Since mid-1999, Abdullah has visited important leaders in the region, including Jordan's old foes. Syria and Libya, lie also went to Paris, Washington and London to ensure financial support from major Western allies,Cheap Jordan Shoes, and successfully obtained US$300 million in aid from the USA. Throughout the Al-Aqsa intifada in the Palestinian Territories, Abdullah has been one of the voices of moderation within the Arab world, preferring diplomacy as a means of bringing about a peace settlement. This stance has won him much respect in international circles. He has. however, come under attack from many Palestinians and other Arabs for maintaining relations w ith Israel and being ineffectual in his attempts to bring about a solution to the conflict. Although he has proven to be adept at following in his father’s footsteps, it remains to be seen whether Abdullah's diplomatic skills are as enduring, or as ultimately effective, as Hussein's. At home, his drive to stamp out corruption has helped to maintain his popularity. Concerns remain, however; in 2002 human rights activists claimed that freedom of expression was being restricted, with all demonstrations in support of the Palestinians being strictly controlled by the government.
per year from Lake Tiberias, disputes have arisen over whether Jordan is getting its fair share. In 1998 Jordan had to beg ingloriously for water from Syria (an old foe).
Both Jordan and Israel have recently allocated millions of dollars to water projects. The joint Syrian-Jordanian Wihdeh Dam on the Yarmouk River is a major project being built in conjunction with Jordan’s neighbours. Another idea is the construction of a scries of desalination plants, hydroelectric power stations and canals that would link the Red Sea with the Dead Sea (see the boxed text ‘The Dead Sea’ in the Around Amman chapter for details).
To make matters worse. Jordan has endured droughts for five consecutive years: the one in 1998/9 was the worst in 50 years,Retro Jordans, and cost an estimated US$200 million in lost and damaged agriculture and livestock. During this period there was also a fall of between 10% and 30% in the country’s cereal production. Although the winter rains in 2001-02 eased the effects of the drought,Air Jordan Shoes, water storage levels remain critically low at around 30% of capacity.
Since mid-1999, Abdullah has visited important leaders in the region, including Jordan's old foes. Syria and Libya, lie also went to Paris, Washington and London to ensure financial support from major Western allies,Cheap Jordan Shoes, and successfully obtained US$300 million in aid from the USA. Throughout the Al-Aqsa intifada in the Palestinian Territories, Abdullah has been one of the voices of moderation within the Arab world, preferring diplomacy as a means of bringing about a peace settlement. This stance has won him much respect in international circles. He has. however, come under attack from many Palestinians and other Arabs for maintaining relations w ith Israel and being ineffectual in his attempts to bring about a solution to the conflict. Although he has proven to be adept at following in his father’s footsteps, it remains to be seen whether Abdullah's diplomatic skills are as enduring, or as ultimately effective, as Hussein's. At home, his drive to stamp out corruption has helped to maintain his popularity. Concerns remain, however; in 2002 human rights activists claimed that freedom of expression was being restricted, with all demonstrations in support of the Palestinians being strictly controlled by the government.
ReplyDeleteper year from Lake Tiberias, disputes have arisen over whether Jordan is getting its fair share. In 1998 Jordan had to beg ingloriously for water from Syria (an old foe).
Both Jordan and Israel have recently allocated millions of dollars to water projects. The joint Syrian-Jordanian Wihdeh Dam on the Yarmouk River is a major project being built in conjunction with Jordan’s neighbours. Another idea is the construction of a scries of desalination plants, hydroelectric power stations and canals that would link the Red Sea with the Dead Sea (see the boxed text ‘The Dead Sea’ in the Around Amman chapter for details).
To make matters worse. Jordan has endured droughts for five consecutive years: the one in 1998/9 was the worst in 50 years,Retro Jordans, and cost an estimated US$200 million in lost and damaged agriculture and livestock. During this period there was also a fall of between 10% and 30% in the country’s cereal production. Although the winter rains in 2001-02 eased the effects of the drought,Air Jordan Shoes, water storage levels remain critically low at around 30% of capacity.