From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jordan, officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, (Arabic: الأردنّ al-Urdunn) is a country in Southwest Asia spanning the southern part of the Syrian Desert down to the Gulf of Aqaba. It shares borders with Syria to the north, Iraq to the north-east, Israel and the West Bank to the west, and Saudi Arabia to the east and south. It shares the coastlines of the Dead Sea and Gulf of Aqaba with Israel, the West Bank, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Much of Jordan is covered by desert land, particularly the Arabian Desert, however the north-western area, with the sacred Jordan River is regarded as part of the Fertile Crescent.
The capital city, Amman, is in the north-west. Jordan has a rich history, its location in the central Middle East
has long made it a prized possession. During its long history, Jordan
has seen numerous civilisations, including ancient eastern
civilisations the Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, Assyrian, Mesopotamian and Persian empires. Jordan was for a time part of Pharaonic Egypt and spawned the native Nabatean civilisation who left rich archaeological remains at Petra. Cultures from the west also left their mark such as the Macedonian, Roman and Byzantine empires. Since the seventh century the area has been under Muslim and Arab cultures, with the exception of a brief period under British rule.
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a constitutional monarchy with
representative government. The reigning monarch is the head of state,
the chief executive and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The
king exercises his executive authority through the prime ministers and
the Council of Ministers, or cabinet. The cabinet, meanwhile, is
responsible before the elected House of Deputies which, along with the
House of Notables (Senate), constitutes the legislative branch of the
government. The judicial branch is an independent branch of the
government.
History
The ancient city of
Petra.
King Abdullah I (ruled: 1921-1951).
King Hussein (ruled: 1952-1999)
-
With the break-up of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I, the League of Nations created the French Mandate of Syria and British Mandate Palestine. Approximately 90% of the British Mandate of Palestine was east of the Jordan river and was known as "Transjordan". In 1921 , the British gave semi-autonomous control of Transjordan to the future King Abdullah I of Jordan, of the Hashemite
family. Abdullah I continued to rule until a Palestinian Arab
assassinated him in 1951 as he was departing from the al-Aqsa Mosque in
Jerusalem. At first he ruled "Transjordan", under British supervision
until after World War II. In 1946, the British requested that the United Nations approve an end to British Mandate rule in Transjordan. Following this approval, the Jordanian Parliament proclaimed King Abdullah as the first ruler of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
In 1950, Jordan annexed the West Bank, which had been under its control since the armistice that followed the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. The annexation was recognized only by the United Kingdom (de facto in the case of East Jerusalem).
In 1965, there was an exchange of land between Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Jordan gave up a relatively large area of inland desert in return for a small piece of sea-shore near Aqaba.
Jordan signed a mutual defense pact in May 1967 with Egypt, and it participated in the June 1967 war against Israel along with Syria, Egypt, and Iraq. During the war, Jordan lost the West Bank and East Jerusalem
to Israel (the western sector having been under Israeli control). In
1988, Jordan renounced all claims to the West Bank but retained an
administrative role pending a final settlement, and its 1994 treaty
with Israel allowed for a continuing Jordanian role in Muslim and
Christian holy places in Jerusalem.
The 1967 war led to a dramatic increase in the number of
Palestinians, especially from the West Bank, living in Jordan. Its
Palestinian refugee population — 700,000 in 1966 — grew by another
300,000 from the West Bank. The period following the 1967 war saw an
upsurge in the power and importance of Palestinian resistance elements (fedayeen) in Jordan. King Hussein's armed forces targeted the fedayeen, and open fighting erupted in June 1970. The battle in which Palestinian fighters from various Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) groups were expelled from Jordan is commonly known as Black September.
The heaviest fighting occurred in northern Jordan and Amman. The Syrian
army battled the Jordanian army in Amman and other urban areas. The
global media portrayed King Hussein as a corrupt King slaughtering the
Palestinian refugees. Other Arab governments attempted to work out a
peaceful solution. In the ensuing heavy fighting, a Syrian tank force
invaded northern Jordan to support the fedayeen but subsequently retreated. King Hussein
asked "the United States and Great Britain to intervene in the war in
Jordan, asking the United States, in fact, to attack Syria, and some
transcripts of diplomatic communiques show that Hussein requested
Israeli intervention against Syria. " Israel, which found the move
undesirable threatened that it would invade Jordan if Syria intervened,
so performed mock air strikes on the Syrian column at the Americans'
request. Possibly alarmed at the prospect of an armed conflict with
Israel, Syria's president at the time, Nureddin Atassi, ordered a hasty retreat.[1] [1][2] By September 22,
Arab foreign ministers meeting at Cairo had arranged a cease-fire
beginning the following day. Sporadic violence continued, however,
until Jordanian forces, led by Habis Al-Majali, with the help of Iraqi forces (who had bases in Jordan after the war of 1967),[3] won a decisive victory over the fedayeen on July 1971, expelling them from the country.
At the Rabat summit conference in 1974, Jordan agreed, along with the rest of the Arab League,
that the PLO was the "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian
people", thereby relinquishing to that organization its role as
representative of the West Bank.
Fighting occurred along the 1967 Jordan River cease-fire line during the October 1973 Arab-Israeli war.
Jordan sent a brigade to Syria to fight Israeli units on Syrian
territory but did not engage Israeli forces from Jordanian territory.
Jordan did not participate in the Gulf War of 1990–91. In 1991, Jordan agreed, along with Syria, Lebanon, and Palestinian fedayeen representatives, to participate in direct peace negotiations with Israel at the Madrid Conference, sponsored by the U.S. and Russia. It negotiated an end to hostilities with Israel and signed a declaration to that effect on July 25, 1994 (see Washington Declaration). As a result, an Israeli-Jordanian peace treaty was concluded on October 26, 1994.
Following the outbreak of Israel-Palestinian Authority fighting in
September 2000, the Jordanian government offered its good offices to
both parties. Jordan has since sought to remain at peace with all of
its neighbors.
On November 9, 2005 Jordan experienced three simultaneous bombings at hotels in Amman. At least 57 people died and 115 were wounded. "Al-Qaeda in Iraq", a group led by terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a native Jordanian, claimed responsibility.
Geography
-
Jordan is a Southwest Asian country, bordered by Syria to the north, Iraq to the northeast, Saudi Arabia to the east and south and Israel and the West Bank to the west. All these border lines add up to 1,619 km (1,006 mi). The Gulf of Aqaba and the Dead Sea also touch the country, and thus Jordan has a coastline of 26 km (16 mi).
Jordan consists of arid forest
plateau in the east irrigated by oasis and seasonal water streams, with
highland area in the west of arble land and Mediterranean evergreen
forestry. The Great Rift Valley of the Jordan River separates Jordan, the west bank and Israel. The highest point in the country is Jabal Ram, it is 1,734 m (5,689 ft) above sea level, while the lowest is the Dead Sea -420 m (−1,378 ft). Jordan is part of a region considered to be "the cradle of civilization", the Levant region of the Fertile Crescent.
Major cities include the capital Amman in the northwest, Irbid and Az Zarqa, both in the north. Karak and Aqaba in the south.
The climate in Jordan is dry in summer with average temperature in
the mid-30°C (mid-90°F) and relatively cold in winter averaging around
the 0 °C (32 °F). The western part of the country receives greater
precipitation during the winter season from November to March and
snowfall in Amman (756 m (2,480 ft) ~ 980 m (3,215 ft) above sea-level)
and Western Heights of 500 m (1,640 ft). Excluding the rift valley the
rest of the country is entirely above 300 m (984 ft)(SL).[4]
Administrative Divisions
-
Administratively, Jordan is divided into 12 provinces called governorates,
each headed by a governor appointed by the king. They are the sole
authorities for all government departments and development projects in
their respective areas. The Governorates are:
| Province |
Population (2008 est.)[5] |
Capital city |
Population (Metropolitan, 2008 est)[6] |
| Ajlun Governorate |
118,496 |
Ajlun |
8,161 |
| Amman Governorate |
1,939,405 |
Amman |
1,135,733 |
| Aqaba Governorate |
107,115 |
Aqaba |
95,408 |
| Balqa Governorate |
349,580 |
Assalt |
87,778 |
| Irbid Governorate |
950,700 |
Irbid |
650,000 |
| Jerash Governorate |
156,680 |
Jerash |
39,540 |
| Kerak Governorate |
214,225 |
Kerak |
22,580 |
| Ma'an Governorate |
103,920 |
Ma'an |
30,050 |
| Madaba Governorate |
135,890 |
Madaba |
83,180 |
| Mafraq Governorate |
245,670 |
Mafraq |
56,340 |
| Tafilah Governorate |
81,000 |
Tafilah |
|
| Zarqa Governorate |
838,250 |
Zarqa |
447,880 |
The Governorates are subdivided into approximately fifty-two nahias.
Demographics
Graph showing the population of Jordan from 1960 to 2005.
-
The Jordan National Census for the year 2004, which was released on October 1st of the same year, gave the following results:
1. As of October 1st 2004, Jordan had a population of 5,100,981. The
census estimated that there are another 190,000 who were not counted
(for being out of the country at the time the census was taken, or did
not turn in their forms).
2. The census showed that the national growth rate was 2.5% (at maximum) compared to 3.3% of the 1994 census.
3. The census of 2004 also shows that males made up 51.5% of Jordan's population (2,628,717). Females: 2,472,264 (48.5%).
4. Jordanian citizens made up 93% of the population (4,750,463),
while non Jordanins made up 7% (349,933). However, it is estimated that
most of those who did not turn in their forms were immigrants from
neighboring countries, or non Arabic-speaking foreigners.
5. There were 946,000 families in Jordan in 2004, with an average of
5.3 persons/family (compared to 6 persons/family for the census of
1994).[7] The next census is scheduled to take place in 2014.
During the years 2004-2007, Jordan saw a rapid increase in its
population due to the heavy immigration of Iraqis, an independent
census carried in 2007, estimated that there are 700,000 Iraqis
residing in Jordan. Most estimates put the population of Jordan
slightly over 6,000,000 as of the year 2007.
95% of Jordan's population are Arabs, the remaining non-Arabs of the population are mainly Circassians, Chechens, Armenians (13th largest Armenian diaspora in the world), and Kurds,
but have integrated into the Jordanian and Arab cultures in the
country. Many native Jordanians are also of European origin,
assimilated into the Arabophone genepool that has resulted from the vast history of civilisations on its land.[citation needed]
The number of Lebanese permanently settling in Jordan since the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict has not been established, and is estimated to be very little. According to Labour Ministry figures, the number of guest workers in the country now stands just over 300,000, most are Egyptians who makeup 227,000 of the foreign labor, and the remaining 36,150 workers are mostly from Bangladesh, China, Sri Lanka and India. Since the Iraq War many Christians (Assyrians and Chaldeans) from Iraq have settled permanently or temporarily in Jordan.
Jordanian Christians permanently residing in Jordan form
approximately 6% of the population and are allocated 10% of the seats
in parliament (The Department of Statistics released no information
about the religion distribution from the census of 2004). Most
Christians belong to the Greek Orthodox church (called "Ruum Urthudux"
in Arabic). The rest are Roman Catholics (called "Lateen"), Eastern
Catholics who are Melkites (called "Ruum Katoleek" to distinguish them
from "Western Catholics"), and various Protestant communities including
Baptists. Christians in Jordan are of many nationalities, as evinced,
for example, by the Catholic mass being celebrated in Arabic, English,
French, Italian, Spanish, Tagalog and Sinhala, as well as in Iraqi
dialects of Arabic. However, Jordanian Christians are indigenous Arabs
that share the Greater culture of Jordan and the Broader East
Mediterranean Levantine Arab Identity.
Other Jordanians belonging to religious minorities include adherents to the Druze and Bahá'í Faith, which fall administratively under Islamic denomination. The Druze are mainly located in the Eastern Oasis Town of Azraq and the city of Zarka, while the Village of Adassiyeh bordering the Jordan Valley is home to Jordan's Bahá'í community.
The official language is Arabic, but English
is used widely in commerce and government and among educated people.
Arabic and English are obligatory learning at public and private
schools. French is taught at some public and private schools but is not obligatory. However, a vibrant Francophone community has emerged in modern Jordan.[citation needed] Radio Jordan offers radio services in Arabic, English and French.
A portion of the people are registered as Palestinian refugees and displaced persons reside in Jordan, most as citizens. Since 2003 many Iraqis fleeing the Iraq War have settled in Jordan; latest estimates indicate between 700,000 and 1.7 million Iraqis living in Jordan;[8] mainly in Amman, the capital.[9]
Politics
-
Constitution
Jordan is a constitutional monarchy based on the constitution promulgated on January 8, 1952. Executive authority is vested in the king and his council of ministers. The king signs and executes all laws. His veto power may be overridden by a two-thirds vote of both houses of the National Assembly. He appoints and may dismiss all judges by decree, approves amendments to the constitution, declares war, and commands the armed forces. Cabinet decisions, court judgments, and the national currency are issued in his name. The council of ministers, led by a prime minister,
is appointed by the king, who may dismiss other cabinet members at the
prime minister's request. The cabinet is responsible to the Chamber of Deputies on matters of general policy and can be forced to resign by a two-thirds vote of "no confidence" by that body.
The constitution provides for three categories of courts: civil, religious, and special. Administratively, Jordan is divided into twelve governorates,
each headed by a governor appointed by the king. They are the sole
authorities for all government departments and development projects in
their respective areas.
The Royal Armed Forces and General Intelligence Department of Jordan are under the control of the king.
Legal system and legislation
Jordan's legal system is based on Islamic law and French codes. Judicial review of legislative acts occurs in a special High Tribunal. It has not accepted compulsory International Court of Justice jurisdiction.
Article 97 of Jordan’s constitution guarantees the independence of
the judicial branch, clearly stating that judges are 'subject to no
authority but that of the law.' While the king must approve the
appointment and dismissal of judges, in practice these are supervised
by the Higher Judicial Council.
The Jordanian legal system draws upon civil traditions as well as
Islamic law and custom. Article 99 of the Constitution divides the
courts into three categories: civil, religious and special. The civil
courts deal with civil and criminal matters in accordance with the law,
and they have jurisdiction over all persons in all matters, civil and
criminal, including cases brought against the government. The civil
courts include Magistrate Courts, Courts of First Instance, Courts of
Appeal, High Administrative Courts and the Supreme Court.
The religious courts include Sharia (Islamic law) courts and the
tribunals of other religious communities. Religious courts deal only
with matters involving personal law such as marriage, divorce and
inheritance. Sharia courts also have jurisdiction over matters
regarding Islamic waqfs (a religious endowment such as an area of
land). In cases involving parties of different religions regular courts
have jurisdiction.
Specialized courts involve various bodies. One such body is the
Supreme Council which will interpret the Constitution if requested by
either the National Assembly or the prime minister, according to Dew et
al.: "...such courts are usually created in areas that the legislator
deems should be governed by specialized courts with more experience and
knowledge in specific matters than other regular courts."[10] Other examples of special courts include the Court of Income Tax and the Highest Court of Felonies.
Prior to 2002 Jordan’s legal system only allowed men to file for
divorce, however, during this year the first Jordanian woman
successfully filed for divorce;[11]
this was made possible from a proposal by a royal human rights
commission which had been established by King Abdullah who had vowed to
improve the status of women in Jordan.
Despite being traditionally dominated by men the number of women
involved as lawyers in the Jordan legal system has been increasing. As
of mid-2006 Jordan had 1,284 female lawyers, out of a total number of
6,915, and 35 female judges from a total of 630.[12]
Kings of Jordan and political events
King Abdullah I ruled Jordan after independence from Britain. After the assassination of King Abdullah I in 1951, his son King Talal
ruled briefly. King Talal's major accomplishment was the Jordanian
constitution. King Talal was removed from the throne in 1952 due to
mental illness. At that time his son, Hussein, was too young to rule, and hence a committee ruled over Jordan.
After Hussein reached 18, he ruled Jordan as king from 1953 to 1999,
surviving a number of challenges to his rule, drawing on the loyalty of
his military, and serving as a symbol of unity and stability for both
the Bedouin-related and Palestinian communities in Jordan. King Hussein ended martial law in 1991 and legalized political parties in 1992. In 1989 and 1993, Jordan held free and fair parliamentary elections. Controversial changes in the election law led Islamist parties to boycott the 1997 elections.
King Abdullah II succeeded his father Hussein following the latter's death in February 1999. Abdullah moved quickly to reaffirm Jordan's peace treaty with Israel and its relations with the United States. Abdullah, during the first year in power, refocused the government's agenda on economic reform.
Jordan's continuing structural economic difficulties, burgeoning
population, and more open political environment led to the emergence of
a variety of political parties. Moving toward greater independence,
Jordan's parliament has investigated corruption charges against several
regime figures and has become the major forum in which differing
political views, including those of political Islamists, are expressed.
While King Abdullah remains the ultimate authority in Jordan, the
parliament plays an important role.
Parliament of Jordan
-
The 1952 Constitution provided for the establishment of the
bicameral Jordanian National Assembly (‘Majlis al-Umma’). The
Parliament consists of two Chambers: The Chamber of Deputies (‘Majlis
al-Nuwaab’) and the Senate (‘Majlis al-Aayan’; literally, ‘Assembly of
Notables’). The Senate has 55 Senators, all of whom are directly
appointed by the King,[13]
whilst the Chamber of Deputies/House of Representatives has 80 elected
members representing 12 constituencies. Of the 80 members of the Lower
Chamber, 71 must be Muslim and 9 Christians, with six seats held back
specifically for women. The Constitution ensures that the Senate cannot
be more than half the size of the Chamber of Deputies.
Legislative Procedure
Both Chambers initiate debates and vote on legislation. Proposals
are referred by the Prime Minister to the Chamber of Deputies where
they are either accepted, amended, or rejected. Every proposal is
referred to a committee of the Lower Chamber for consideration. If it
is approved, then it is referred to the government to draft in the form
of a bill and submit it to the Chamber of Deputies. If approved by this
Chamber, it is passed onto the Senate for debate and a vote. If the
Senate gives its approval, then the King can either grant consent or
refuse. In this case the bill is passed back to the Chamber of Deputies
where the review and voting process is repeated. If both Chambers pass
the bill by a two-thirds majority, it becomes an Act of Parliament
overriding the King’s veto. Article 95 of the Constitution empowers
both Chambers to submit legislation to the government in the form of a
draft law.[14]
The Constitution does not provide a strong system of checks and
balances within which the Jordanian Parliament can assert its role in
relationship to the Monarch. During the suspension of Parliament
between 2001 and 2003, the scope of King Abdullah II’s power was
demonstrated with the passing of 110 temporary laws. Two of such laws
dealt with election law and were seen to reduce the power of Parliament.[15][16]
Term
Senators have terms of four years and are appointed by the King and
can be reappointed. Prospective Senators must be at least forty years
old and have held senior positions in either the government or
military. Appointed Senators have included former Prime Ministers and
Members of the Chamber of Deputies. Deputies are elected to also serve
a four year term. Candidates must be older than thirty-five, cannot
have blood ties to the King, and must not have any financial interests
in government contracts.[17]
Political Parties
Despite the reforms of 1989, multi-party politics has yet to develop
in Jordan. The only political party that plays a role in the
legislature is the Islamic Action Front (IAF). Political parties can be
seen to represent four sections: Islamists, leftists, Arab nationalists
and conservative. There are over 30 other political parties in Jordan
including the Jordanian Arab Democratic Party, Jordanian Socialist
Party, Muslim Centre Party, but these have little impact on the
political process.
Economy
-
Jordan is a small country with limited natural resources.
The country is currently exploring ways to expand its limited water
supply and use its existing water resources more efficiently, including
through regional cooperation. Jordan also depends on external sources
for the majority of its energy requirements. During the 1990s, its
crude petroleum needs were met through imports from Iraq and neighboring countries. Since early 2003, oil has been provided by some Gulf Cooperation Council member countries. In addition, the Arab Gas Pipeline from Egypt to the southern port city of Aqaba
was completed in 2003. The government plans to extend this pipeline
north to the Amman area and beyond. Since 2000, exports of light
manufactured products, principally textiles and garments manufactured
in the Qualifying Industrial Zones (QIZ) that enter the United States
tariff and quota free, have been driving economic growth. Jordan
exported €5.6 million ($6.9 million) in goods to the U.S. in 1997, when
two-way trade was €321 million ($395 million); it exported €538 million
($661 million) in 2002 with two-way trade at €855 million ($1.05
billion). Similar growth in exports to the United States under the
bilateral US-Jordan Free Trade Agreement
that went into effect in December 2001, to the European Union under the
bilateral Association Agreement, and to countries in the region, holds
considerable promise for diversifying Jordan's economy away from its
traditional reliance on exports of phosphates
and potash, overseas remittances, and foreign aid. The government has
emphasized the information technology (IT) and tourism sectors as other
promising growth sectors. The low tax and low regulation Aqaba Special
Economic Zone (ASEZA) is considered a model of a government-provided framework for private sector-led economic growth.
The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States[18]
that went into effect in December 2001 will phase out duties on nearly
all goods and services by 2010. The agreement also provides for more
open markets in communications, construction, finance, health,
transportation, and services, as well as strict application of
international standards for the protection of intellectual property. In
1996, Jordan and the United States signed a civil aviation agreement
that provides for open skies
between the two countries, and a U.S.-Jordan treaty for the protection
and encouragement of bilateral investment entered into force in 2003.
Jordan has been a member of the World Trade Organization since 2000.
Textile and clothing
exports from Jordan to the United States shot up 2,000 percent from
2000 to 2005, following introduction of the FTA. According to the National Labor Committee, a U.S.-based NGO, Jordan has experienced sharp increases in sweatshop conditions in its export-oriented manufacturing sector.[19]
Jordan has a very high proportion of skilled workers among the
highest in the region. The services sector dominates the Jordanian
economy. Tourism is a rapidly growing industry in Jordan with revenues
in the over one billion. Industries such as pharmeceuticals are
emerging as ver profitable products in Jordan. The Real Estate economy
and construction sectors continue to flourish with mass amounts of
investments pouring in from the Gulf and Europe. Foreign Direct
Investment is in the billions. The stock market capitalisation of
Jordan is almost worth 40 billion dollars.
Jordan is classified by the World Bank as a "lower middle income country." The per-capita GDP
was approximately $1,817 (€1,479) for 2003 and 14.5% of the
economically active population, on average, was unemployed in 2003. The
GDP per capita in 2005 is at $USD 4,200. Education and literacy rates
and measures of social well-being are relatively high compared to other
countries with similar incomes. Jordan's population growth rate is
high, but has declined in recent years, to approximately 2.8%
currently. One of the most important factors in the government’s
efforts to improve the well-being of its citizens is the macroeconomic
stability that has been achieved since the 1990s. However, unemployment
rates remain high, with the official figure standing at 12.5%, and the
unofficial around 30%. Rates of price inflation are low, at 2.3% in
2003, and the currency has been stable with an exchange rate fixed to
the U.S. dollar since 1995.
Spring in northern Jordan.
While pursuing economic reform and increased trade, Jordan's economy
will continue to be vulnerable to external shocks and regional unrest.
Without calm in the region, economic growth seems destined to stay
below potential. On the positive side, however, there is huge potential
in the solar energy falling on Jordan's deserts, not only for the
generation of pollution-free electricity but also for such spin-offs as
desalination of sea water (see Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Cooperation (TREC)).
The treasury, as seen from al-Siq.
An Arabian Desert castle in Al Azrak.
The Corinthian columns are a popular tourist attraction in
Jerash.
Tourism
-
Tourism is a very important sector of the Jordanian economy,
contributing between 10 percent and 12 percent to the country's Gross
National Product in 2006. In addition to the country's political
stability, the geography offered makes Jordan an attractive tourism
destination. Jordan's major tourist activities include numerous ancient
places, its unique desert castles and unspoiled natural locations to
its cultural and religious sites. The best known attractions include:
- Ancient sightseeing
- Petra in Ma'an, the home of the Nabateans,
is a complete city carved in a mountain. The huge rocks are colorful,
mostly pink, and the entrance to the ancient city is through a 1.25 km
narrow gorge in the mountain - called the Siq. In the city are various structures, all (except 2) are carved into rock, including al Khazneh - known as the Treasury - which has been designated as one of the "New Seven Wonders of the World"
by the for-profit New Open World Corporation. Other major sites of
interest in Petra include the Monastery, the Roman theatre, the Royal
Tombs, the High Place of Sacrifice. Petra was rediscovered for the
western world by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt in 1812.
- Umm Qais, a town located on the site of the ruined Hellenistic-Roman city of Gadara.
- Ajlun, famous for the Al-Rabad Castle.
- Jerash, famous for its its ancient Roman architecture, including the colonnaded streets, arches, Roman theatres, and the Oval Plaza.
- Amman contains the Roman theater, in addition to several museums, where one may find remains of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
- Al Karak contains an important castle from the times of Salah al-Din, known as Al-Karak Castle.
- Religion-related
- Madaba, well known for its mosaics, as well as important religious sites such as:
- Seaside
- Other sites
- Wadi Rum is a desert full of mountains
and hills located south of Jordan. It is popular for its sights in
addition to a variety of sports that are practiced there, such as
rock-climbing. It is also known for its connection to Lawrence of
Arabia.
- Fuheis, a beautiful town about 20 minutes north-west of Amman.
- Mahis with important religious sites, and wonderful landscape.
- Al-Omwia's Palace, placed to the north east of Jordan, of Islamic design.
Influence of the Southwest Asian conflict
The ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict, the Gulf War, and other conflicts in Southwest Asia have made huge impacts on the economy of Jordan. The fact that Jordan has peace with the surrounding countries, combined with its stability, has made it a preference for many Palestinians, Lebanese, and people from the Persian Gulf immigrants and refugees.
Though this may have resulted in a more active economy, it has also
damaged it by substantially decreasing the amount of resources each
person is entitled to. Jordan has a law that states that any
Palestinian may immigrate and obtain Jordanian citizenship, but must
remit his/her Palestinian claim. Palestinians are not allowed to
purchase land unless they give up their Palestinian citizenship. In
November 2005, King Abdullah called for a "war on extremism" in the
wake of three suicide bombings in Amman.
Foreign relations
-
Jordan has consistently followed a pro-Western foreign policy and
traditionally has had close relations with the United States and the
United Kingdom. These relations were damaged by Jordan's neutrality and
maintaining relations with Iraq during the first Gulf War.
Jordan has a well earned reputation for usually following a pragmatic
and non-confrontational foreign policy, leading to fair relations with
its neighbours.
King Abdullah II on a visit to The Pentagon.
Following the Gulf war, Jordan largely restored its relations with
Western countries through its participation in the Southwest Asia peace
process and enforcement of UN sanctions against Iraq. Relations between
Jordan and the Gulf countries improved substantially after King
Hussein's death. Following the fall of the Iraqi regime, Jordan has
played a pivotal role in supporting the restoration of stability and
security to Iraq. The Government of Jordan signed a memorandum of
understanding with the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq to
facilitate the training of up to 30,000 Iraqi police cadets at a
Jordanian facility.
Jordan signed a non-belligerency agreement with Israel (the Washington Declaration) in Washington, D.C., on 25 July 1994. King Hussein and Yitzhak Rabin negotiated this treaty. Jordan and Israel signed a historic peace treaty on 26 October 1994, witnessed by President Bill Clinton, accompanied by U.S. Secretary, Warren Christopher.
The U.S. has participated with Jordan and Israel in trilateral
development discussions in which key issues have been water-sharing and
security; cooperation on Jordan Rift Valley development; infrastructure
projects; and trade, finance, and banking issues. Jordan also
participates in the multilateral peace talks. Jordan belongs to the UN
and several of its specialized and related agencies, including the
World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Meteorological
Organization (IMO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and the World Health Organization
(WHO). Jordan also is a member of the World Bank, International
Monetary Fund (IMF), Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC),
Nonaligned Movement (NAM), and Arab League.
Culture
-
The culture of Jordan, as in its spoken language, values, beliefs, ethnicities is Arab as the Kingdom is in the heart of Southwest Asia.
Although many people from different regions of the world have come to
settle in Jordan, like Circassians and Chechens, they have long been
assimilated in the society and added their richness to the society that
subsequently developed.
Language
Arabic is the official language of Jordan. English
is widely understood among most Jordanians, although the degree to
which varies with educational level and demographic concentration.
Middle and upper class citizens tend to be fluent and consider English
as their second language. French is understood by some especially graduates of the handful of French Schools graduates in Jordan. Armenian and other Caucasian languages such as Circassian and Chechen
are understood and spoken by their respective communities residing in
Jordan with minority schools teaching these languages, alongside Arabic
and English.
Education
-
Jordan has given great attention to education in particular. Its
educational system is of international standards and its secondary
education program is accepted in world-class universities. It is ranked 84th in the world according to literacy rate.
School education
- See also: Tawjihi and List of private schools in Jordan
School education in Jordan could be categorized into two sections:
- Secondary education,
which consists of two years of school study, for students who have
completed the 10-year basic cycle. It comprises two major tracks:
-
- Secondary education, which can either be academic or vocational. At the end of the two-year period, students sit for the general secondary examination (Tawjihi)
in the appropriate branch and those who pass are awarded the Tawjihi
(General Secondary Education Certificate). The academic stream
qualifies students for university entrance, whereas the vocational or technical type qualifies for entrance to Community colleges or universities or the job market, provided they pass the two additional subjects.
- Vocational secondary education, which provides intensive vocational training and apprenticeship, and leads to the award of a Certificate (not
the Tawjihi). This type of education is provided by the Vocational
Training Corporation, under the control of the Ministry of Labour /
Technical and Vocational Education and Training Higher Council.
Foreign secondary education programs
After completing the 8 or 10 years of basic education, Jordanians
are free to choose any foreign secondary education program instead of
the Tawjihi examinations (8 for IGCSE, 10 for SAT and IB). Such programs are usually offered by private schools. These programs include:
Private schools in Jordan also used to offer GCSE examinations, but they have now been replaced by IGCSE examinations.
Upon graduation, the ministry of Higher Education, through a system similar to that of the UK tariff
points, transforms the Grades/Marks of these foreign educational
programs, into the same marks used in grading Tawjihi students. This
system is controversial, both as to the conversion process and the
number of places allocated to non-Tawjihi applicants.
Another source of trouble is the system used to transform exam
results of foreign education programs into the Tawjihi scale, which is
a percentage out of 100. Again, some see the system as fair and in fact
over lenient with non-Tawjihi graduates, while others see it as unfair.
Higher education
- See also: List of universities in Jordan
Access to higher education is open to holders of the General Secondary Education Certificate who can then apply to private community colleges, public
community colleges or universities (public and private), the admission
to public universities is very competitive. The credit-hour system,
which entitles students to select courses according to a study plan, is
implemented at universities. At present, there are eight public
universities plus two newly-licensed ones, and thirteen private
universities plus four newly-licensed ones. All post-secondary
education is the responsibility of the Ministry of Higher Education and
Scientific Research. The Ministry includes the Higher Education Council
and the Accreditation Council.
See also
References
- ^ Black September at History Central.
- ^ Jordan Expels the PLO in 1970, Palestine Facts.
- ^ (Arabic) Aljazeera.net article.
- ^ BBC World Weather - Country Guide:Jordan.
- ^ دائرة الإحصاءات العامة - الأردن
- ^ http://world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&des=wg&geo=-110&srt=pnan&col=adhoq&msz=1500&va=&pt=a
- ^ النتائج الاولية للتعداد
- ^ Leyne, Jon. Doors closing on fleeing Iraqis, BBC News, January 24, 2007. Accessed July 4, 2008.
- ^ The New Iraqi Diaspora, Hii Dunia, January 2007
- ^ http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=2PgiE1PCeL8C&pg=PA278&lpg=PA278&dq=jordan+special+courts&source=web&ots=zo5NSYkmBt&sig=Hwv28otEiNUZ1QNqutG0MDnG9co&hl=en#PPA278,M1
- ^ Jordan woman 'wins right to divorce', BBC News, May 13, 2002. Accessed July 1, 2008.
- ^ http://www.legal500.com - Default Recommended Firms
- ^ US Department of State Background Note: Jordan http://www.infoplease.com/country/profiles/jordan.html
- ^ www.kinghussein.gov.jo/government3html
- ^
p.148 Parker, C. 2004 ‘Transformation without transition: electoral
politics, network ties, and the persistence of the shadow state in
Jordan’ in Elections in the Middle East: what do they mean’ Cairo
Papers in Social Sciences Vol. 25 Numbers ½, Spring Summer 2002 Cairo
- ^
World Bank 2003 p.44 ‘Better governance for development in the Middle
East and North Africa: Enhancing inclusiveness and accountability’
Washington
- ^ www.lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+jo0103)
- ^ Jordan-US FTA.
- ^ NLCNet.
- ^ The Dead Sea, NPR
Further reading
External links
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