Jordanians demonstrate against gas deal with Israel

Hundreds of Jordanians took to the streets here on Friday to protest a gas deal signed between Jordan and Israel.

Demonstrators hold Jordanian flags, banners and chanted slogans, calling for cancelation of the deal.

"We do not want gas from the Israeli enemy," chanted the demonstrators.

Abdullah Salem, a 36-year-old teacher who joined the demonstration in downtown Amman, said buying gas from Israel is unacceptable because "Israeli authorities are committing major violation against our brotherly Palestinians."

Similar protests took place across Jordan after the government announced the gas deal on Sept. 26, with protesters criticizing the agreement as a threat to the country's security.

The deal was signed with the United States Noble Energy, the main control holder of Israel's Leviathan gas field, to import natural gas.

Jordan's state-run National Electric Power Company said the deal will meet 40 percent of the country's gas needs and save about 600 million U.S. dollars annually.

Under the agreement, Noble Energy will provide gas worth of 15 billion U.S. dollars to Jordan for 15 years, which is over 8 million cubic meters on a daily basis.

Figures show that Jordan imports about 97 percent of its energy needs. Endit