Following Gas Deal With Israel, Jordanians Ask Clerics Whether it’s OK To Steal Electricity

Jordanian citizens have asked Islamic clerics whether taking electricity off the central grid is considered stealing, following the national power company’s multi-million dollar gas deal with Israel, the local media reported. 

The many critics of the deal say it was an act of “flagrant normalization” and the Israeli gas had been usurped from the Palestinians. Thousands have been protesting under the banner “The enemy’s gas is occupation.”

Many started discussions in online religious forums about whether they can steal electricity from Natural Electric Power in protest. The Jordanian news site Amon reported that many wrote “now you can steal electricity without it bothering your conscience” as well as “this gas is stolen, so stealing it is OK.”

“Stealing electricity from the state has now become 100 percent legitimate,” some wrote. “But we’d better consult the sages.” Others wrote that the electricity bills should be paid to the families of Palestinian martyrs.

Others said that theft is theft, and that thieves don’t need to look for excuses to steal. Some of them stated that social media legitimizes populism and said Facebook should be shut down.