AMMAN (Dispatches) –Jordanian protestors have staged a rally in central Amman against a multi-billion-dollar deal struck last month to import natural gas from the Israeli-occupied territories.
The protesters gathered in front of the Professional Associations Complex building, carrying banners and chanting slogans in condemnation of the accord, Arabic-language Ammon news website reported.
Participants in the march, organized by trade unions and political parties opposed to the 1994 peace treaty between the Zionist regime and Jordan, argued that the purchase of natural gas from the "occupying regime of Israel” is a crime against Jordanians.
They also rejected the gas agreement as a move toward further improvement of ties with the regime.
Last week, protesters gathered in front of Grand al-Husseini Mosque, also known as King Hussein Mosque, in downtown Amman following Friday prayers, and carried signs reading "The Enemy's Gas Is Occupation” and "No to the Shameful Deal” in Arabic.
The participants in the demonstration stated that the 10-billion-dollar natural gas deal struck with the regime runs contrary to Jordan’s national interests, calling for its immediate abolition.
On September 26, Jordan’s National Electric Power Company signed an agreement with U.S.-based Noble Energy and Israeli partners for the import of approximately 1.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, or 300 million cubic feet per day (mcf/d), over a 15-year term. Production is expected to begin around 2019 or 2020.