Arabic press review: Jordanian MP asks Mohammed bin Salman to stop sending aid

Jordanian MP calls on Saudi Arabia to halt aid

A Jordanian lawmaker has urged Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to stop sending financial aid to Amman, the London-based Arabi 21 news website reported on Thursday. 

In a letter sent to the office of Mohammed bin Salman, Muhammad Inad Al-Fayez thanked Riyadh for "extending a helping hand" to Jordan but said most of the funds end up with the "corrupt class". 

Jordan: Three police officers killed in raid on suspected killers of policeman

Lire

"All Saudi aid is requested at the expense of the Jordanian people's dignity and then it is put in the pockets of a corrupt group," Al-Fayez said.

"The message of Jordanians is: We do not want aid, nor do we want donations, for our country is full of bounties. 

"Our pride won't allow us to be called 'beggars'."

The letter, dated 14 December, was sent two days after a two-day visit by Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh to Riyadh.

Al-Fayez has been a vocal supporter of the recent truck and public transport strikes that snowballed into anti-government protests and riots.

Earlier this month, he visited a protest site in the southern city of Maan, which has been the centre of the demonstrations.

Egypt puts journalists on Interpol wanted notice 

An Egyptian court has put several opposition journalists living abroad on an Interpol red notice, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed newspaper reported on Wednesday.

The court notified the international police force to arrest Hamza Zawbaa, Moataz Matar, Muhammad Nasser, Sayed Tawakul and Abdullah Al-Sharif on charges of spreading false news and belonging to a terrorist organisation.

Egyptian authorities have long used Interpol to target political opponents of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

Former Lebanese MP: Presidential vacancy will continue for months

In an interview with Arabi 21 news website, a politician and former member of parliament predicted that the presidential vacancy in Lebanon will continue for many months to come.  

Top US senators call for sanctions to pressure Lebanon to form government

Lire

Fares Souaid said that the next president would come through an understanding between Western powers, led by the United States, and in coordination with regional decision-making circles, specifically Saudi Arabia on the one hand and Iran on the other.

"Experience proves that the presidential election in Lebanon takes place from the outside [of the country] towards the inside and not the contrary," Souaid explained.

He added that Tehran is using the Lebanese presidency selection as a negotiation card in its attempt to hold talks with Gulf states and the US.

Lebanon's parliament has been unable to select a replacement for former President Michel Aoun, whose term expired in October, leaving the country with a political vacuum as it deals with what the World Bank says is one of the world's worst financial crises in 150 years.

On 15 December, the parliament, which is divided between pro and anti-Hezbollah camps, failed for the 10th time to elect a new executive.

Syrian refugee fears deportation after dispute with Turkish teacher

A Syrian refugee in Turkey says she has been threatened with deportation over a dispute with a school teacher, Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper reported on Thursday.

Iman Nassif, 22, told the London-based publication that a court ordered her arrest and that she now "faces deportation".

The charge she faces is related to a complaint she filed against a Turkish school teacher over a year ago.

Nassif said her sister faced physical mistreatment by the teacher at school which prompted her to file a complaint against her.

The teacher then filed a complaint against Nassif accusing her of verbally and physically assaulting her, a charge which she denies.

*Arabic press review is a digest of news reports not independently verified as accurate by Middle East Eye.