Jordan's Justice, Interior Ministers Resign

Jordanian Parliament (File photo: Reuters)
Jordanian Parliament (File photo: Reuters)
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Jordan's Justice, Interior Ministers Resign

Jordanian Parliament (File photo: Reuters)
Jordanian Parliament (File photo: Reuters)

A Jordanian Royal Decree has been issued on Sunday accepting the resignation of Justice Minister Bassam Talhouni and Interior Minister Ibrahim Mubaideen from their positions as of 28, February 2021.

Another Royal Decree was issued, approving the assigning of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Local Administration Tawfiq Kreishan to administer the Ministry of Interior, and Minister of State for Legal Affairs Ahmad Ziadat to administer the Ministry of Justice, as of 28, February 2021.

This came following reports by Jordanian media stating that Prime Minister Bishr Al-Khasawneh asked the two ministers to resign for violating defense orders to combat Covid-19 and attending a dinner in a restaurant, exceeding the allowed number at the table.



Israeli Ambassador to US Says Hezbollah Cease-fire Deal Could Come 'Within Days'

Part of the destruction caused by the Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut yesterday (Reuters)
Part of the destruction caused by the Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut yesterday (Reuters)
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Israeli Ambassador to US Says Hezbollah Cease-fire Deal Could Come 'Within Days'

Part of the destruction caused by the Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut yesterday (Reuters)
Part of the destruction caused by the Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut yesterday (Reuters)

The Israeli ambassador to Washington says that a cease-fire deal to end fighting between Israel and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah could be reached "within days."
Ambassador Mike Herzog told Israeli Army Radio on Monday that there remained "points to finalize" and that any deal required agreement from the government. But he said "we are close to a deal" and that "it can happen within days."
Among the issues that remain is an Israeli demand to reserve the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations under the emerging deal. The deal seeks to push Hezbollah and Israeli troops out of southern Lebanon.
Israel accuses Hezbollah of not adhering to a UN resolution that ended the 2006 war between the sides that made similar provisions, and Israel has concerns that Hezbollah could stage a Hamas-style cross-border attack from southern Lebanon if it maintains a heavy presence there. Lebanon says Israel also violated the 2006 resolution. Lebanon complains about military jets and naval ships entering Lebanese territory even when there is no active conflict.
It is not clear whether Lebanon would agree to the demand.
The optimism surrounding a deal comes after a top US envoy held talks between the sides last week in a bid to clinch a deal.
Hezbollah began attacking Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, a day after Hamas´ raid on southern Israel, setting off more than a year of fighting. That escalated into all-out war in September with massive Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon and later an Israeli ground incursion into the country´s south.
Hezbollah has fired thousands of rockets into Israeli cities and towns, including some 250 on Sunday.