of the Foodstuff Traders Association Samer Jawabreh stressed that merchants are committed to ensuring the stability of commodity prices and will bear the burden of the 20 percent increase on electricity tariffs to merchants. | Jordan Times

JUNE 5

The Jordan Securities Commission board of commissioners decided to deduct 15 percent of their salaries for the treasury for six months starting at the end of June to support Jordan’s economy. | Jordan Times

About 150 imams protested outside the royal palace in Amman in an attempt to express their discontent with the government and urged authorities to launch an investigation into potential corruption at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs. | Al Jazeera; Jordan Times

JUNE 4

The Lower House endorsed the Senate’s amendments to the 2012 draft law governing the projected constitutional court. | Jordan Times

Several deputies demanded a vote of no confidence in the government of Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh for its recent decision to increase electricity prices. | Jordan Times

Thousands of Jordanians called on the government to resign in protests in various cities over a rise in fuel and electricity prices they claim are “strangling” citizens. | Ammon News

JUNE 1

The government is expected to postpone the municipal elections for six months starting from the September deadline set in the amended version of the 2011 Municipalities Law due to financial concerns. | Jordan Times

The government intends to grant children of Jordanian women married to foreigners civil rights that would enable them to enjoy the same services as citizens, but not full citizenship.| Jordan Times

MAY 31

The Lower House tasked a joint committee with re-examining the 2012 draft political parties law after the Senate returned it to the House with amendments. | Jordan Times; Ammon News

Jordanian political reform activists took the first steps towards forming a united front by launching the Jordanian Popular Movement Coordination Committee as an umbrella organization to coordinate their activities and stances.| Jordan Times

Jordan’s tourism sector lost around JD700 million in real and potential revenue last year, with expectations that the Kingdom’s GDP will continue to decline modestly. | Jordan Times; Reuters

MAY 30

Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh told party leaders that the next government will likely be a parliamentary government, formed by either the winning political parties in national polls or House blocs. | Jordan Times

The committee that investigated the special education centers held the Social Development Ministry, the Higher Council for the Affairs of Persons with Disabilities and its members legally and morally responsible for violations against persons with disabilities. | Jordan Times; Jordan Times

Over 6,000 Syrians have registered as refugees in the month of May as a growing population of displaced Syrians appears to be settling in for an extended stay in the Kingdom, which may reach 7,000 in the next few days. | Jordan Times

MAY 29

Jordan has raised the price of gasoline and electricity for major mining firms, hotels and banks as part of IMF-guided austerity steps to ease its worsening budget deficit that could reach $4 billion this year. | Reuters

Al Rai daily reported that opposition parties refused to hold talks with the new government about their visions for reform in the kingdom. | Ammon News

The special investigatory commission for allegations of human rights violations in special education centers revealed violations including finding iron and wooden crates believed to have been used for the beneficiaries and evidence of physical abuse. | Ammon News

MAY 25

Jordan's MPs gave their vote of confidence to Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh, who faces a tough challenge to offset a huge deficit and hold elections to meet reform demands; the vote was 75-31, with four abstentions and 10 MPs absent. | AFP

PM Fayez Tarawneh said the security agencies have decided to expand their austerity measures by freezing JD150 million worth of construction projects to help address the budget deficit. | Jordan Times

The number of displaced Syrians in Jordan is now over 120,000 and more refugees are coming forward for humanitarian assistance. | Jordan Times

MAY 24

The Lower House is expected to hold a vote of confidence in the government of Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh today. | Jordan Times

Deputies agreed to deduct 15 percent of their salaries for the treasury to address the difficult economic situation for six months starting the end of May. | Jordan Times

Jordan is inviting international contractors to prequalify for a crude oil and products terminal at its Red Sea port of Aqaba after a series of bombings in Egypt of a natural gas export pipeline have forced the kingdom to seek additional fuel supplies. | Reuters

MAY 23

A number of ministers said that they will not give a confidence vote to the new government during deliberations over the government policy statement, adding that the new government was made up of conservatives and traditionalists. | Ammon News; Jordan Times

MAY 22

The Jordanian National Commission for Women announced that it will refer a list of recommendations it prepared with other women’s groups on the draft elections law; one request is to ensure a minimum of 30 percent representation for women through the quota system. | Jordan Times

MAY 18

Oil expert Mamdouh Salameh said that oil shale is the “savior” of Jordan’s economy, indicating that Jordan’s oil shale deposits exceed 50 billion tons, 10 per cent of which can be extracted. | Jordan Times

MAY 17

The Lower House endorsed a provision in the draft constitutional court law banning lawmakers and members of political parties from sitting on the projected judicial body. | Jordan Times

Jordanians imprisoned in Israel will be included in the agreement reached this week between hunger-striking prisoners and the Israeli authorities. | Jordan Times

The Islamic Action Front decried a government plan to lift subsidies on oil derivates, electricity and other commodities to help close the Kingdom’s gaping budget deficit. | Jordan Times

MAY 16

According to the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO) — the leading body tasked with coordinating aid efforts in Jordan — the last two months have seen a spike in donations from Arab and Muslim countries for Syrian refugees in Jordan, with food aid caravans rolling in weekly. | Jordan Times

A BBC Arabic documentary showing abuse at care homes for children with physical and mental disabilities in Jordan was aired this week. After the broadcast, Jordan's Minister of Social Development,Wajih Azaizeh, told the BBC that "an investigation will be conducted and the results will be open and clear." | BBC

MAY 15

A poll released by the University of Jordan’s Centre of Strategic Studies revealed that 56 percent of Jordanians have confidence in Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh to fulfill his mandate, namely the passage of political reform laws and improving citizens’ living conditions. | Jordan Times

The Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO) — tasked by the government to lead and coordinate relief efforts for displaced Syrians — and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) sealed a cooperation agreement yesterday to facilitate the distribution of aid to a refugee community whose numbers, according to various officials, have surpassed 110,000. | Jordan Times

MAY 14

Egypt will resume exporting natural gas to Jordan after a months-long hiatus caused by bombing attacks on the northern Sinai pipeline, Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr told his Jordanian counterpart on Monday. | Jerusalem Post

MAY 11

Politicians and commentators on Thursday echoed criticism of the draft political parties law raised by critics among lawmakers when the law was passed by the House earlier this week. Leaders of rightist, centrist and leftist parties described the 2012 version of the reform-related law as a “backward step in the reform process”. | Jordan Times

Jordanian authorities have opened a third holding facility for Syrian refugees amid an ongoing influx of Syrians carrying stories of kidnappings and killings. | Jordan Times

MAY 10

More than 16 violations against water networks were recorded during the first quarter of this year, a government official said on Wednesday, warning that the practice is on the rise. The Ministry of Water and Irrigation is suffering from recurring violations related to water resources across the country, which is disrupting the distribution programme. | Jordan Times

The Libyan Medical Committee on Thursday called on Libyans who completed treatment in Jordan to leave the Kingdom before May 15, according to Ali Bin Jalil, who heads the panel. | Jordan Times

MAY 9

Jordan's King Abdullah II, under pressure to meet popular demands for political changes, is pushing to hold crucial early elections before the end of 2012 but his opponents say his reforms do not go far enough. | AFP

Deputies urged the government to refrain from increasing the prices of basic commodities and to find other ways to address the Kingdom's economic woes instead of resorting to "citizens' empty pockets". | Jordan Times

Jordanian Abu Qatada lost his bid to have his appeal over deportation heard by Europe's top human rights judges, which clears the way for deportation proceedings against the cleric. | Ammon News

MAY 8

The Independent Elections Commission needs a go-ahead from the government to hold the municipal elections this year, as the government said it plans to carry out the polls on time, but no exact date has been set. | Jordan Times

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development hopes to eventually invest 7.5 billion euros a year in North Africa and Jordan to support democratic transition and help economies recover from the 2011 revolutions. | Reuters

MAY 7

A Royal Decree appointed members of the Independent Elections Commission; Abdul Ilah Khatib was named president of the board of commissioners. | Jordan Times

The House Speaker said that the Lower House of Parliament will endorse the parliamentary elections law within two months, and King Abdullah said that Jordan will have parliamentary elections this year. | Ammon News; Ammon News

The Lower House endorsed a provision in the draft political parties law banning parties from promoting their platforms to members of the military or judiciary. | Ammon News

MAY 4

Responding to charges that the Israeli prison administration is withholding legal counsel from hunger striking Palestinian prisoners, prison administrators said that prisoners' rights to see an attorney is conditional on their getting out of bed to ask for a meeting with a lawyer. | Palestine News Network

Youth activists and Islamists hit the streets in several cities to demand an end to ties between Jordan and Israel and called for the ouster of Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh, demanding speedy political reforms. | Jordan Times; Ammon News

Jordan’s Egyptian gas supplies resumed amid growing doubts over the reliability of the Kingdom’s main energy source. | Jordan Times

MAY 3

Opposition Islamists warned that the makeup of the new Jordanian government amounted to a “setback” for the country’s reform plans, a day after the cabinet was announced. | al Arabiya

A total of 106 cases of violations to press freedom were recorded in 2011 according to a report that was conducted during the last two months of last year; violations took the form of physical and verbal assaults as well as arrests. | Jordan Times

MAY 2

A Jordanian government dominated by conservatives under new Prime Minister Fayez al-Tarawneh was sworn in and tasked with preparing parliamentary elections expected later this year; the cabinet is 30-strong and includes 20 newcomers. | Al Arabiya; Ammon News

Jordan’s political party leaders called for raising the number of seats in the Lower House allocated to the closed propositional list at the national level under the draft elections law during the first of a series of meetings that the Legal Committee will hold with various segments of society. | Jordan Times

Analysts say that conservative Hammam Saeed’s retention of his post in a Muslim Brotherhood internal election sends the message to authorities that the state will see a protracted political showdown if it goes back on a recent warming of ties with the brotherhood. | Jordan Times

MAY 1

Political analysts say that the resignation of Prime Minister Awn Khasawneh, a deputy chief at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, will likely increase pressure on King Abdullah to introduce reforms. | UPI; Foreign Policy

The Lower House has postponed its Wednesday session on the draft political parties law until next Sunday, awaiting the formation of the new government. | Jordan Times

The leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hammam Saeed, kept his post following internal elections Monday, where he was challenged by dovish former leader Salem Falahat. | Jordan Times

APRIL 27

King Abdullah entrusted Senator Fayez Tarawaneh, who was prime minister in the late 1990s, with forming a new government after the resignation of outgoing prime minister Awn Khasawneh. | Jordan Times; Guardian

A Royal Decree extended the 16th Parliament’s second ordinary session, which was set to end Thursday, until June 25; Lower House Speaker Abdul Karim Dughmi said deputies would approve the remaining reform-related laws “as soon as possible”. | Jordan Times; Jordan Times

The Higher Council for the Interpretation of the Constitution ruled that a reinvestigation by Parliament of the suspected corruption case known as the “casino file” would be unconstitutional. | Jordan Times

APRIL 26

Jordan's Prime Minister Awn Khasawneh submitted his resignation today to King Abdullah II, barely six months after he formed a government to bring in much-needed reforms. | AFP; Reuters

Human Rights Watch denounced Jordan for charging a news website editor with anti-regime incitement after publishing a report on a graft probe into a $7 billion housing project. | Ammon News; Jordan Times

The new Jordanian election law that was drafted earlier this month is facing strong resentment from the political opposition and activists alike; pro- democracy activists see it as a government assault on civil liberties. | Ammon News

APRIL 25

A joint session members of the Upper and the Lower Houses of Parliament voted to give all lawmakers lifetime pensions, ending a months-long dispute over amendments to the Civil Retirement Law. | Jordan Times

The UN Refugee Agency in Jordan reported that over 6,000 Syrians registered with the agency over the last month, doubling the total number of Syrians registered as refugees. | Jordan Times

A dispute between the Jordanian Electric Power Company and its employees was resolved on Tuesday after a meeting at the labor ministry, ending a 17-day strike by the workers. | Jordan Times

APRIL 24

The Lower House shelved the case concerning a previous government’s decision to allow convicted business tycoon Khalid Shahin to travel abroad for treatment, citing a lack of evidence of corruption. | Jordan Times

Authorities arrested a local online journalist for publishing statements alleging corruption in the country's Royal Court. | Ammon News

The government will raise electricity tariffs to counter an expected loss of more than JD1.5 billion in the energy sector resulting from the halt in Egyptian gas supplies. | Jordan Times

APRIL 23

The Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament will hold a joint session soon to give a final say on the temporary 2010 Civil Retirement Law after senators and deputies disagreed, with the Senate twice rejecting MPs’ amendments to the 1959 legislation. | Jordan Times

An Amman Criminal Court turned down a request to release four officials from Amwal Invest on bail pending further investigation into a suspected corruption case. | Ammon News; Ammon News

With the arrival of thousands of Syrian refugees in Jordan and the return of expatriates in the summer, the Kingdom’s water supply is expected to face severe strain in the coming months. | Jordan Times

APRIL 20

A joint Senate panel rejected the Lower House’s amendments to the Civil Retirement Law for a second time, under which lawmakers with at least six years of civil service and four years as parliamentarians are entitled to lifetime pensions. | Jordan Times

A last-minute legal decision that delayed the deportation of terrorism suspect Abu Qatada from Britain to Jordan sparked incredulity and outrage from British politicians and media angry at the coalition government's handling of the high profile affair. | Reuters; Ammon News

The UN reported that the number of registered Syrian refugees in Jordan has topped 12,000, as displaced people continued to pour into the Kingdom over the northern border. | Jordan Times

APRIL 19

The Islamic cleric known as Abu Qatada can’t be deported from the U.K. to Jordan to stand trial on terrorism charges until judges at the European Court of Human Rights decide whether to again take up his case, the court said. | Bloomberg

In a speech before the European Parliament, King Abdullah voiced appreciation of the EU’s support for Jordan’s reform drive, highlighting the meetings of the new EU-Jordan Task Force in Amman two months ago, which discussed key programs that will support the Kingdom’s reform priorities. For the full text of the speech, click here. | Jordan Times

With a growing population and increasing demands on scarce natural resources, Jordan is hoping that a major desalination project will be instrumental in helping the Kingdom tackle its water shortages. | Oxford Business Group

APRIL 18

Jordanian officials have promised that Abu Qatada would receive a fair trial if returned to Jordan but the European rights court said it continues to oppose Britain's bid to extradite Abu Qatada to Jordan. | Jordan Times; Jordan Times

The head of the Arab Organization for Human Rights in Amman confirmed that 1300 Jordanians were being held in prisons across the world. | Ammon News

Officials of the Jordanian Salafi Jihadist Movement said that they have smuggled gunmen to Syria to fight; eight Sunni jihadists have allegedly been arrested as they tried to cross the border into neighboring Syria to fight President Bashar Assad's forces. | Jordan Times; Daily Star

APRIL 17

Continuing deliberations over the 2012 draft political parties law, deputies endorsed a provision that prohibits the establishment of political parties on a religious basis; the measure would disqualify the Islamic Action Front from taking part in upcoming parliamentary elections. | Jordan Times; Ammon News

Investigators will refer a case of suspected corruption in the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company to court, while the government will soon reveal more information to the public regarding the file; new efforts aim to regain the government’s control over the company. | Jordan Times

Britain's home secretary said that Jordan made a series of new pledges to help the U.K. deport Islamist cleric Abu Qatada; the European Court of Human Rights blocked his deportation amid concerns that torture would be used against him in a terrorism trial in Jordan. | AP; AFP

APRIL 16

The Islamic Action Front formally rejected the proposed elections law; in addition about 100 national figures, political activists, and others signed a letter calling for the withdrawal of the new elections draft law. | Jordan Times; Ammon News

Responding to criticism against the new draft elections law, the government spokesperson said in a statement that the bill is not a "sacred text" but an endeavor for a broader consensus among components of the Jordanian society. | Ammon News

The nineteen political prisoners who were jailed last month for insulting the king in the southern city of Tafilah were freed on Sunday. | Ammon News; AFP

APRIL 13

As the government referred a draft elections law to the Lower House and not an amended version of a prior law, deputies have the right to approve, reject, or revise every article of the bill under Article 91 of the Constitution. | Jordan Times

Activists across the country plan to protest the draft elections law on Friday, which the opposition has termed as “undemocratic” due to a series of items in the law, one of which includes limiting seats reserved for political parties at the national level to 15 out of 138. | Jordan Times

A team of international financial experts will conduct its own investigation into charges of money laundering leveled against former intelligence chief Lt. Gen. Mohammad Dahabi. | Jordan Times

APRIL 12

The Lower House referred the 2012 elections draft law to its legal committee despite protests by some lawmakers who had demanded the bill be repealed, saying it does not answer to reform requirements or help to build a modern civil state. | Ammon News

Frequent bomb attacks on a pipeline that pumps Egyptian gas to Jordan have worsened the kingdom’s economic woes because it has to resort to costlier fuel to run its electricity generators; gas supply disruption is projected to cost Jordan an additional 1.7 billion dinar. | Gulf Today

The possibility of power outages is growing as employees of the Jordanian Electric Power Company and the Central Electricity Generating Company escalate their open-ended strikes. | Jordan Times

APRIL 11

Opposition parties expressed dissatisfaction over the draft elections law recently endorsed by the government, saying that the bill would be an obstacle to reform efforts and if passed and that they would campaign against it. | Jordan Times

Sixty percent of respondents in an April poll said they prefer the one-man, one-vote to any other electoral system. | Ammon News

The government, facing daily picketing by workers at state enterprises and demands for pay hikes, has already put the brakes on further privatization deals that could inflame the opposition; populist backlash against private business has begun to hurt investment. | Reuters

APRIL 10

The Muslim Brotherhood rejected the "disappointing and un-democratic" draft elections law. | Jordan Times

The Lower House of Parliament rejected the Senate's restriction of two controversial draft laws which would have granted parliament members permanent diplomatic passports and all lawmakers retirement payments for life. | Ammon News

A Sinai blast marked the latest setback to Jordan’s Egyptian gas supplies, with forecasts that the attack will prolong the return of the Kingdom’s primary energy source by months. | Jordan Times

APRIL 9

Jordan approved a long-awaited electoral law that scraps a contested one-person-one-vote system and increases a quota for women MPs, but the Islamist opposition says the draft law is a "failure" because it limits the number of seats allocated to political parties. | AFP

The Lower House of Parliament requested a constitutional opinion from the Higher Council for the Interpretation of the Constitution on the legality of the parliamentary session to try former PM Marouf Bakhit and seven of his former Cabinet members in the Casino case. | Ammon News

The Senate rejected Lower House changes to two laws granting parliament members permanent diplomatic passports and all lawmakers retirement payments for life. | Jordan Times

APRIL 6

Islamists would embrace the Moroccan model in their future participation in government, provided that a short list of conditions is met. | Jordan Times

Islamists, leftists, and independent activists across the Kingdom plan to hit the streets on Friday to protest against the ongoing detention of youth activists, which they claim represents an “attack” on the pro-reform movement. | Jordan Times

A joint Senate panel suggested that only deputies and senators who have at least ten years of service as members of Parliament are entitled to life pensions. | Jordan Times

APRIL 4

The political detainees who were arrested last Saturday and six others who were detained last month will be freed on Thursday. | Ammon News 

Police beat close to 30 demonstrators at a police station this week, two of whom fainted from the ill-treatment, Human Rights Watch reported. | Ammon News

APRIL 3

Reports say that Minister of Justice Salim Zoabi resigned on Monday while others report that he is on leave for a week to undergo medical tests. | Ammon News; Jordan Times

If the Senate does not approve giving parliamentarians lifetime pensions, several deputies are threatening to effectively paralyze the Lower House by boycotting sessions and preventing them from proceeding due to lack of quorum. | Jordan Times

Criminal charges were brought against the thirteen detained activists who were arrested last Saturday, including subverting the system of the kingdom, inciting the public, and illegal gathering. | Ammon News

APRIL 2

The Senate Legal Affairs Committee rejected the Lower House’s amendments to the 2012 Passports Law, under which royal family members, serving and former PMs, ministers, Royal Court chiefs, King’s advisers, senators, MPs and chief Islamic justices are to be given permanent diplomatic passports. | Jordan Times

Jordanian military prosecutors charged 13 political activists with incitement against the regime, rioting and insulting King Abdullah II, a day after police broke up their demonstration; they face up to 15 years in prison if convicted. | AFP

MARCH 30

Activists from across the Kingdom and around the world are scheduled to gather in the Jordan Valley village of Kufrein near the River Jordan as part of the Global March to Jerusalem. | Jordan Times

An Islamist leader said his movement has not reached an agreement with the government over the elections law, but expressed flexibility on the ratio allotted to national-level representation in the electoral system. | Jordan Times

The Senate endorsed the 2012 draft law governing the projected independent elections commission to oversee and manage parliamentary polls and any other elections called for by the government in all of their stages. | Jordan Times

MARCH 29

The Lower House announced that all insults made against the press during its Tuesday session would be stricken from its record, but the Jordan Press Association said it still planned to boycott those MPs who attacked the media. | Jordan Times

Over 1,000 Syrians poured into Jordan on Wednesday in what marked the single largest influx of refugees from Syria since the beginning of the year-long crisis. | Jordan Times

MARCH 28

Implementation of the first phase of the Jordan Red Sea Project will start early next year; the project is expected to supply Jordan with around one billion cubic meters of water by 2022. | Jordan Times

Prosecutors said they are still waiting for Lower House’s approval for their request to try former PM Marouf Bakhit and seven of his former Cabinet members over the suspected corruption case dubbed “casino file”. | Jordan Times

MARCH 27

Deputies amended the 2012 Passports Law, granting themselves and their predecessors, in addition to a number of current and former officials, permanent diplomatic passports. | Jordan Times

The State Security Court rejected the bail requests of six Tafileh activists who currently face charges of slandering the King and “inciting illegal acts” which are punishable by up to three years in prison. | Ammon News

MARCH 26

Former PM Marouf Bakhit slammed the House investigation panel's probe of the privatization of the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company pointing out that the deal was handled by four governments, but the report only highlighted corruption during Bakhit’s first Cabinet in 2007. | Jordan Times

Jordanian authorities confirmed that they will permit a planned march in the Jordan Valley on Friday as organizers denied intentions to storm the Jordanian-West Bank border. | Jordan Times; Ammon News

Authorities confirmed the arrest of ten alleged Syrian army defectors who entered Jordan earlier this month on suspicion of spying for the Syrian regime. | Jordan Times

MARCH 23

Jordanians across the country rallied on Friday to demand the release of six pro-democracy activists charged with insulting the king, as demonstrations over the men's arrest entered their third straight week. | IOL News

The Coalition of March 24 Youth announced plans on Facebook hold a demonstration to mark first anniversary of “Interior Square” events when one man was killed and over 100 people were injured when security forces attempted to forcefully disperse the protest. | Ammon News

MARCH 22

In a meeting with the government, opposition parties under the umbrella of the National Front for Reform insisted that the new electoral formula comprise a majority vote at the level of the governorates and a proportional list at the level of the country. | Jordan Times

Jordanian and Iraqi energy officials have entered advanced talks over a natural gas deal that would provide the Kingdom with an alternative energy source within five years. | Jordan Times

Authorities announced that a years-long project to cleanse the Kingdom's borders with Syria and Israel from landmine fields has been completed. | Ammon News

MARCH 21

The government has not worked out an electoral system but is leaning towards a mixed formula featuring the proportional list and the majority system. | Jordan Times

MARCH 20

Jordan is considering an Egyptian request for a prisoner swap, but no final agreement has been made, pending the completion of legal procedures concerning agreements covering the issue. | Jordan Times

MARCH 19

The Lower House endorsed the 2011 draft law governing the projected independent elections commission, which will create an financially and administratively independent commission to oversee and manage parliamentary elections. | Jordan Times

Officials, lawmakers and traders face a two-month deadline to hammer out a new electricity tariff as the government scrambles for alternative measures to cover the Kingdom’s rising national energy bill. | Jordan Times

Hundreds of Jordanians, including Islamists, leftists, and independent Jordanians demonstrated on Friday against a "tight security grip," demanding the release of activists arrested this week after pro-reform protests in the southern city of Tafileh. | Ammon News

MARCH 16

Deputies went back on their decision to pursue a motion of no confidence in the government after it suspended a previously announced rise in electricity prices. | Jordan Times

Police arrested 22 people in Tafileh, including three activists from the Free Tafileh Movement, wanted for “inciting illegal acts” during their participation in a sit-in. | Jordan Times

Hundreds of Jordanians, including Islamists, leftists, and independent activists, are set to hit the streets across the country on Friday as a response to the ongoing detention of political activists. | Jordan Times

MARCH 15

Deputies went back on their decision to pursue a motion of no confidence in the government after it suspended a previously announced rise in electricity prices. | Jordan Times

Police arrested 22 people in Tafileh, including three activists from the Free Tafileh Movement, wanted for “inciting illegal acts” during their participation in a sit-in. | Jordan Times

The Middle East’s first particle accelerator is closer to seeing the light of day after recent funding pledges from Israel, Iran, Jordan, and Turkey to sustain an initiative to boost scientific research and cooperation in the region. | Jordan Times

MARCH 14

More than 100 former officials, national figures, politicians, and tribal leaders signed a letter calling for the ouster of Prime Minister Awn Khasawneh's government. | Ammon News

Police arrested the seventh Tafileh activist in less than a week as hundreds demonstrated against an ongoing security sweep in the southern city. | Jordan Times

MARCH 13

A new parliamentary coalition for reforms was announced and includes 33 ministers, the majority of whom threatened to submit resignations over the results of the phosphate corruption file. | Ammon News

The next municipal elections will be held this September after the Senate endorsed the amended version of the 2011 Municipalities Law. | Ammon News

Islamist leaders criticized the Municipalities Law recently endorsed by the two houses of parliament, but said they will study it thoroughly before deciding whether to participate in the upcoming municipal elections. | Jordan Times

MARCH 12

Pro-reforms activists attempted to storm the Lower House of Parliament building in Amman to protest the parliament's vote in the case of phosphate privatization corruption. | Ammon News

The State Security Court rejected a second bail request for four political activists as protests in support of the men in Amman and Tafileh stretched into their fifth straight day. | Jordan Times

The United States and Jordan want to prevent Palestinian President Abbas from dissolving the Palestinian Authority, a move that would put the burden of the occupation back in hands of the Israelis. | Haaretz

MARCH 9

Activists are set to hit the streets across the country on Friday to urge authorities to release four Tafileh activists, in the latest of a series of protests over arrests they claim are an “attack” on the pro-reform movement. | Jordan Times

Ramtha Deputy Ahmad Shaqran, head of the Lower House committee that investigated allegations of corruption in the privatization of the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company (JPMC), explained yesterday that after the Lower House’s decision not to refer to the prosecutor general any of the 16 persons listed in his panel’s final report on the case, “it has become every Jordanian’s right to know those who misused their positions and failed to bring the country a fair deal in the sale of the government’s shares in the JPMC”. | Jordan Times

The Amman Court of First Instance on Thursday turned down an eighth bail request for former General Intelligence Department (GID) chief Mohammad Dahabi, whose detention has been extended for another 15 days pending investigation into charges of alleged corruption. | Ammon News

MARCH 8

The Lower House cleared former prime minister Bakhit after declining to refer to the judiciary any of the persons whose names were listed in the final report of its committee investigating the privatization of Jordan’s phosphate company. | Jordan Times

The Islamic movement called for dissolving the 19th parliament and holding early elections after parliament cleared former prime minister Bakhit of responsibility in the privatization of the Jordan’s Phosphate Mines Co. | Ammon News

Amman’s general prosecutor listened to testimony from the former Iraqi minister of military manufacturing during Saddam Hussian’s era regarding bribery charges against ex-chief of intelligence Mohammad Dahbi. | Ammon News

MARCH 7

Jordan won an international arbitration case pertaining to the Amman-Zarqa Light Railway Project with a unanimous decision on the legality of terminating the agreement signed with the International Railway Company. | Jordan Times

MPs are divided over the findings of the Phosphate Privatization Investigatory Commission, which investigated the privatization of Jordanian phosphate during the government of PM Bakhit. | Jordan Times; Ammon News

MARCH 6

A protest over unemployment in Tafileh descended into violence and riots; police arrested a number of young men. | Jordan Times; Ammon News

The Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood has completed its internal elections, with the new leadership set to determine the movement’s future agenda; observers say that the shura council is now been split between hawks and doves. | Jordan Times

The Lower House of Parliament gave the government ten days to review the new electricity pricing system, threatening to vote no confidence in the Minister of Energy. | Jordan Times

MARCH 5

The Lower House endorsed the municipal elections draft law; under the new amendments an ad hoc committee will oversee the first municipal elections and thereafter all polls will be overseen by an independent elections commission. | Jordan Times

Clashes erupted between police and citizens who staged a sit-in Monday morning in front of the governorate building in Tafilah demanding jobs. | Ammon News

Britain's interior minister held talks with her Jordanian counterpart on the extradition of Abu Qatada, once dubbed an aide of Osama bin Laden, who faces terror charges in Jordan. | AFP

MARCH 1

The Lower House started deliberations over the amended version of the 2011 Municipalities Law. | Jordan Times

King Abdullah issued a special pardon for Udai Abu Issa, who was sentenced to two years in prison last month for burning a picture of the King; Abu Issa was reportedly freed yesterday. | Jordan Times

FEBRUARY 29

The Popular Movement for Reform will protest peacefully on March 8 in front of the parliament to call for dissolving the special military court, which they consider "unconstitutional" and "illegitimate." | Ammon News The Cabinet approved the Constitutional Court Draft Law for 2012 in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 58 of the Constitution, that a Constitutional Court shall control the constitutionality of laws and regulations and the interpretation of its provisions. | Ammon News

Prosecutors handling the suspected corruption case "casino file" plan to refer the case to parliament to lift immunity from former prime minister Marouf Bakhit and seven of his Cabinet members implicated in the 2007 case. | Jordan Times

FEBRUARY 28

With a 9 percent increase in electricity tariffs, popular opposition is rising; about 44 parliamentarians signed a memorandum to vote no confidence in the Energy Minister, accusing him of "misleading" the House on explanations about raising prices. | Jordan Times; Ammon News

As leaders of the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood claim that this week’s poll represents little more than standard internal procedures, observers say Islamists are embroiled in a quiet internal struggle that will determine the future course of the movement. | Jordan Times

FEBRUARY 24

Jordan’s Islamists backed down on their insistence for additional constitutional reforms, saying they are no longer conditions for the movement’s participation in elections but rather “demands” that are open for discussion. | Jordan Times

Hundreds of Jordanians poured to the streets after Friday prayers protesting corruption and calling for comprehensive democratic reforms. | Ammon News

The Lower House's Permanent Office decided to refer all the cases being probed by the 24 parliamentary investigation committees to the Anti-Corruption Commission, except for five files that include names of ministers. | Jordan Times

FEBRUARY 23

Analysts believe that the rise of Islamists in Syria could create a quandary for Jordan, a small country that has strategic ties with its northern neighbor. | Al Arabiya

The EU announced that Jordan will receive a financial assistance package of around 3 billion euros over the next three years from the EU, of which 1.2 billion will be available in the coming 12 months. | Jordan Times

Two Jordanian opposition groups called for constitutional reform in their country during a visit to Washington, denouncing what they called corrupt practices under King Abdullah; they alleged that that $7.4 billion in foreign aid had gone “missing in the last 10 years.” | Daily Star

FEBRUARY 22

Former prime minister Marouf Bakhit testified in the high-profile Dead Sea Casino case; major controversy followed a parliamentary vote to acquit Bakhit of involvement in the case in June 2011 while Bakhit was heading his second government. | Ammon News

Jordan will take part in an international conference in Tunisia on the deadly unrest in Syria, while insisting the kingdom is against foreign military intervention. | Ammon News

Prime Minister Awn Khasawneh plans to visit Iraq to look for alternatives for Egypt’s gas supply after repeated cutoffs to the energy-poor kingdom; while Jordan is still trying with Qatar and Saudi Arabia, Khasawneh mentioned that Iraq may be the only viable option. | Daily Star

FEBRUARY 21

The Muslim Brotherhood along with representatives of other political parties will take part in discussions with EU officials ahead of an official task force meeting between Jordan and the EU to dialogue on the kingdom’s reform efforts. | Jordan Times

Jordan will not recall its ambassador from Syria as some other Arab countries have done. | Jordan Times

Teachers’ representatives announced an end to their 12-day strike after reaching a compromise with the government whereby a 15% basic salary raise will be paid by April 1 and the remaining 15% will be disbursed next year. | Jordan Times; Ammon News

FEBRUARY 17

Jordan and the United States resumed talks over stalled nuclear cooperation due to Washington’s reservations over Jordan’s right to uranium enrichment. | Jordan Times

British Home Secretary Theresa May will visit Jordan in an attempt to deport radical cleric Abu Qatada; Prince El Hassan of Jordan has refused to give assurances in a BBC interview on whether Abu Qatada would get a fair trial if he were extradited to Jordan. | Huffington Post; Ammon News

Attacks against striking teachers are being reported as the teachers’ nationwide strike entered its ninth day yesterday; teachers’ representative claim that some “organized” attacks are “orchestrated by police themselves.” | Jordan Times

FEBRUARY 16

Lawmakers involved in negotiating a deal to end the teachers’ nationwide strike failed for the second time to end the dispute between educators and the government after eight consecutive days of public school shutdown. | Jordan Times

FEBRUARY 15

The Jordan Atomic Energy Commission has arrived at a final preferred site for the country’s first nuclear reactor in the Mafraq Governorate, some 40km northeast of the capital. | Jordan Times

FEBRUARY 14

The labor ministry reiterated its call for illegal Egyptian guest workers to rectify their status, making use of a month-long amnesty campaign, which ends late this month. | Jordan Times

A British minister headed to Jordan to seek a deal that would allow London to extradite Abu Qatada, as the Islamist cleric once dubbed an aide to Osama bin Laden spent his first day out on bail. | AFP

FEBRUARY 13

Jordan will contest a European Court of Human Rights ban on Britain extraditing Islamist cleric Abu Qatada who is wanted in Jordan in connection with two 1998 attacks; the European court fears that the 51-year-old Jordanian might not have a fair trial in Jordan. | Ammon News

Jordan’s foreign minister said that Jordan is considering withdrawing its ambassador in Damascus in light of the deteriorating situation, stressing that not withdrawing Jordan’s ambassador should not be taken as a sign that Jordan supports the Syrian regime’s crackdown. | Ammon News

The government said that there will be no compromise regarding its position on teachers’ demands as an ad-hoc parliamentary committee was formed to review their salaries and benefits; teachers have been on strike for almost a week. | Jordan Times; Ammon News

FEBRUARY 10

A former Jordanian intelligence chief, Mohammed al-Dahabi, was charged with money laundering, embezzlement and abuse of power; this is the latest move in a widening anti-graft campaign propelled by popular protests against corruption. | Reuters; Al Jazeera

The young activist who is serving a prison sentence for burning a banner with king Abdullah II's picture in Madaba last January went on a hunger strike earlier this week to protest harsh treatment in prison. | Ammon News

Leftist and youth activists say they will join forces with striking teachers this Friday in the hope that rising frustration over public sector salaries will breathe new life into the pro-reform movement. | Jordan Times; Ammon News

FEBRUARY 9

Jordan will help fight remnants of the former Libyan leader Qaddafi’s regime if found in Jordan; Libya and Jordan also signed an MOU whereby Jordan will train about 10,000 former rebels who helped topple Qaddafi in order to integrate them into the Libyan interior ministry. | Daily Star

Tensions are rising in the public school teachers’ dispute with the government after the government said it was considering calling in retired educators and teachers in military schools to replace the strikers; teachers want 100% professional allowance, which they were promised 16 years ago. | Jordan Times

FEBRUARY 8

The Muslim Brotherhood called on the Jordanian government to expel the Syrian ambassador and recall the Jordanian ambassador from Damascus to protest the Syrian government’s crackdown on protesters. | Ammon News

A seminar held at Al Rai Centre for Research found that Jordan must move toward a political system in which governments are chosen by parliamentary majorities in order to meet the public’s demands and ensure orderly power. | Jordan Times

FEBRUARY 7

Jordanian Islamists called on Muslims and Arabs to boycott Russian and Chinese products after the two countries vetoed a UN Security Council resolution condemning Syria's regime over bloodshed. | Arab News

FEBRUARY 6

The Lower House endorsed the Senate’s amendments to Article 23 of the Anti-Corruption Commission draft law; the article, which imposes “harsh” penalties over those who wrongly accuse others of corruption, has been added to the Penal Code rather than the ACC Law. | Jordan Times

Public school teachers are going through with a planned strike today at the start of the Spring semester; educators vowed not to return to work until their demands are met, including a 100% professional allowance they were promised in 1996. | Jordan Times

Thirty-five journalists allegedly received large sums of money from former intelligence chief Mohammad Dahabi to win a power struggle with former Royal Court chief Bassem Awadallah; the Jordan Press Association will refer the issue to the prosecutor general. | Jordan Times

FEBRUARY 3

Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said that Jordan had withdrawn its monitors from the Arab League mission to Syria, adding the decision was taken several days ago when the work of all monitors was suspended. | Reuters

Hundreds of leftist and youth activists plan to continue their protest drive with marches planned across the country amidst signs that the Islamists have abandoned the movement. | Jordan Times

With the recent formation of committees to investigate the Socio-Economic Transformation Plan and the sale of Aqaba Port, the number of Lower House panels formed to probe allegations of corruption has risen to 22 in the past few months. | Jordan Times

FEBRUARY 2

According to a source within Hamas, the movement avoided meetings with the Islamic Action Front in compliance with an “understanding” with authorities barring the delegation from any political activities during the three-day visit. | Jordan Times

Prime Minister Awn Khasawneh said that Jordan aims for higher trade levels with Gulf countries, pinning its hope on the continued flow of aid from them; this highlights Jordan's efforts to attract more foreign investments for economic development and job opportunities. | Jordan Times

FEBRUARY 1

The Cabinet endorsed the 2012 political parties draft law which assigns a committee headed by the interior minister, head of the Legislative and Opinion Bureau, and secretary general of the Ministry of Justice jurisdiction over the licensing of political parties. | Jordan Times

JANUARY 31

Prime Minister Awn Khasawneh announced that Jordan rejects sanctions against Syria, citing the sanctions that were imposed on Iraq as “a proof of the moral failure of the sanctions system. ” | Jordan Times

Officials are nearing the completion of Jordan’s first Syrian refugee camp as part of a series of preparations for what some describe as a brewing “humanitarian crisis” north of the Kingdom’s borders. | Jordan Times

JANUARY 30

King Abdullah met with Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal and Qatar’s crown prince; Mashaal said that he respects any limits set to regulate relations between Hamas and Jordan and that Hamas was eager to develop “close and unique relations” with Jordan. | Jordan Times

JANUARY 27

Retired servicemen have announced plans to launch a new political party. The move may pull the Kingdom into a polarizing national identity debate. They have vowed to redefine Jordanian identity. | Jordan Times

Pro-reformists will protest across the country on Friday, featuring the return of the Islamist movement to dispel rumors that the movement is scaling back its participation in weekly demonstrations. | Jordan Times

JANUARY 26

According to an unnamed senior Hamas official, Mashaal and the delegation to Jordan are expected to request permission for a “permanent presence” in Jordan, stopping short of whether the Palestinian movement will seek to reopen its political office in Amman. | Jordan Times

The State Security Court sentenced 18-year-old pro-reform activist Odai Abu Issa to two years in prison after it found him guilty of “harming the King's dignity”; the charges were for torching a poster of the King's picture. | Ammon News

JANUARY 25

Despite turmoil and political changes in Egypt in 2011, its trade volume with Jordan increased last year and the two countries are on a path toward further cooperation. | Jordan Times

The Muslim Brotherhood is preparing for internal elections to select a new Shura Council amid expectations of major changes in the leadership of the Islamist movement after amending its statute last week. | Jordan Times

JANUARY 23

A group of deputies proposed a draft law that would authorize the Higher Judicial Council to investigate and prosecute officials, including the prime minister, who are found to have acquired “illicit fortunes” by exploiting their offices for financial gain. | Jordan Times

JANUARY 20

Clashes erupted between pro-reformers and counter-protesters during a peaceful rally in downtown Amman today, the latest in what activists claim is a series of coordinated attacks designed to bring an end to the year-old movement. | Jordan Times

Some political party leaders are warning the government against embarking on talks with one party at the expense of other players in the political game amid signs of emerging dialogue between the government and the Islamists. | Jordan Times

JANUARY 19

A U.S. lawmaker urged Jordan's King Abdullah to name an ambassador to Israel after a hiatus of more than a year and a half to help improve regional ties. | AFP

JANUARY 18

The ongoing unreliability of Egyptian gas supplies is forecast to cost Jordan over $2 billion this year, as energy officials struggle to meet the rising costs of electricity generation. | Jordan Times

An ad hoc committee will be formed to oversee the municipal elections under an amended version of the 2011 Municipalities Law which was endorsed by the Cabinet on Tuesday. | Jordan Times

Eighteen year old Odai Abu Eisa, who was detained for torching a picture of King Abdullah, apologized to the Jordanian people and the king; the activist’s lawyer reported that he suffered beatings and abuse in the Madaba police station. | Ammon News

JANUARY 17

The Islamic Action Front movement launched preparations to take part in a future government as it considers sweeping internal reforms to strengthen the party ahead of potential elections. | Jordan Times

Lawmakers ended a crisis as they halted a plan to request a vote of no confidence in Rakan Majali, minister of Media Affairs and Communication; the request for a no confidence vote came from some 50 MPs, which triggered anger in the media and reformists circles. | Ammon News

JANUARY 13

Reform activists across the country are set to continue their year-old protest drive this Friday in an effort to maintain pressure on officials to enact political and economic reforms. | Jordan Times

The Senate rejected amendments to Article 23 of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) draft law, controversial for stipulating a fine for charging someone with corruption without proper evidence; this amendment particularly angered journalists. | Jordan Times

JANUARY 12

Prime Minister Khasawneh met with a group of young men from Tafileh to hear their demands, which include development projects that could provide work opportunities and more university scholarships for the governorate’s youth. | Jordan Times

Jordan's top nuclear official on Wednesday stressed that authorities will not sign any deal for the country's first nuclear reactor without the prior approval of parliament. | Jordan Times

JANUARY 11

Prime Minister Khasawneh said that the government is examining the best means to allow members of the Palestinian Hamas Movement and their families to reside in Jordan without establishing a leadership nor practicing political activity. | Ammon News

One year after its start, Jordan’s protest movement is at a crossroad; despite changes, activists believe that the movement’s core demands—elected government and senate and institutional guarantees against the interference of security agencies in public life—have yet to be fulfilled. | Jordan Times; Haaretz

One of the kingdom’s last “jihadist” leaders remaining in prison, Abu Mohammed Tahawi, was released yesterday; this marked what activists hope will be the start of a new era between decision makers and the group. | Jordan Times

JANUARY 10

Jordan’s next municipal elections are expected to be held in the middle of this year; no date has been set yet for parliamentary elections. | Jordan Times; Jordan Times

The government set a plan to communicate and consult with all political parties in connection with the reform agenda; officials dismissed allegations that the government is limiting its dialogue to the Islamic Action Front. | Jordan Times

JANUARY 9

King Abdullah met with thirteen former prime ministers who led the country’s governments consecutively since 1971, seeking their support and input on enacting necessary legislation for the comprehensive reform process. | Jordan Times

The Central Bank of Jordan announced that the general public prosecutor ordered the seizure of all assets belonging to former Fatah member Muhammad Dahlan over unresolved corruption charges leveled against him in the West Bank. | Ammon News; Maan News Agency

JANUARY 6

Prime Minister Khasawneh met with Muslim Brotherhood representatives “in a positive atmosphere” with “substantive discussions;” this is part of a series of meetings the government is holding to hear ideas on political reform efforts. | Jordan Times; Ammon News

Jordan’s youth movements canceled massive protests scheduled for today amid signs of a breakthrough between reformists and authorities; instead they will gather in their local communities to encourage the government to make progress in enacting reforms and combating corruption. | Jordan Times

JANUARY 5

Pro-reform activists are saying that it is going to be a “hot Friday,” describing the rally planned for this weekend to mark the first anniversary of the start of the protest movement in the kingdom; their march will then turn into an “open sit-in.” | Jordan Times

Jordanians in Iraqi prisons started a hunger strike protesting harsh prison conditions and demanding fair trials; about 50 Jordanians jailed in Iraq on political charges are receiving harsh treatment from prison authorities. | Jordan Times

JANUARY 4

Opposition parties and coalitions on Tuesday issued statements announcing that they will study and adopt a new strategy to “speed up and stimulate reform efforts”; the movement reiterated a commitment to peaceful protests. | Jordan Times

JANUARY 3

Over 5,000 Islamists converged in downtown Amman on Friday in response to an attack against a Muslim Brotherhood-led march in Mafraq the previous week; the Lower House on Monday denounced the march, calling it a “provocative military parade.” | Ammon News

The Islamic Action Front announced that they will not participate in an Islamic conference in Iran in protest of Iran's supportive policies toward Syrian regime. | Ammon News

DECEMBER 20

The six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council announced that they will extend financial grants to Jordan and Morocco at the conclusion of the 32nd Gulf Summit being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. | Ammon News

Convicted business tycoon Khalid Shaheen allegedly returned nearly JD 12 million to the state treasury from funds he received in return for brokering the financing of Al Disi water conveyance project. | Ammon News

The public sector pensions bill is expected to reach JD1 billion in 2012, which is over 14 per cent of the JD6.8 billion budget, according to Finance Minister Umayya Toukan. | Jordan Times

DECEMBER 19

The Jordanian Islamist movement called for the formation of an emergency government to carry out “urgent reforms” to overcome political, economic and social “crises” currently facing the country, and reiterated its demands for wider constitutional amendments. | Jordan Times

U.S. economic assistance to Jordan next year is expected to maintain its 2011 levels at a value of $660 million, which will include $360 million in economic aid and the remaining $300 million will be in the form of military assistance. | Jordan Times

An Egyptian pipeline carrying gas to Jordan was bombed on Sunday for the tenth time this year, but no fire erupted because the line that runs through North Sinai was already disabled. | Reuters

DECEMBER 16

The Jordanian Islamist movement called for the formation of an emergency government to carry out “urgent reforms” to overcome political, economic and social “crises” currently facing the country, and reiterated its demands for wider constitutional amendments. | Jordan Times

DECEMBER 15

The Opposition Parties Higher Coordination Committee issued a statement criticizing the state budget draft law for the fiscal year 2012, describing it as "risky and difficult to implement," and that the budget was estimated based on projected levels of foreign aid that may decrease. | Jordan Times

Prosecutors launched the probe into the “casino file” case concerning money lost when a deal that the first government of former PM Bakhit signed with an investor in 2007 to build a casino at the Dead Sea went sour and a compromise deal was made with the investor. | Jordan Times

The Lower House passed the Landlords and Tenants Draft Law, controversial because it gives landlords the right to order widows and divorcees and their children to vacate rented houses three years after the death of the original tenant (husband) or after the divorce. | Jordan Times; Jordan Times

DECEMBER 14

Finance Minister Umayya Toukan said that government subsidies will likely be delivered to targeted segments of the population through direct cash payments rather than smart cards to avoid forgery. | Jordan Times

Jordan will reiterate its position regarding the implementation of economic sanctions on Syria during the Arab foreign ministers meeting in Cairo—that the sanctions will have a negative impact on the local economy. | Jordan Times

Former Amman mayor Omar Maani was indicted yesterday for “failure to perform his official duties” and the court turned down a bail request filed by his lawyers after his detention for 14 days was ordered pending more investigation in the case. | Jordan Times

DECEMBER 13

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) President Samih Bino said that he is not an advocate of the controversial Article 23 of the ACC draft law and stressed the need to make more important amendments to the legislation to grant the ACC a broader jurisdiction. | Jordan Times

The ex-mayor of Amman, Omar Maani, was apprehended on Tuesday as a public prosecutor decided to detain him for 15 days pending investigation into charges of abuse of public office. | Ammon News

Israeli settlers raided the Jordanian borders in protest over Amman's involvement in a dispute over a footbridge to Jerusalem's al-Aqsa Mosque; about 30 Israelis crossed the security fence and entered a closed military zone on the border of the West Bank and Jordan. | Ammon News

DECEMBER 12

The government presented the 2012 state budget draft law on Sunday outlining a budget with an overall expenditure of JD6.8 billion and an estimated deficit of JD1.027 billion, or 4.6 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP). | Jordan Times

Residents protested on Saturday in Qatraneh, south of Amman, and blocked the Aqaba-Amman international road, claiming that state lands had been taken from the locals after they reclaimed it, and sold to an investor; police have arrested 8 people involved in the riots. | Ammon News; Ammon News

Hundreds of Syrian citizens attempted to storm the Syrian Embassy in Amman claiming that five Syrian nationals were beaten inside the embassy on Sunday morning when they entered the building wearing the Syrian revolution flag; security forces cordoned off the building. | Ammon News

DECEMBER 8

More than 3,200 Aqaba Port Corporation employees started a work stoppage yesterday, which effectively shut down the corporation, after the APC's board of directors failed to approve a previously signed agreement with the employees to improve their work conditions. | The Jordan Times

The Senate returned the 2011 draft Anti-Corruption Law to the senate's Legal Affairs Committee; officials from the Jordanian Press Association threatened to resign if controversial article 23 passes, which stipulates hefty fines on anyone who accuses another of corruption without proof. | Ammon News

DECEMBER 7

In response to the Royal Hashemite Court's disclosure of treasury lands registered in King Abdullah’ name, 17 Members of Parliament called for forming a parliamentary committee to probe state lands registered in the names of former officials for suspected corruption. | Ammon News

DECEMBER 6

The Royal Court said that the registration of treasury lands in the name of King Abdullah was meant to expedite national development projects; a significant part of the lands have been transferred to state agencies to be invested for developmental purposes. | Jordan Times

Jordan officially requested to be excluded from implementing Arab League sanctions on Syria to avoid possible damage to the Kingdom’s interests. | Jordan Times

DECEMBER 5

According to the Foreign Ministry, Jordan asked the Arab League ministerial committee in Doha to exclude Jordan's trade and aviation sectors from the sanctions. Jordan supports the League’s decisions, but believes the sanctions will harm Jordan’s interests. Jordanian officials also struck down the possibility of establishing a buffer zone along the border with Syria. | Daily Star; Jordan Times

Jordan’s Lower House made changes to the Landlords and Tenants Law, removing a controversial provision that makes it obligatory for tenants to vacate the leased property, the Jordan News Agency reported. Lawmakers agreed on an amendment to Article 2, which granted the tenants who hold lease contracts signed before August 31, 2000 the right to continue using the rented property even if the contract has expired. | Jordan Times

DECEMBER 2

More than a thousand Jordanian protesters demonstrated Friday in central Amman calling for the country to be saved from corruption and demanding regime reforms. "Saving Jordan from corruption is a national duty," read a banner carried by the protesters, including opposition Islamists and youth groups, who marched from Al-Husseini mosque to the nearby city hall in the city center. | Daily Star

The government of Prime Minister Awn Khasawneh on Thursday won the House vote of confidence, gaining the support of around 76 percent of the total number of deputies present. Of the 117 MPs present at yesterday’s session, 89 deputies voted “yea”, 25 voted “nay” and three abstained. | Jordan Times

DECEMBER 1

The government referred the general budget draft law and the draft law covering the budgets of independent public agencies for the fiscal year 2012 to the Lower House. | Jordan Times

The “Public Coalition for Reforms" is planning a demonstration under the banner “Friday of Salvation” in Amman and other cities to protest the lack of a real will for reform, the Media commission of the pro-reforms movements announced. | Ammon News

NOVEMBER 30

King Abdullah held talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin to discuss efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East and the challenges facing the region. | Jordan Times

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas and Israeli opposition leader Tzipi Livni met in Amman for talks about the peace process, Palestinian and Israeli officials said. | Al-Arabiya

NOVEMBER 29

Following the meeting between King Abdullah II of Jordan and Israeli president Shimon Peres, the palace released a statement said that the king and Peres discussed the “ways of surmounting the obstacles that impede the revival of peace talks,” with the king calling on Israel to stop settlement building in the West Bank. | New York Times; AFP; Jordan Times

The State Security Court (SSC) released 16 residents of Salt out of a total of 32 individuals arrested during the riots that took place on November 27. | Ammon News

NOVEMBER 21

King Abdullah II arrived in Ramallah for talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss peace efforts and regional developments. | Ammon News; VOA

The Jordanian Ministry of Municipalities announced a number of changes to the electoral system, including a return to the municipalities' voting districting that was adopted in the 2007 municipal elections and the introduction of a ballot for each voter based on the numbers of seats in the Municipal Council rather than the one-person, one-vote system used in 2007. | Ammon News

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Jordan announced that land has been designated in Jordan to set up a refugee camp in Mafraq for refugees fleeing unrest in Syria. The UNHCR is working with the Jordanian Ministry of Interior. | Jerusalem Post

NOVEMBER 18

More than 1,000 Jordanians took part in a protest in central Amman called by opposition Islamists pushing for political reform and an end to corruption. | AFP

Turkey and Jordan, backed by Western and Arab powers, are preparing to set up two “safe zones” in southern and northern Syria for civilians inside Syria, diplomats said. | Daily Star

NOVEMBER 17

Riots erupted in the northern city of Ramtha after police announced the death of a young man while in police detention. The police report states that the man was found dead after he hanged himself in his prison cell, but relatives believe that policemen beat him to death. His name has been reported as Najm Zoubi and as Ahmad Azayzeh. | Ammon News; AP

At a press conference, Minister of Public Sector Development Khleif al-Khawaldeh explained that the projected salary restructuring plan for the 64 state agencies as well as the 47 public independent institutions, except for the Central Bank, will affect around 200,000 employees. Under the proposed plan, the salaries of workers in state-run agencies will increase. | Jordan Times

NOVEMBER 16

According to Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications and Government Spokesperson Rakan Majali, the Jordanian government has embarked on dialogue with the political groups including opposition groups, with the first meeting taking place between Prime Minster Awn Khasawneh and leaders of the National Front for Reform (NFR). | Jordan Times

The Islamic Action Front issued a statement calling on the Jordanian government to recognize the Syrian National Council as the representative of the Syrian people. | Fox News

According to Jordan's Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammed al-Kayed, Syria apologized to Jordan over an attack on the Jordanian embassy in Damascus. | Ammon News; Jordan Times; Xinhua

NOVEMBER 15

Jordan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Kayed said the Jordanian embassy in Damascus was attacked after Jordan’s King Abdullah II criticized the Syrian president’s violent crackdown on protests. | Arab News; Washington Post; Huffington Post

Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications and Government Spokesperson Rakan Majali said that Jordan will work on releasing all political prisoners as soon as possible. | Ammon News

A group of Jordanian tribes announced the formation of the Jordanian Tribal Coalition for Reform in an effort to unify mobilization calling for political and economic reforms. The tribal coalition includes seven tribal committees representing Jordan's largest East-Banker tribes, including Bani Sakher, Bani Hassan, D'ajaa, Ajarmah, and the National Movement for Reform representing the Northern Badia district. | Ammon News

NOVEMBER 14

Jordan's King Abdullah called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to stand down, in an interview with the BBC. Ali Abul Sukkar, president of the Islamic Action Front’s Shoura Council, called on the government to withdraw Jordan’s ambassador from Syria in order to fully implement the Arab League decision. | BBC; Washington Post; CNN; Ammon News

Daniel Glaser, the Treasury Department's assistant secretary who investigates terrorism financing, held talks on November 13 with senior Jordanian officials and banking executives on efforts to enforce economic sanctions against Syria, a U.S. embassy statement said. | Ammon News

The Islamic Movement called for a mass protest on November 18 under the name “Friday of Insistence” to address their demands for political and economic reforms. | Ammon News

NOVEMBER 10

An Egyptian pipeline delivering gas to Jordan and Israel was hit by an explosion Thursday night, making this the seventh time that the pipeline has been attacked this year. | Ammon News

Pro-reform activists restricted their activities over Eid al Adha to a leafleting campaign in Amman’s major districts Saturday night; the leaflets described alleged corruption in the Kingdom’s privatization policy, and demanded that education and health services should be free of charge. | Jordan Times

NOVEMBER 4

A senior official said that Hamas leader Khaled Mishaal is set to visit Jordan after the Eid al-Adha holiday as the government and the Islamist group prepare for their first high-level meetings in over a decade. | Jordan Times

Activists pledged to continue demonstrations during Eid Al Adha from Amman to Karak, marking the 11th consecutive month of weekly protests; organizers say they want to take advantage of the week-long holiday to host a series of lectures. | Jordan Times

NOVEMBER 3

A Jordanian army prosecutor says the country's military court freed 15 suspected Islamists on bail as a goodwill gesture ahead of the Muslim holiday, out of 103 on trial for charges of terrorism. | Ammon News

Prime Minister Khasawneh said that no discussions are taking place concerning the return of Hamas’s offices to the Kingdom but said that the government wants normal relations with all parties; this comes after the PM said that the decision to expel Hamas leaders “was a constitutional and political mistake”. | Jordan Times

The Anti-Corruption Commission Board referred the case of a convicted business tycoon to the new government after an investigation revealed legal violation in the previous government’s granting him permission to travel abroad last February, which sparked major controversy. | Ammon News

NOVEMBER 1

The Islamic Action Front (IAF), Jordan’s political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, will reconsider its boycott of the upcoming municipal elections in light of a recent government move to delay the elections in order to review the preparations. | Jordan Times

According to the minister of Planning and International Cooperation, foreign economic assistance to Jordan for 2011 is expected to reach $2.8 billion. | Jordan Times

Uranium exploration in the central region of Jordan placed uranium reserve estimates at over 20,000 tons; if deemed feasible, construction on an open-pit mine is expected to begin in 2013, with mining activities to commence as early as 2015, according to energy officials. | Jordan Times

OCTOBER 31

The government is currently reviewing the salary restructuring plan for public sector employees to ensure that it is being properly implemented and does not intend to cancel or suspend the plan. | Jordan Times

A Jordanian source reported that Hamas’s Political Bureau Chairman, Khaled Mishaal, is to visit Amman soon for a series of meetings with Jordanian officials topped by King Abdullah II, signaling the return of political relations between Hamas and Jordan. | Ammon News

Thousands of Jordanians have taken to the streets across the country, except in Amman, to demand political and economic reforms. Activists welcome the new government but want to maintain pressure to ensure that reform is carried out. | Ammon News; Gulf Today; Jordan Times

OCTOBER 28

Activists are pledging to go forward with pro-reform protests this Friday across the country, vowing to maintain pressure on decision makers to follow through on reform pledges; activists claim the government change falls “far short” of their political and economic demands. | Jordan Times

OCTOBER 27

The municipal elections will be conducted next year and not on December 27 as scheduled by the former government; this follows controversy over the creation of new municipalities. | Jordan Times

King Abdullah said on Tuesday that his country is Israel's last ally in the region and warned that Egypt may dissolve its peace treaty with Tel Aviv. | Maan News Agency

Jordan’s King Abdullah unveiled a new power-sharing system for selecting future cabinets where he will consult with parliament on the formation of government. He also pledged that as of the next general elections his country would shift to a parliamentary system. | Arab News; AP

OCTOBER 26

A Royal Decree dissolved the 60-member Upper House of Parliament yesterday and another decree appointed the 60 members of the new senate, maintaining Taher Masri as president of the senate. Parliament will reconvene today. | Jordan Times; Ammon News

Jordan’s opposition expressed pessimism about the new government’s ability to make substantial progress in the reform process and reiterated their demands for an elected government and serious anti-corruption measures. | Jordan Times; AFP

While repairs on the Jordan-Egypt gas pipeline have been completed after it was sabotaged in late September, pumping has been held up over an amended agreement that ended a favorable pricing structure whereby Jordan received gas at less than half the international rate. | Jordan Times

OCTOBER 25

Fifteen Ministers of Parliament will not give a vote of confidence to the new government, criticizing the new cabinet, specifically the economics ministers. | Ammon News

Registration for Jordan’s upcoming municipal elections ended today with over 2.2 million voters registered. | Ammon News

OCTOBER 24

Prime Minister Awn Khasawneh and his new cabinet were sworn-in today in the Royal Hashemite Court. | Ammon News; AFP

Protests continued in Jordan on Friday calling for reform and an end to corruption. | Jordan Times

The Islamic Action Front turned down posts in the new government amidst reports of a division within the Muslim Brotherhood and the Islamic Action Front over whether Islamists could best advance their reform agenda from within or outside the government. | Jordan Times; Jordan Times

OCTOBER 21

Prime minister-designate Awn Khasawneh discussed the new government with Jordan’s Islamist leaders on Thursday night. The Islamic Action Front expressed satisfaction with the new prime minister’s proposals. | Jordan Times

OCTOBER 20

Prime Minister-designate Awn Khasawneh said that he will not accept interference in selecting his ministerial team. He also noted that the municipal elections may be postponed to draft a new municipalities law and may revisit the constitutional amendments, including articles pertaining to the King’s powers. | Jordan Times

The Muslim Brotherhood said that before deciding on the nature of cooperation with the new government they want to be sure that Prime Minister-designate Awn Khasawneh is willing to carry out genuine political reforms. | Jordan Times

OCTOBER 19

A senior official said that Prime Minister designate Awn Khasawneh is in talks with the opposition and is expected to present the composition of his government to King Abdullah on Saturday. The opposition also welcomed his call for open dialogue as a positive sign. | AFP; Jordan Times

Media activists on Tuesday called on the new government to withdraw the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) draft law, which fines anyone who spreads rumors of corruption without “solid facts”. Journalists consider this law to be a set-back for press freedom. | Jordan Times

The Jordanian Customs Department sealed an agreement with its Saudi counterpart to facilitate trade exchange and control the transfer of passenger vehicles, trucks and data on goods. | Ammon News

OCTOBER 18

After the governmental shake-up this week, observers said that the incoming government’s top priority should be restoring citizens’ trust by having a clear political agenda with a timeline that corresponds to the demands of the street. | Jordan Times

Prime Minister Designate Awn Khasawneh welcomed the participation of Islamists in his government, stressing that he will keep channels open with opposition movements in an effort to reach consensus on various political reform platforms. He also announced that he will form the new government in the next few days. | Ammon News; Ammon News

OCTOBER 17

Ayatollah Khamenei warned that any “inappropriate action” by America in response to the supposed plot against the Saudi ambassador will be met with a decisive response from the Iranian people. | Enduring America; New York Times; Reuters

The government reported that about 75 percent of eligible voters have registered for the municipal elections that will be held on December 27. Meanwhile local residents continue to demand the formation of new municipalities. | Jordan Times; Ammon News

Over 30 people were injured in riots on Saturday afternoon in Salhoub, a city north of Amman, after local youth attacked a group of pro-reform activists holding a sit-in. | Jordan Times; Ammon News

OCTOBER 13

The Jordanian government may impose an additional 8 percent tax on fuel derivatives to finance the cost of newly established municipalities which are projected to reach over JD 100 million. Last year the government attempted imposed a 6 percent increase but repealed it under popular pressure. | Ammon News

Jordan experienced road blocks, shootings, and threats of boycott from residents demanding their own municipalities be established ahead of the Municipal Elections. Prime Minister Bakhit called an emergency cabinet meeting yesterday evening to discuss solutions. | Ammon News; Ammon News

OCTOBER 12

The government announced that municipal elections will be held on December 27. As of midday yesterday 1.12 million Jordanians had registered to vote. | Jordan Times

A group of masked men with firearms blocked the Queen Alia International Airport highway to protest the merger of municipalities. Ahead of December’s municipal elections the government has been separating and merging municipalities after resident protests. | Ammon News

OCTOBER 11

Libya’s former foreign minister, Moussa Koussa, obtained Jordanian citizenship and will be relocating from Qatar to Amman. | Jordan Times

Political activists issued a statement yesterday expressing “loss of hope in the reform process” and called on authorities to form a national salvation government to lead the country to stability. On Sunday a senior official said that the Royal Court is open to dialogue with the opposition, without preconditions | Jordan Times; Jordan Times

Jordan’s minister of finance said that 2011 is proving to be Jordan’s most difficult fiscal year yet and that grants worth JD 1.024 billion curbed taking “difficult” decisions. | Jordan Times

OCTOBER 7

Thousands of activists marched in downtown Amman today in a pro-reform demonstration calling for the ouster of the Jordanian government for endemic corruption. Protests entered their tenth month today and the rally attracted a cross-section of political views from Islamists to leftists. | Ammon News; Jordan Times

As dozens of its members stand trial in the State Security Court for clashes in Zarqa, Jordan’s Salafist movement announced an organizational shake-up as part of a drive to denounce violence, setting its eyes on political participation in Jordan. | Jordan Times

Jordanian judge Hatem Abu Azzam refused to hand a Jordanian citizen over to Israeli authorities yesterday. Israeli accused this Jordanian of murder, but the Jordanian courts ruled in his favor. | Ammon News

OCTOBER 6

Legislators, political parties, and activists view the rapid separation of municipalities before elections at the request of residents to be chaotic and unreliable and have called for the postponement of elections, set to take place in late December. The government responded that postponing elections is not an option. | Jordan Times

OCTOBER 5

A coalition of Jordanian opposition parties accused Prime Minister Bakhit’s government of not being serious about political reform and vowing to maintain the necessary pressure to achieve change. | Arab News

An oil extraction agreement signed with a British company in March has been officially approved. The project is expected to create about 700 jobs directly and 2,500 indirectly while reducing Jordan’s dependence on foreign oil imports. | Jordan Times

Teachers’ salaries in the kingdom are set to increase under the public sector salary restructuring plan. This comes after a report published by the Phoenix Center for Economics and Informatics Studies said that Jordan’s teachers are still struggling with low pay and exploitation. | Jordan Times; Jordan Times

OCTOBER 3

In an effort to quell controversy over the Anti-Corruption Law, King Abdullah moved article 23 of the law to the Penal Code, stressing that it addresses character defamation, not press freedoms. Article 23 fines those who accuse others of corruption without enough evidence, and journalists see this is a threat to press freedom. | Jordan Times

After protestors opposed the constitutional amendments as inadequate, the king approved the constitutional changes that were debated and endorsed by the two houses of parliament. | Arab News

Police dispersed protestors in Jerash with teargas after crowds threw stones at a “pro-reform” sit-in held in solidarity with former MP and opposition leader Laith Shbeilat. Shbeilat himself was also attacked while making a speech criticizing the slow pace of reforms. | Ammon News; AFP; Jordan Times

SEPTEMBER 30

A Royal Decree adjourned the Parliament’s extraordinary session today and postponed the ordinary session until October 26, effectively dodging deliberations on article 23 of the Anti-Corruption Law which criminalizes corruption allegations. The endorsement of this article caused a public outcry. | Ammon News; Yahoo News

Jordanian authorities permitted Khaled Mishaal, the head of Hamas’s politburo, to enter the country after his exile since 1999 to be with his sick mother. | Jordan Times

About 4,000 Jordanians demonstrated in central Amman today, condemning the government and the parliament and accusing them of “protecting corruption.” | Al Arabiya

SEPTEMBER 29

The Senate endorsed the 41 proposed constitutional amendments referred from the Lower House yesterday. They will now be forwarded to King Abdullah for approval. | Jordan Times

Jordan and the United States signed five grant agreements worth $359.3 million, 52 percent of which will go to reducing the budget deficit. The grants will also go toward education, health, and economic development, as well as combatting poverty. | Jordan Times

The government dismissed as untrue accusations that it pressured the Lower House to endorse the anti-corruption law. Article 23 fines people who accuse others of corruption without enough evidence, and journalists see this as a threat to their freedom. | Jordan Times

SEPTEMBER 27

Voter registration for the Municipal Elections will begin on Saturday, while the Ministry of Municipal Affairs continues to organize the monitoring and registration process. | Ammon News

Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit said that a proportional representation election system is likely to create a culture of voting on platforms rather than family ties. But the government is trying to tackle technical difficulties that are likely to surface from this system; no details were given. | Jordan Times

Students with Makruma Scholarships, allocated to students from underprivileged areas, say that they were forced to sign a pledge not to join political parties nor conduct political activities on university campuses. | Ammon News

SEPTEMBER 26

On Thursday the Lower House of Parliament voted to maintain the jurisdiction of the State Security Court over all treason cases, all narcotics-related cases, and counterfeiting, after rejecting an amendment by the Lower House Legal Committee to limit its mandate to cases of high treason, terrorism, espionage, and drug trafficking. | Jordan Times

The parliament wrapped up its debates after endorsing all 41 constitutional amendments proposed by the Royal Committee on Constitutional Review, with some changes. The Senate will begin deliberating on the amendments on Tuesday. | Ammon News; Jordan Times; Ammon News

On Friday, hundreds of protestors demonstrated across Jordan calling for the resignation of Bakhit’s government, the dissolution of the Lower House of Parliament, and the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador from Amman. | Ammon News; Jordan Times

SEPTEMBER 23

On Thursday the Lower House of Parliament voted to maintain the jurisdiction of the State Security Court over all treason cases, all narcotics-related cases, and counterfeiting, after rejecting an amendment by the Lower House Legal Committee to limit its mandate to cases of high treason, terrorism, espionage, and drug trafficking. | Jordan Times

SEPTEMBER 22

The Lower House endorsed a constitutional provision that should effectively limit the possibility of an arbitrary House dissolution. It stipulates that a prime minister must resign and cannot be re-appointed if the House is dissolved under his term. |  Jordan Times

Jordan officially applied for membership to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in order to receive support for the ongoing democratic reforms. | Jordan Times

The former governor of Jordan’s Central Bank, Faris Sharaf, says that he was ousted by force after armed police surrounded the bank. Opposition parties are demanding that Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit reveal the real reasons for his ouster. | Reuters; Ammon News

SEPTEMBER 21

A WikiLeaks cable reveals a growing rift in Jordanian-U.S. relations over Jordan’s nuclear energy program after the United States went back on a standard cooperation agreement for the sake of one that includes more extensive monitoring of Jordan’s program. | Ammon News

The minister of Energy & Mineral Resources announced that Jordan will start producing uranium by 2013 and generating electricity from nuclear power by 2019. | Ammon News

The government is set to submit four draft laws to parliament next month concerning elections, the independent commission to manage parliamentary polls, political parties, and the constitutional court. The government is still in the process of defining the appropriate electoral system. | Jordan Times

SEPTEMBER 20

King Abdullah accused Israel of pressuring states like France and South Korea to not sell nuclear technology to Jordan in an effort to block Jordan’s nuclear energy program. Israel denies this. | Ammon News

After the Parliamentary Bloc for Change and Justice demanded the government disclose reasons for the decision to oust the Central Bank of Jordan’s governor, Faris Sharaf, Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit announced that Sharaf’s solo decisions repeatedly clashed with the government’s vision. | Ammon News; Ammon News

Two tribal coalitions representing two of Jordan’s largest tribes will form a committee to unite nationwide efforts for reform and fighting corruption. | Ammon News

SEPTEMBER 19

Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit and the National Dialogue Committee are discussing a new voting system, which includes the abolition of one-person, one-vote and a plan to boost popular engagement in political activities. | Gulf Today

A Jordanian delegation flew to New York on Saturday to attend the 66th session of the UN General Assembly, where King Abdullah will deliver an address regarding developments in the Arab world. | Jordan Times

Jordan’s Central Bank governor, Faris Sharaf, resigned on Sunday and was replaced by his deputy, Mohammad Shaheen. Some observers speculate that Sharaf resigned over economic appeasement policies that have widened the deficit since the Arab Spring began. | Reuters; Jordan Times

SEPTEMBER 16

New legislation is expected to grant the Judicial Council full jurisdiction over all judicial processes, including prosecution, judicial appointments, and judicial inspections. | Jordan Times

The Lower House of Parliament endorsed six constitutional amendments during Thursday’s session, bringing the number of approved amendments to eight. | Jordan Times

Hundreds of Jordanians protested in front of the Israeli embassy in Amman, demanding that Jordan expel the Israeli diplomatic mission. The evacuated diplomats are set to return at the end of the weekend. | Ammon News; Jordan Times

SEPTEMBER 15

Israel evacuated its embassy in Amman on Wednesday evening ahead of a protest set to take place today in front of the embassy calling on the Jordanian government to expel the Israeli diplomatic mission. | Ammon News; AP

About 200 Jordanians protested at the US embassy on Wednesday in response to a Wikileaks cable which suggests covert US plans to turn Jordan into a home for Palestinians. | Jordan Times; Associated Press

The Lower House of Parliament passed two articles of the draft constitutional amendments after a debate ensued over whether or not the deputies are entitled to suggest more amendments than those proposed by the committee appointed by the king. The final decision reached was that they cannot. | Jordan Times

SEPTEMBER 14

Finance Minister Mohammad Abu Hammour announced that Jordan’s public debt has exceeded the legal limit of 60% of the GDP due to “exceptional events” in 2011. Jordan will pay JD500 million this year in interest payments alone. Meanwhile Germany wrote off 27 million euros of Jordan’s debt payment. | Jordan Times; Arab News

The Lower House endorsed the budget supplement which will cover the JD100 dispensed to each serving and retired public sector employee (amounting to JD80 million) as well as JD 25 million for governorate development. Deputies also called for public spending control and austerity measures. | Jordan Times

Jordan’s Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said that while his country supports the Palestinian statehood bid at the UN, it prefers direct negotiations to reach this end. | AP

SEPTEMBER 13

Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit inaugurated a Jordanian consulate in Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, and signed several agreements and memoranda of understanding as Jordan seeks economic and investment opportunities in Iraqi Kurdistan. | Jordan Times

The Gulf Cooperation Council discussed a five-year economic development plan to support Jordan, and while a working group was formed to study the procedure for Jordan’s accession to the GCC, itthey did not form a timetable. | Gulf Today

Responding to a report in Al Arab Al Yawm that charged the government with handing lawmakers checks and cash payments, the government acknowledged a years-long norm of extending assistance to needy citizens through deputies, insisting that it was not meant to bribe parliamentarians. | Jordan Times

The Guardian obtained confidential state papers from 2007, which indicate that Bakhit personally authorized a secret contract to build an extra-legal casino complex, despite his public denial of involvement. | Guardian

SEPTEMBER 8

After a garment factory worker reported to authorities that she was raped three times by her boss, an international campaign was launched that may force the government to improve conditions in an industry that is both crucial to Jordan’s economy and to its relations with the United States. | Daily Star

Despite criticism from some Lower House members, a joint session of parliament passed the 2011 Municipalities Law. | Ammon News

A joint session of parliament passed the 2011 temporary General Pardon Law, with the Senate rejecting a Lower House amendment to include premeditated murder in the pardon, provided that personal rights are dropped. | Jordan Times; Ammon News

SEPTEMBER 7

Jordan will reopen its embassy in Tripoli in the coming days. | Jordan Times

Officials announced that the public-sector restructuring scheme will be set to go into effect starting January 1, 2012, and that most of the preparations for it have been completed. | Jordan Times; Ammon News

A national survey by the Center for Strategic Studies shows that the government of Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit has a high approval rating. The study also revealed that opinion leaders (such as journalists and heads of professional unions) and everyday citizens differ most in their opinions on reform. | Ammon News; Jordan News Agency

SEPTEMBER 6

The Lower House Legal Committee is holding discussions over several days to review the constitutional amendments with various segments of society, including academics and legal experts. | Jordan Times

Jordanian women continue to protest, calling for the right to grant Jordanian citizenship to their children and to add the term “gender” in the non-discrimination article of the reformed constitution, which includes race, language, and religion but excludes gender. | Ammon News; Jordan Times

Continuing with its plans for a broad reform initiative, the Jordan government referred eighteen corruption cases to the courts and to parliament. |

AUGUST 30

The Senate’s Legal Affairs Committee once again rejected the Lower House’s 2011 Municipalities Draft Law amendments, stating that the inclusion of “legal councils” as part of the text necessitates a comprehensive revision of all articles. | Jordan Times

Jordan and Egypt will sign an agreement to resume natural gas supplies next month, stipulating higher costs, as Jordan previously received natural gas from Egypt at half the market price. Meanwhile, Jordan continues to seek alternative energy sources. | Zawya

AUGUST 29

The first meeting on Jordan’s accession to the GCC is set to take place on September 11-12 in Jedda, Saudi Arabia, between Jordan Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh and his Gulf counterparts. | Jordan News Agency

On Sunday the Lower House’s Legal Committee opened debate on the draft constitutional amendments and next week will begin holding morning and evening working sessions daily to complete their task. They will be consulting with experts, including law professors and union chiefs. | Jordan News Agency; Jordan Times

Criticizing the government for wasting an opportunity to make sufficient changes to the constitution, the Islamist opposition on Sunday called on the Lower House to properly amend the constitution; their primary demand is for an elected rather than an appointed senate. | Jordan Times

AUGUST 26

The Israeli Defense Ministry charged a Jordanian national, Hamzah Dabbas, with planning to kidnap Israeli citizens and attack the Israeli embassy in Amman. Dabbas was arrested as he entered the West Bank last month. | Jordan Times

Reviewing the 2011 Municipalities Draft Law, members of parliament decided to set literacy as the minimum requirement for municipal candidates, while scrapping the bachelor’s degree requirement. | Jordan Times

AUGUST 25

The cabinet officially endorsed the constitutional amendments with provisions related to questioning the constitutionality of laws and parliamentary votes of confidence and no-confidence. | Jordan Times

About 200 demonstrators gathered in front of parliament on Tuesday night to protest the exclusion of the word “gender” in Article 6 of the proposed constitutional amendments concerning the illegality of discrimination. Activists say they will step up their activities to demand full rights. | Jordan Times

Jordan is set to join in efforts to re-build post-Gadhafi Libya, having already appointed a diplomatic representative at the council in Benghazi. | Jordan Times

AUGUST 24

The National Center for Human Rights said that the proposed amendments to the Press and Publications Law and the Anti-Corruption Commission Law will actually impose additional restrictions on freedom of speech and freedom of the press. | Jordan Times

The Lower House Administrative Committee rejected the amendments made by senators to the 2011 Municipalities Draft Law, including the elimination of local councils and the scrapping of a provision that stipulates at least a bachelor’s degree as a requirement for GAM council candidates. | Jordan Times

The State Security Court rejected a bail request for 50 men who are standing trial for plotting terrorist attacks and inciting riots and sectarianism in Zarqa last April. | Jordan Times

AUGUST 23

The first round of talks concerning Jordan’s GCC admission is set to be held between September 10–15 when foreign minister Nasser Judeh will meet his Gulf counterparts in Saudi Arabia to outline the road map for the kingdom’s admission. | Gulf Times

To help Jordan overcome current difficult economic conditions, Germany will sign a debt-for-development agreement worth 27 million euros with the kingdom before the end of the month. | Jordan Times

AUGUST 22

The lower house of Parliament passed the Anti-Corruption Law, scrapping its defamation provision in favor of greater press freedom as well as enabling the Anti-Corruption Committee to recover embezzled funds from inside or outside the country. | Jordan News Agency; Jordan Times

The National Front for Reform (NFR) responded to the constitutional amendments, calling the project a positive step but saying that it does not correspond with the current requirements. | Jordan Times

The cabinet began discussing proposed constitutional amendments on Sunday and will continue to do so until Tuesday. The draft law is expected to be adopted in the next few days. | Jordan Times

AUGUST 19

Islamist movements took to the streets on Wednesday night, protesting the proposed constitutional amendments. Protestors say that the amendments failed on key demands, including the formation of a government based on parliamentary majority. They also announced plans to hold a protest Friday night. | Jordan Times; Jordan Times

The Senate endorsed the 2011 Municipalities Draft Law which raises the women’s quota and gives greater independence and funding for municipalities. | Jordan Times

Minister of Agriculture Samir Habashneh called for higher state presence in the market as well as greater regulation as a solution to the instability of the local market. | Jordan Times

AUGUST 18

Jordan awaits the World Bank’s decision on receiving a $250 million loan next month to support its budget in light of the social and economic reform programs. | Jordan Times

The European Commission announced that it will provide Jordan with a 71 million euro assistance package for education and renewable energy initiatives as well as implementing the European Neighborhood Policy Action Plan. | Jordan Times

Jordan and Turkey renewed their call for an end to violence in Syria and the implementation of reforms in a joint press conference following a meeting between Jordan’s foreign minister and his Turkish counterpart. | Jordan Times

AUGUST 17

Opposition parties welcomed the proposed constitutional amendments with some reservations, announcing that their demands were partially met and fundamental issues—namely parliamentary government—were ignored. | Jordan Times; Jordan Times

Seeking to ease pressure on Jordan’s fragile economy, Finance Minister Abu Hammour called on economists to create a government subsidies program that would support the neediest segment of the population as an alternative to direct support. | Jordan Times

Environmental activists and residents of Mafraq held a sit-in at the Mafraq Municipality on Tuesday to say no to Jordan’s new nuclear energy program, suggesting solar energy as a better alternative. | Jordan Times

AUGUST 16

Opposition parties welcomed the proposed constitutional amendments with some reservations, announcing that their demands were partially met and fundamental issues—namely parliamentary government—were ignored. | Jordan Times; Jordan Times

AUGUST 15

King Abdullah received the suggested constitutional amendments suggested by the Royal Committee on Constitutional Review, and they have been made public. The legislative branch will now have a one-month timeframe to review and adopt legislation, especially those political in nature. | Jordan News Agency; Jordan Times

Eight people were injured on Friday when thugs carrying sticks and knives attacked a pro-reform protest in Karak. Political parties accused security forces and the government of sponsoring these thugs. | Jordan Times

Workers, unionists, and activists created an independent federation of Jordanian trade unions, accusing the current trade union of failing to defend their rights. While the formation of trade unions without prior permission is illegal under the Labor Law, activists insist that international law allows it. | Jordan Times

AUGUST 11

A majority of members of parliament voted against impeaching sixteen ministers in the “casino file” corruption case, where an investigation revealed that various legal violations occurred in a deal to build a casino near the Dead Sea. Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakhit was cleared of all charges. | Jordan Times; Al Jazeera

Ninety-nine “Takfirists” pleaded not guilty at their trial on Wednesday, which adjourned until August 17. | Jordan Times

A study conducted by Al Quds Center for Political Studies revealed that a majority of Jordanians support constitutional amendments. | Jordan Times

AUGUST 10

The urgent aid that Jordan has received from various donor countries will offset losses caused by regional turmoil this year. | Jordan Times

The State Security Court will try 120 defendants today charged with plotting terrorist attacks and inciting riots and sectarianism in April in Zarqa. Authorities are calling this group “fundamentalist takfirists.” | Jordan Times

The Euro-Arab Studies Center conducted a poll finding that citizen opinions on the impact of Jordanian popular movements are split, with slightly over half of people believing that they will lead to democratization and about 45 percent of those polled saying that they will lead to internal strife. | Jordan Times

AUGUST 9

The Jordanian Women’s Union announced the formation of a nongovernmental organization (NGO) coalition that will write the CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) shadow report, which will be presented at the UN in 2010 to the CEDAW committee. | Jordan Times

The number of transiting passengers going through Jordan’s Queen Alia International Airport has increased by 23.5 percent in the first half of 2011. An $800 million terminal will open next year with facilities vital to attracting more transit passengers. | Zawya

AUGUST 8

The Lower House endorsed the 2011 Competitiveness Draft Law authorizing government involvement in pricing food items and market regulation. | Jordan Times

Publishers and editors of news websites called on the Senate to reject amendments approved by the Lower House to the Press and Publications Law, insisting that it does not raise the ceiling on press freedoms. The Center for Defending the Freedom of Journalists also described the law as a mirage. | Jordan Times; Jordan Times

Jordan’s foreign minister announced that the first meeting to discuss Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) membership procedures would start after the Eid al Fitr holiday, dismissing rumors that the meeting was postponed from its original date during Ramadan for anything other than scheduling reasons. | Jordan News Agency

AUGUST 5

Media members are divided on the Press and Publications Law, recently approved by lawmakers, arguing that it minimizes their liberties and affords the government control over news websites. | Jordan Times

Opposition and popular movements will continue their pro-reform activities through the month of Ramadan as marches, sit-ins, and boycotts are set to take place on Friday. | Jordan Times

AUGUST 4

The Lower House passed the Press and Publications Law, under which news websites will be considered newspapers, if they so choose, and will no longer legally fall under the penal code. | Jordan Times

Thousands of people protested against the Syrian regime in front of the Syrian embassy in Amman, calling on Arab leaders to act and for Jordan to expel its Syrian ambassador. | Jordan Times

AUGUST 3

King Abdullah announced that the constitutional amendments will establish elected parliamentary governments and create balance among the three branches of government. The amendments are set to be referred to the government next week. | Jordan Times

Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakhit referred two new Greater Amman Municipality corruption cases to the attorney general’s office, bringing the total number referred in the past two weeks to six cases. | Jordan Times

July 29

Pro-reform protests are set to take place throughout the country on Friday as a new coalition of “northern activists” has taken shape. The protestors are calling for political and economic reforms, fighting corruption, and some stand in opposing the planned nuclear reactor. | The Jordan Times

On a visit to Karak, King Abdullah ordered economic and infrastructural development projects along with JD10 million in financial support to Mutah University. Projects include a craftsman’s zone, housing for the poor, and higher rates of recruitment into the military. | Jordan News Agency; The Jordan Times

July 28

The committee appointed to reform the Jordanian constitution announced that it finalized its amendments and has passed its final draft to King Abdullah for review. Pro-reform youth groups announced that they will protest the “non-democratic manner” of the constitutional amendments on Friday. | Ahram Online; Jordan Times

In a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, President Nicolas Sarkozy provided Jordan with a $900 million aid package to fund development projects for 2011-2013. Target sectors include water, energy, sanitation, transportation, and environment, along with supporting small and medium enterprises. | Jordan Times

July 27

King Abdullah ordered the creation of a JD 150 million fund to develop governorates across the country through job creation and improving services. The fund will operate as a partnership among the government, civil society, and the private sector. | Jordan Times; Jordan Times; Jordan News Agency

The National Center for Human Rights released a report that highlights “imbalances” in public spending in favor of security over health, education, and job creation. The report urges the government to balance its public expenditures. | Jordan Times

July 26

Jordan received a $1 billion grant from Saudi Arabia to help with its budget deficit. In a letter to the Saudi king, King Abdullah praised Riyadh’s support for Jordan’s bid to join the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Meanwhile the senate president met with a Kuwaiti media delegation to discuss reforms and cooperation in support of Jordanian GCC membership. | Zawya; Jordan Times; Jordan News Agency

Geologists are pushing for oil exploration near the eastern city of Azraq, having identified it as a possible oil field. The state is already searching for alternative energy as it imports 97 percent of its energy needs at one-fifth the cost of its GDP. | Jordan Times

July 25

The Lower House of Parliament passed the Teacher’s Association draft law. The most controversial issues resolved were meant to strike a balance between teacher and government demands, including mandatory membership, the ability to join political parties while belonging to the union, and teacher eligibility for membership. | Jordan News Agency; Jordan Times

Jordan’s Senate approved the independent entities’ budget laws and may form a panel of experts to pass proposals with drastic solutions for the current economic conditions. Senators stressed the need to act quickly and create public awareness campaigns to solve Jordan’s debt problems. | Jordan News Agency

Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit held talks with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in Istanbul about enhancing cooperation, focusing on the Palestinian issue. Turkey is interested in following up on Jordan’s reform efforts and increasing mutual cooperation. | Jordan News Agency

July 22

The king publically renounced last Friday’s attack on journalists in Amman. He also expressed a desire to develop a free and responsible media. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit stressed the need for professional security services during the reform process. | Jordan Times; Jordan News Agency

The tourism sector’s contribution to Jordan’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has decreased significantly this year, and analysts are working to amend this problem. A report by the Ministry of Tourism cites regional political turmoil as the primary reason for the decline in non-Arab tourists. | Jordan Times

July 21

A committee announced on Wednesday that individual officers were responsible for a July 15 attack against journalists at a rally where protesters and security officers clashed. The committee requested additional time to identify the officers involved. About 100 people demonstrated at the Interior Ministry, calling the police probe into the attack on journalists “not credible,” and demanded that officials, not individuals, be held accountable. They also called for long-term reforms in security institutions.| Jordan Times; Arab News; CBS News; The National

Activists in Tafileh are planning the southern region’s first open-ended sit-in on Thursday, hoping to re-energize the reform movement. The movement is primarily concerned with corruption. Organizers stressed that this movement has local support and maintains little communication with Amman activists. | Jordan Times

Teacher’s association draft law deliberations continued yesterday, with the majority of Lower House members of parliament voting to make teacher membership mandatory. Controversy erupted over the decision, with opponents arguing that mandatory membership goes against democratic principles and supporters claiming that optional membership would give a certain party the upper hand. | Jordan Times

July 20

Interior Minister Mazen Saket received the report from the committee formed to investigate assaults on journalists by policemen during last Friday’s protest in Amman. The committee will publicly announce the findings today. | Jordan Times

July 19

Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit met with parliamentary members to discuss the economic, social, and political situation in Jordan. Bakhit underlined his government’s efforts to achieve reform. | Jordan News; Jordan Times

Nearly 100 activists gathered in front of the Royal Court on Monday demanding amendments to the current citizenship law. They urged the government to give Jordanian women their citizenship rights on the same basis as men. | Jordan Times

July 18

Some 200 people protested outside the Jordan Press Association in response to a police attack on journalists during a pro-reform demonstration in Amman on Friday. The Lower House also issued a statement on Sunday condemning the assault, supporting all calls for reform. | Jordan News; Jordan Times; Jordan Times

The Lower House endorsed the public agencies budgets draft law for fiscal year 2011 on Sunday. | Jordan Times

July 15

Following a meeting for the Arab Peace Initiative Committee in Doha, Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh reaffirmed his country’s support for the Palestinians in their quest to establish an independent state. | Jordan News

The Jordan Press Association announced preventative measures to ensure the protection of journalists covering pro-reform protests on Friday. | Zawya

July 14

The government stood firm on banning open sit-ins and rallies that could escalate the tensions between the opposition and the government. The March 24th Movement is preparing a rally for Friday. | Jordan Times

Egyptian gas supplies to Jordan are expected to resume within seven to ten days after Egypt repairs its pipeline, which was bombed on Tuesday. | Jordan Times

July 13

Members of the government met with leaders of the Islamic Action Front (IAF) and the Hashed and Jordan Communist parties to discuss ongoing reforms in Jordan. | Jordan Times

July 12

Local authorities in Mafraq denied reports by human rights activists claiming that over 100 Syrian refugees fled into the city through the border last week. | Jordan Times

For the second time in two weeks, a gas pipeline from Egypt to Jordan in the Sinai Peninsula was bombed, cutting supplies to Jordan and Israel. | Ma’an News

July 11

The lower parliamentary house endorsed a General Pardon Law to release prison detainees guilty of selected crimes. Parliament rejected proposals to include pardons of Salafis currently in prison. | Jordan Times

July 9

Hundreds of Islamists protested in Amman on Friday, demanding the resignation of the government despite a cabinet reshuffle last week aimed to calm pro-reform advocates. Similar demonstrations were also held in the cities of Karak and Jerash| Al Arabiya

July 7

According to human rights activists, more than 100 Syrians fled to Jordan last week.  The majority of the refugees came from Hama and crossed into Jordan via the Jaber border.  | Jordan Times

July 6

Jordan will begin talks with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in August over its bid to join the organization.  | Jordan Times

July 5

For the third time this year, a pipeline carrying gas from Egypt to Jordan was bombed. The pipeline will be repaired in two days and the gas supply will resume before the end of the week. | Jordan News Agency

July 1

Prime Minister Nasser Judeh reiterated Jordan’s support for the Palestinians in their quest to establish an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.  | The Jordan News

June 30

Three lawmakers resigned after Monday’s House session debating the impeachment of Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit and several former ministers over a suspected corruption case. Particularly, they opposed the Lower House’s decision to allow Bakhit to defend himself at the session while depriving other ministers from the same right. Fifty-four members of parliament also announced they will boycott the upcoming House meetings due to legal and constitutional infractions committed during Monday’s meeting.  | The Jordan Times

The National Coalition of Opposition Parties announced its support for proportional representation in the parliamentary elections and called for the implementation of the results of the National Dialogue Committee.  | The Jordan Times

June 29

Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Judeh and Princess Basma met with U.S. congressional aides to discuss Jordan’s reform efforts, bilateral ties, and the last developments in the Middle East. The delegates expressed their support for the ongoing reform process in Jordan.  | The Jordan Times

King Abdullah met with 3,000 tribal leaders and representatives of the Bani Hassan tribe. During the meeting, tribe members expressed their support for the reform process and the king reiterated his hope that Jordan would remain an “oasis of stability and security.”  | The Jordan Times

June 28

Jordan’s prime minister, Marouf Bakhit, survived an impeachment vote after parliament cleared him of involvement in a casino corruption scandal. | Jordan News Agency

During a meeting with a delegation of U.S. congressional aides, King Abdullah stated that Jordan’s economic and political reform process was on the right track.  | Jordan News Agency

June 23

Jordan’s ambassador in Damascus, Omar Amad, sent a letter to the Syrian Foreign Ministry to inquire whether Jordanian prisoners will be included under the new general amnesty, but no response has been received yet. According to activists, there are more than 250 Jordanian prisoners in Syria. | Jordan Times

June 24

During its extraordinary session on Thursday, the Lower House of Parliament examined twelve draft laws referred by the government. Some members of parliament criticized the government’s choice of laws. Several draft laws were referred to its specialized committees. | Jordan Times

June 23

Jordan’s ambassador in Damascus, Omar Amad, sent a letter to the Syrian Foreign Ministry to inquire whether Jordanian prisoners will be included under the new general amnesty, but no response has been received yet. According to activists, there are more than 250 Jordanian prisoners in Syria. | Jordan Times

June 22

Jordanian Minister for Media Affairs and Communications Taher Odwan submitted his resignation to the prime minister in protest of proposed laws restricting freedom of expression. The new amendments will be proposed during the Lower House extraordinary session.  | Jordan Times

June 21

The Lower House will convene in an extraordinary session on Wednesday to examine 20 laws that are expected to facilitate economic reform after a Royal Decree was issued on Monday calling for the meeting. | Jordan Times

Jordan has started to receive an extra 15,000 barrels of oil per day from Iraq after an agreement between the countries was reached last month to address Jordan’s energy shortages. Additionally, the government will issue a tender in July for international firms to set up its first nuclear power plant. | Jordan Times; Jordan Times

June 20

King Abdullah reiterated his support for the committee in charge of revising the constitution. Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit said the committee’s mission was expected to be complete in July. | Petra; Jordan Times

June 17

King Abdullah expressed his pessimism about the prospects of Middle East peace after the failure of international efforts to resume peace talks.  He also warned that the situation might turn more and more violent in the Palestinian territories.  | Washington Post

June 15

King Abdullah II stated that Jordan’s reform process was an irrevocable choice and that arriving at a national consensus is the best way to cultivate a reform approach that guarantees involvement of all Jordanians.  | Jordan Times; Jordan News Agency 

June 14

King Abdullah reaffirmed his support for the Libyan revolution during a meeting with Mustafa Abdel Jalil, the head of the Libyan Transitional National Council. The king also renewed Jordan’s commitment to providing humanitarian, medical, and logistical support to the Libyan people.  | Jordan Times

King Abdullah ordered the launch of a JD15 million fund to implement development and income-generating projects in the southern governorate of Tafileh. The fund, to be named the Tafileh Development Fund, is intended to create jobs for residents and enhance their living conditions.  | Jordan News Agency, Jordan Times 

June 13

In a televised speech, King Abdullah promised parliamentary reforms, but gave no timetable for their implementation in the belief that sudden change could lead to “chaos and unrest” similar to that in other Arab countries. He announced that future cabinets would be formed according to an elected parliamentary majority and that a royal commission would now be exploring possible amendments to the constitution.  | Al Jazeera English 

June 10

According to Prime Minister Marouf Bakhi, nearly 1.48 million people will by covered by the general amnesty law passed by the government.  | Jordan News Agency 

June 9

A Royal Decree approved a temporary General Pardon Law for 2011. Under the general pardon, nearly 8,000 prisoners will be released and 6,000 cases that are being considered by the courts will be annulled.  | Jordan News Agency;  Jordan Times

June 8

Jordanian opposition parties, composed of the Islamic Action Front (IAF) and six other pan-Arab and left-wing parties, opposed the draft election law prepared by the National Dialogue Committee (NDC) for failing to fully adopt proportional representation.  | Arab News

June 7

Jordan will purchase an additional 10 million cubic meters of water from Israel’s Lake Kinnert due to water shortages in the Jordan Valley after the worst rainy season in the past decade.  | The Jerusalem Post

Eight thousand prisoners will be released under the general pardon law, while another 6,000 cases currently being seen by courts will be annulled.  The release of inmates will save the state nearly JD40 million.  | Jordan Times

King Abdullah II met with Iraqi Vice President Tariq Al Hashemi in hopes of boosting bilateral cooperation, especially in the economic field, and fostering closer pan-Arab stances when dealing with regional and international issues.  | Jordan News Agency

June 6

Protesters gathered outside the Israeli Embassy in Amman to demand the annulment of the Jordanian-Israeli peace treaty signed in 1994, the extradition of the ambassador, and the closure of the Israeli embassy.  | Jerusalem Post 

Journalist Alaa Fazaa was released after being arrested on Wednesday for “undermining the throne and constitution” after he allegedly posted on Facebook a list of people, including two former ministers, calling for Prince Hamzah to be reinstated as crown prince.  | AFP

Fifteen out of 250 Jordanian prisoners were released from Syrian prisons following the general amnesty issued by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.  |  Jordan Times

June 3

Jordan received a $400 million grant from Saudi Arabia that will be used to implement projects on the state budget.  | Jordan News Agency

June 2

Opposition leftists and Islamists, including the Muslim Brotherhood, joined together to form a National Reform Front (NRF), led by former Prime Minister Ahmad Obeidat, to fight corruption. | Associated Foreign Press

During the sixth session of the Joint Jordanian-Iraqi Higher Committee, Iraq agreed to increase oil supply to Jordan from 10,000 barrels/day to 15,000 barrels/day at discounted rates. | Jordan News Agency

MAY 31

Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit announced an administrative reform plan effective January 2012 to reduce the number of independent state agencies and their employees’ salaries. | Jordan Times

Jordanian Transport Minister Mohannad Qudah signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Iraqi Transport Minister Hadi al-Ameri to earmark $522 million for a project to connect Baghdad to the Port of Aqaba via the government’s $3.1 billion rail network plan. It aims to connect with Syria and Saudi Arabia in addition to Iraq. | Bloomberg

MAY 27

The Minister of Health and the Minister of Justice resigned as the result of a corruption scandal involving the sudden departure of a convicted businessman to the US three months ago, allegedly for medical treatment. | Arab News

The IMF and former finance ministers warned the government to reconsider its across-the-board price subsidies and to restrict state support to only the most vulnerable segments of society. The budget deficit could reach 6.8 percent of GDP if the current policy continues. | Jordan Times

MAY 26

King Abdullah II tasked the government with issuing a general amnesty law to pardon hundreds of prisoners in honor of the kingdom’s sixty-fifth anniversary of independence. The amnesty law would exclude prisoners convicted of murder, rape, terrorism, drugs, and financial crimes. | AP; Jordan News Agency

Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh declared that the government officially recognized the Libyan Transitional National Council as the legitimate representative of Libyan people. The kingdom plans to send a permanent envoy to Benghazi to begin official diplomatic relations. | Jordan News Agency

MAY 24

King Abdullah II is in Egypt meeting with Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, to discuss bilateral affairs and regional developments. | Jordan Times

King Abdullah II and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas discussed efforts to resume Palestine-Israel peace talks to establish an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders. They also discussed the recent Fatah-Hamas reconciliation and potential scenarios following the formation of a technocratic Palestinian government. | Jordan News Agency 

MAY 23

In a meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit underlined Jordan’s interest in reaching an agreement on Palestinian refugees’ right of return. | Jordan News Agency

King Abdullah II warned about a potential war between Israel and Palestine if Israel does not fully engage in the peace talks. He criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for refusing negotiations with the unified Palestinian leadership and supported U.S. President Barack Obama’s call for resuming negotiations. | ABC News

MAY 20

Approximately 150 people gathered peacefully outside the governor’s office in Madaba to call for the resignation of both the governor and government. The people were protesting the mishandling of tribal clashes earlier in the month, when two people were injured. | Jordan Times

The Islamic Action Front (IAF) is claiming that Jordan’s attempts to accede to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are partially inspired by a desire to avoid meeting protestors’ demands for reform. A statement to this effect was made on the IAF website on May 17. | Bloomberg

MAY 17

The parliamentary committee responsible for investigating allegations of corruption in the Greater Municipality of Amman (GAM) has requested that the prime minister allow them to discard current contracts signed between GAM and international contractors and also recommended that all international and regional GAM projects be cancelled until further notice. | AlGhad

Head of the National Dialogue Committee Taher Masri announced that the finalization of the revised election law has been delayed for an additional 48 hours. Lawmakers are reportedly debating three options: a mixed list, a proportional list at the governorate level, and a proportional list at the kingdom level. | Jordan Times

Citizens gathered outside the Interior Ministry to protest the violent treatment of protestors during the “Nakba” march in the Jordan Valley town of Karamah. In the last 24 hours, the Muslim Brotherhood, Jordan Press Association, and Centre for Defending the Freedom of Journalists have all condemned the violence. | Jordan Times

MAY 16

Twenty-five people were injured during clashes that broke out in the Jordan Valley border town of Karamah when protestors attempted to cross the Jordanian-Israeli border on the sixty-third anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba. The Public Security Department (PSD) and gendarmerie forces used tear gas to disperse the protestors; the PSD estimated that 800 people had gathered. | Jordan Times; Ammon

The Jordan Press Association (JPA) received the draft press association law from the Legislation and Opinion Bureau on Sunday and will be conducting further consultations on potential amendments. According to JPA President Tareq Momani: “We want to make sure that these amendments enjoy the support of the JPA general assembly and correspond to the latest developments in the media sector.” The JPA law has not been amended since 1998. | Jordan Times

MAY 13

Hundreds of youth protestors gathered outside the University of Jordan on Friday, demanding a Palestinian right of return on the sixty-third anniversary of the 1948 Nakba, or “catastrophe.” The protestors marched from the University of Jordan mosque to the main university gates. Opposition party members also protested for the right of return in downtown Amman, marching from Al-Hussein mosque to Ras Al-Ain. | Ammon; AlGhad

Former Prime Minister Ahmed Obeidat announced that the National Front for Democratic Reform will officially launch within a matter of days. Obeidat stated that the front’s activities are in full swing in all of the kingdom’s governorates and that it will represent all facets of the Jordanian political scene. | Ammon

The National Dialogue Committee will conclude its mission in the coming week and will report its findings to the government, according to the committee’s chairman, Senator Taher Masri. Chairman of the Electoral Reform Parliamentary Committee Abdelkarim Al-Dughmi stated that deliberations will continue through next week, due to the lack of a final agreement concerning a revised electoral law. | Jordan Times

MAY 11

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) announced that it has received the applications for membership from Jordan and Morocco and has initiated discussions about whether to admit them; a decision will be reached within the coming weeks.  | AFP; Jordan Times; Canadian Press

During a meeting with the Jordan Press Association, King Abdullah told reporters that political reform would “meet the aspirations of the Jordanian people,” that the National Dialogue Committee would soon unveil its work on key laws and regulations, and that the Constitutional Review Committee would also continue its “thorough” work. | Jordan Times

MAY 10

According to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), a number of ministers have been found guilty of corruption during their involvement with the National “Better Housing” Project, initiated in 2008.  | AmmanNet

A female student member of the youth group “Dabahtouna” has allegedly shut down her personal blog after being continually harassed by university authorities for publishing harsh criticisms of the government. The group has issued a statement criticizing the continued interference of campus authorities in student life. The National Center for Human Rights has also demanded an investigation into the role of security authorities on university campuses and beyond. | AmmanNet

MAY 9

Members of parliament (MPs) are alleging that the agreement signed between the government and Airport International Group (AIG) was unconstitutional, given that it was not approved by or even discussed with parliament. Article 117 of the Jordanian constitution stipulates that any concession agreement that entails rights in connection with investment in public facilities must be ratified by parliament. The agreement was signed for the purpose of renovating Queen Alia International Airport. | Jordan Times

A political reform document released by members of the Al-Balqa governorate has proposed eighteen constitutional amendments. The document, prepared by approximately 400 members of the Balqa community, is calling for the establishment of a constitutional court and abolition of special courts, establishment of a higher council to monitor elections, and a consistent and equitable application of the law to all members of society, including MPs. | AlGhad

In an effort to strengthen the legislative role of parliament, a one-day workshop was held on parliamentarian ethics, covering topics such as curbing corruption, promoting accountability and  transparency, and the rule of law. The workshop was organized by Global Parliamentarians Against Corruption, a regional nongovernmental organization. | Jordan Times

MAY 6

The Lower House of Parliament has rejected the probe into the so-called “casino case” completed by the Anti-Corruption Commission, calling it unconstitutional. The case in question involved the negotiation of a casino deal with a London-based investor under current Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit’s 2007 government. | Jordan Times; Al Arab AlYawm

MAY 5

The National Dialogue Committee has arrived at a revised draft Political Parties law. Some of the amendments include: establishing a National Committee to oversee all political party activities—as opposed to being under the oversight of the Ministry of Interior—and reducing the membership age from 21 to 18. | AlGhad

The Public Assembly Law has been amended to allow citizens to gather and demonstrate freely without having to request government permission, marking the first officially approved legislative amendment since unrest gripped the nation in early 2011. | Ammon

Lead Trustee of the National Center for Human Rights Taher Hikmat stated that the center would be studying the International Treaties and Conventions on Human Rights signed by Jordan and comparing them to existing relevant elements of the Jordanian constitution. Hikmat stated that the center plans to provide recommendations to the Constitutional Review Committee accordingly. | AlGhad

MAY 4

The National Coalition of Opposition Parties issued a statement criticizing the government for taking “martial law-era” measures against opposition members, referring to the arrest of 87 individuals in the aftermath of the March 25 protest and the refusal to allow these individuals to leave the country. | Jordan Times  

Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications and Government Spokesperson Taher Odwan highlighted the many obstacles facing journalists in the country, such as the stringent access to information law, but also indicated that there are serious reforms underway to enhance freedom of expression. | Jordan Times

MAY 2

Over 500 protestors joined a sit-in outside the Syrian embassy in Amman to condemn the killing and oppression of their neighbors. The sit-in concluded with a mock “execution” in effigy of Syrian President Bashar Assad for “crimes committed against humanity.” | Jordan Times

The National Campaign for Bread and Democracy is planning to protest the privatization of the health sector outside Prince Hamzah Hospital on the evening of May 4. | Ammon

MAY 1

The National Campaign for Defending Jordanian Workers organized a demonstration on the occasion of Labor Day, and marched to the General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions (GFJTU), calling on GFJTU President Mazen Maaytah to resign. | Jordan Times