- Title: Jordanians protest signing of gas deal with Israel
- Date: 30th September 2016
- Summary: AMMAN, JORDAN (SEPTEMBER 30, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CROWD OF PROTESTER MARCHING THROUGH STREET PROTESTERS HOLDING UP SIGNS AND FLAG VARIOUS OF SIGN READING (Arabic): "THE ENEMY'S GAS IS OCCUPATION" SIGN READING: (English): "DON'T DO IT JORDAN, NOT WITH MY BILLS. I WILL NOT BE FORCED TO FUND ISRAEL" WOMEN PROTESTERS CHANTING DEPUTY CHIEF OF THE ISLAMIC ACTION FRONT, ALI ABU SUKKAR, SPEAKING TO JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DEPUTY CHIEF OF THE ISLAMIC ACTION FRONT, ALI ABU SUKKAR, SAYING: "There are Jordanians of all backgrounds and factions here. We are not all part of a party or political group, we instead represent all the sons of Jordan who reject this deal. Our message, which we state clearly, is that this deal does not represent the Jordanian people. We will not allow it to continue. We will hold accountable whoever signed this deal." PROTESTERS MARCHING / TRUCK DRIVING SLOWLY ON SIDE OF STREET SIGN READING (Arabic): "NO TO THE SHAMEFUL DEAL" PROTESTERS CHANTING POLICE WALKING NEAR PROTESTERS PROTESTER, SALMA NIMS, CHANTING (SOUNDBITE) (English) PROTESTER, SALMA NIMS, SAYING: "We are asking the government to stop this deal, we do not want it. We believe that the government has other alternatives for energy resources and there is no excuse to have any economic deals with the occupation." PROTESTERS MARCHING VARIOUS OF POLICE OFFICERS LINED UP NEAR PROTESTERS VARIOUS OF HUGE CROWDS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING ALONG STREET POLICE OFFICERS LINED UP AS PROTESTERS LEAVE
- Embargoed: 15th October 2016 13:24
- Keywords: Jordan Israel gas deal protest
- Location: AMMAN, JORDAN
- City: AMMAN, JORDAN
- Country: Jordan
- Topics: Bombing (non-military),Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA00151RDDFR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Thousands of protesters staged a protest in Amman on Friday (September 30) to demonstrate against a $10 billion gas deal between Jordan and Israel.
The deal will supply 1.6 trillion feet (tcf) of gas to Jordan's National Electric Power Company and marks a significant step forward in Israel's efforts to exploit its offshore gas reserves.
But protesters said they didn't want a deal with Israel, saying the government had other energy alternatives.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has often played up Israel's potential as an economic partner with Sunni Arab countries in the region.
In that respect, the deal with Jordan represents a breakthrough. While Israel and Jordan signed a peace deal in 1994, relations are not always good, but as economic ties deepen, Israel hopes they will become firmer.
Talks on the contract began more than two years ago.
The 15-year deal for the massive Leviathan natural gas field, which holds an estimated 22 tcf of gas, should help the U.S.-Israeli group secure funds to bring it online.
Production is expected to begin around 2019 or 2020. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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