12 I ORLD NEWSW Passion Islam I June 2009
Anti-terror centre opens in Jordan
in Yajuz, on the northern outskirts of designed to provide “the best training
Amman, was partly funded by the US, available to counter-terrorism forces
officials said. who seek to hone their battle skills
“Everyone involved has helped to and refine their techniques or prepare
produce an impressive world-class for deployments.”
training centre...” Petraeus told the Harrell added that the centre,
ceremony, attend by royal family located in an old quarry, has “absolute
members as well as regional and state of the art equipment, targets,
international military delegations. (and) the latest in instrumentation.”
Jordanian special forces simulate “This... centre will offer countless Jordan, a key US ally, has received
a hostage rescue operation during opportunities for specialised training $5.6bn in economic and military aid
the opening of the King Abdullah II for the special operations forces of since 1952 and enjoys a reputation as
Special Operations Training Centre Jordan as well as regional international one of the region’s safest countries.
near Amman. partners,” he said. The kingdom approved a tough
Jordan’s King Abdullah II Petraeus said the facility will also anti-terror law after three suicide
inaugurated yesterday a regional help boost regional security. bombers killed 60 people and
counter-terrorism training centre at a “We can’t achieve our shared goals wounded almost 100 in attacks on
ceremony attended by General David and protect ourselves from our luxury hotels in Amman in 2005.
Petraeus, the top US commander in common threats without strong co- “The centre is a true example of
Iraq and Afghanistan. operation with each other,” he said. Jordanian-US partnership to fight
The $200mn King Abdullah II Centre director Gary Harrell said all types of terrorism,” said Jordan’s
Special Operations Training Centre the 500-dunum (125-acre) facility is army chief General Khaled Sarairah.
France welcomes new
Halal choice on the go
Palestinian government
France said that it welcomed the Also, France “reminds the
announcement that a new government Israeli authorities that stability and
had been formed by the Palestinians development in the region will come Finding a halal restaurant just became
under President Mahmoud Abbas about by a freeze in settlements, the
significantly easier for American
with Prime Minister Salam Fayyad as easing of restrictions on movement
Muslims, thanks to a new smart phone
chief executive. and the lifting of the blockade of
application launched this month that
“We recall the full confidence of Gaza,” the statement stressed.
makes dietary religious observance a
France in President Abbas and Prime Israel has been resisting any
piece of cake.
Minister Salam Fayyad for the re- serious consideration of Palestinian
Ask dietary-cautious Muslims in the
west what their major challenge is when
launching without delay of the peace statehood and the proposal of a
it comes to eating religiously-permitted
negotiations with Israel,” a French “Two-State” solution to the conflict.
foods and they’ll say finding a halal
Foreign Ministry statement said. Israel has also defiantly continued to
place on-the-go. But with Halalpal, an
The statement also said that build and authorize future construction
iPhone application that locates halal
France expected the Palestinian of illegal settlements in the occupied restaurants and eateries throughout
side to “respect the commitments West Bank and in East Jerusalem,
the United States, sticking to a halal
made within the road map and to despite international calls to halt this
diet has become much easier.
implement the Palestinian reform activity.
The search engine application
and development plan with a view to On the Palestinian side, France
designed for Apple’s iPhone gives
creating am independent, sovereign, said it would continue to seek to
users a list of nearby restaurants
viable, democratic and modern state, promote “the necessary reconciliation”
with maps, contact information, price
categories and recommendations
living in peace and security beside between Palestinian factions, notably
The application scans the internet
Israel.” France noted that “important Hamas and Fatah, and the French
-- mainly Google, Yahoo, Yelp and the
results have been obtained over the government reiterated its support for
online guide to halal restaurants and
past months, notably in the area of Egyptian mediation between the two
products known as Zabihah.com -- to
management of public finances and sides. produce a list of halal eateries sorted
security.” The French government will The French government also
by distance.
continue its support for the Palestinian affirmed its willingness “to work with a
Rami Dodin, Halalpal’s 26-year-old
Authoritys efforts to implement the (Palestinian) government of national
founder, said “Halal eating is a very
reform and development plan and union whose positions and actions
niche thing and it is hard to get specific
for the reconstruction of Gaza, the reflect the principles of the peace
search results off of Google and Yahoo
statement indicated. process.”
because they do not target that specific
customer group,” he explained.
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