Jordan summons Israeli envoy, protests arrest of 2 knife-wielding Jordanians

Jordanian foreign ministry demands immediate release of its two nationals, arrested after allegedly crossing into Israel with blades

By AFP Today, 11:32 pm 0 Edit

AMMAN — Jordan’s foreign ministry on Tuesday summoned the Israeli ambassador in protest at Israel’s detention of two Jordanians arrested after allegedly crossing into the country with knives.

The ministry said it wanted to “convey a strongly worded protest message pertaining to the detention of two Jordanians in Israel” during the meeting with Ambassador Amir Weissbrod, as well as to demand their release.

On May 16, Israel announced the arrest of two Jordanians for allegedly crossing the border from the kingdom on their way to Jerusalem, carrying knives.

The ministry “stressed the need to allow the Jordanian embassy in Tel Aviv to visit the two nationals as soon as possible, to assess their situation and to provide the necessary support for them in accordance with relevant international laws,” it added.

Around half of Jordan’s 10 million-strong population is of Palestinian origin, including some 2.2 million refugees registered with the United Nations.

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Throughout the 11-day conflict earlier this month between Israel and Palestinian terrorists in Gaza, demonstrations were held almost daily in Jordan in solidarity with the Palestinians, including demands for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who landed in Israel on Tuesday, is due to visit Egypt and Jordan, which both have peace treaties with the Jewish state, as part of a Middle East tour.