Zarka

Zarqa is a city and an industrial center of Jordan in the North-East of the capital Amman. Its population was estimated at 792.665 inhabitants in 2000, that is to say 15,5% the total population of the country. It counts an important Palestinian population , around 50% of its inhabitants are indeed originating in other bank of the the Jordan.

The city is in the vicinity immediate of Amman (25 km of center in center), the two agglomerations are largely intermingled. In spite of this proximity, Zarqa is significantly more arid than the capital.

The city concentrates 50% of the industry of the country. Its inhabitants are essentially families with low-income. It is also prefecture of the Gouvernorat of Zarqa.

Historically, the city was in the center of the international attention during a few days in September 1970.

The September 6th, then the September 9th, 3 planes diverted by the Palestinian activists of PFLP (flights BOAC Bombay - Rome, Swissair New York - Zurich and TWA New York Frankfurt) are posed on the small airport of Zarqa (known under the name of Dawson Field).

The nonJewish passengers (310) are released the September 11th, but the Jewish crew and passengers are kept as an hostage, the kidnappers exploding the empty planes on the airport of Zarqa the September 12th in front of the international press.

The September 16th, the martial Loi is issued by the king Hussein, who chooses to expel the organization Palestinian of the Jordanian territory. It is the beginning of the dramatic events of black September.

The victory of the Jordanian army will see the release of the 56 remaining hostages the September 30th, within the framework of an prisoner exchange.

Zarqa is today known to be the birthplace of Abou Moussab Al-Zarqaoui, former head of Al-Qaida in Iraq killed by the American forces the June 7th 2006 with Bakouba.

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