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Jordan’s Public Institutions on Alert against Protests

Protesters raise their hands before members of the Gendarmerie and security forces during a demonstration outside the prime minister's office in Amman early Sunday (AFP photo by Khalil Mazraawi)
Protesters raise their hands before members of the Gendarmerie and security forces during a demonstration outside the prime minister's office in Amman early Sunday (AFP photo by Khalil Mazraawi)
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Jordan’s Public Institutions on Alert against Protests

Protesters raise their hands before members of the Gendarmerie and security forces during a demonstration outside the prime minister's office in Amman early Sunday (AFP photo by Khalil Mazraawi)
Protesters raise their hands before members of the Gendarmerie and security forces during a demonstration outside the prime minister's office in Amman early Sunday (AFP photo by Khalil Mazraawi)

Jordanian public institutions have gone on alert to contain mounting protests that kicked off four days ago over a new income tax draft-law and price hikes, as unions called for a general strike across the country next Wednesday.

King Abdullah II asked to meet with Prime Minister Hani Mulki at his office Monday to discuss the protests in Amman and other governorates.

After a meeting on Sunday, the Jordanian Senate sent to the King two suggestions on the matter: Ask the government to withdraw the draft, and to issue a royal decree for holding a special session of the Parliament on Monday during which deputies will re-send the bill to the Senate.

Senate Speaker Faisal al-Fayez called for a “comprehensive national dialogue” on the law.

He emphasized the importance of adopting the principle of collective participation of the Jordanian society within a national dialogue aimed at agreeing on a modern law that promotes the principles of transparency and equality.

The House members are expected to reject the amended income tax draft-law and forward it to the Senate, which would return the bill to the government as stipulated by the Constitution.

Sources predicted that the government would resign in the coming days.

Last month, the government proposed the law that is aimed at raising taxes on employees by at least five percent and on companies by 20 to 40 percent.

“The legislature made a recommendation to His Majesty King Abdullah to convene the Parliament for an extraordinary session to be held as soon as possible to bring an end to the income tax crisis,” Jordanian news agency Petra quoted Speaker of the House of Representatives Atef Tarawneh as saying following a meeting with Mulki and the Professional Associations Council at the Lower House.

Tarawneh said: "We are forming a committee to follow up the dialogue, which we hope will be positive and fruitful.”

Parliament is not bound by the decision of the International Monetary Fund but committed to the interest of the Jordanian people, he added.

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Israeli Forces Surround Lebanon’s Khiam Ahead of Storming it

Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the village of al-Khiam in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, northern Israel, 22 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)
Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the village of al-Khiam in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, northern Israel, 22 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)
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Israeli Forces Surround Lebanon’s Khiam Ahead of Storming it

Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the village of al-Khiam in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, northern Israel, 22 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)
Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the village of al-Khiam in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, northern Israel, 22 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)

Israeli forces have blocked supply routes to the southern Lebanese border city of al-Khiam ahead of storming it.

They have also surrounded the strategic city with Hezbollah fighters still inside, launching artillery and air attacks against them.

Hezbollah fighters have been holding out in Khiam for 25 days. The capture of the city would be significant and allow Israeli forces easier passage into southern Lebanon.

Field sources said Israeli forces have already entered some neighborhoods of Khiam from its eastern and southern outskirts, expanding their incursion into its northern and eastern sectors to fully capture the city.

They cast doubt on claims that the city has been fully captured, saying fighting is still taking place deeper inside its streets and alleys, citing the ongoing artillery fire and drone and air raids.

Israel has already cut off Hezbollah’s supply routes by seizing control of Bourj al-Mamlouk, Tall al-Nahas and olive groves in al-Qlaa in the Marayoun region. Its forces have also fanned out to the west towards the Litani River.

The troops have set up a “line of fire” spanning at least seven kms around Khiam to deter anti-tank attacks from Hezbollah and to launch artillery, drone and aerial attacks, said the sources.

The intense pressure has forced Hezbollah to resort to suicide drone attacks against Israeli forces.

Hezbollah’s al-Manar television said Israeli forces tried to carry out a new incursion towards Khiam’s northern neighborhoods.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that since Friday night, Israeli forces have been using “all forms of weapons in their attempt to capture Khiam, which Israel views as a strategic gateway through which it can make rapid ground advances.”

It reported an increase in air and artillery attacks in the past two days as the forces try to storm the city.

The troops are trying to advance on Khiam by first surrounding it from all sides under air cover, it continued.

They are also booby-trapping some homes and buildings and then destroying them, similar to what they have done in other southern towns, such as Adeisseh, Yaround, Aitaroun and Mais al-Jabal.

Khiam holds symbolic significance to the Lebanese people because it was the first city liberated following Israel’s implementation of United Nations Security Council 425 on May 25, 2000, that led to its withdrawal from the South in a day that Hezbollah has since declared Liberation Day.