LONDON: Jordan’s King Abdullah II met Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Nayef Al-Hajraf to discuss expanding cooperation between Jordan and the Arab Gulf states, strengthening the strategic partnership between them, Petra News Agency reported.
They also discussed intensifying efforts to implement joint action plans and enhance security and stability in the region to serve Arab causes, the GCC said in a statement.
The meeting, which took place at Al-Husseiniya Palace in Amman, dealt with Arab and regional developments, foremost of which was the Palestinian issue and developments in Jerusalem.
Anti-Arab Israeli extremists, emboldened by the election of their allies to the Knesset, began a march over the weekend, calling for violence against Arabs.
The move raised tensions in the city and elsewhere, prompting cross-border attacks from Gaza and clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police.
King Abdullah affirmed his rejection of the attacks against Palestinians living in Jerusalem during the Muslim month of Ramadan, and his support for their steadfastness.
Al-Hajraf extended greetings from the leaders and peoples of the GCC member states to the king on the centennial anniversary of Jordan’s establishment, praising the great achievements made by the kingdom and wishing continued progress, prosperity and stability under the King Abdullah’s leadership.
He said that Jordan’s security was critical to the security of the Gulf states, adding that the GCC fully supports the decisions and measures the kingdom takes to preserve its future.
Jordan’s King Abdullah, GCC chief hold talks on anti-Arab extremist violence in Jerusalem
https://arab.news/4kj8k
Jordan’s King Abdullah, GCC chief hold talks on anti-Arab extremist violence in Jerusalem
- they discussed expanding cooperation between Jordan and the Arab Gulf states
- King Abdullah affirmed his rejection of the attacks against Palestinians living in Jerusalem
Lebanon approves release of former minister accused of corruption
- Salam is the only ex-minister to be arrested since the start of Lebanon’s economic crisis in 2019
- The official added that the bail was paid, with procedures ongoing to secure his release from prison
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s judiciary approved the release on bail of former economy minister Amin Salam on Tuesday after six months of detention over corruption linked to contracts deemed suspicious, a judicial official said.
Salam, who served in the cabinet of former prime minister Najib Mikati from 2021 to 2025, is the only ex-minister to be arrested since the start of Lebanon’s economic crisis in 2019.
The official, who requested anonymity, told AFP Lebanon’s judiciary “agreed to release former economy minister Amin Salam on bail of nine billion Lebanese pounds, equivalent to $100,000” and a travel ban.
The official added that the bail was paid, with procedures ongoing to secure his release from prison.
In June, another judicial official said Salam had been arrested in connection with alleged “falsification, embezzlement and suspicious contracts.”
Salam’s adviser Fadi Tamim was sentenced in 2023 to one year in prison for blackmail and personal enrichment at the expense of insurance companies.
The former minister’s brother Karim Salam was also arrested earlier this year in a “case of illicit enrichment, forgery and extortion of insurance companies,” committed “under cover of the minister himself,” the official said in June.
Many in Lebanon attribute the economic crisis to mismanagement and corruption that has plagued state institutions for decades.
President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who both took office this year, have vowed to make the fight against endemic corruption a priority, as part of the reforms demanded by international donors.
Both have vowed to uphold the independence of the judiciary and prevent interference in its work, in a country plagued by official impunity.
In September, former central bank governor Riad Salameh, who faces numerous accusations including embezzlement, money laundering and tax evasion, was released after being detained for over a year by paying a record bail of more than $14 million.
