AMMAN: Protesters gathered near the Israeli Embassy in the Jordanian capital Amman on Friday, angry that an Israeli embassy guard who shot dead two Jordanians had returned to Israel and been granted diplomatic immunity.
Friday’s protest was another sign of growing tensions between the two countries.
A Reuters witness said around 200 people had assembled peacefully in the vicinity of the embassy. Scores chanted, “Death to Israel,” and called for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador and the scrapping of an unpopular peace treaty with Israel.
On Sunday, an embassy guard shot dead Jordanian teenager Mohammad Jawawdah, as well as the guard’s landlord, at the house in which the guard lived. Israel claimed that the guard had been defending himself after Jawawdah assaulted him with a screwdriver.
Jordan’s King Abdallah angrily demanded on Thursday that Israel put the guard on trial. He also paid a visit to the family of the slain teenager to offer his condolences.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave the guard a hero’s welcome after Israel brought him home under diplomatic immunity.
King Abdallah, addressing a meeting of top Jordanian government and security officials, said that Israel’s handling of the embassy shooting, among other issues, “will have a direct impact on the nature of our relations.”
He also said Netanyahu should take legal action against the guard, instead of “dealing with this crime ... to achieve personal political gains.”
“Such unacceptable and provocative behavior at all levels infuriates all of us, leads to insecurity, and fuels extremism in the region,” the king warned.
Jordanian protesters call for end to peace treaty with Israel
Jordanian protesters call for end to peace treaty with Israel
Second drone in 24 hours found crashed in northwest Turkiye
- The authorities have pointed the finger at Russia for an unmanned aerial vehicle discovered on Friday near the city of Izmit
ISTANBUL: A drone of unknown origin has been found in Turkiye, less than a day after another unmanned aerial vehicle of suspected Russian origin crashed in the northwest, Turkish media reported on Saturday.
According to several independent television networks and the Cumhuriyet newspaper, the drone was found in an empty field near the town of Balikesir, some three hours southwest of Istanbul.
The Turkish authorities had yet to react to the news, but the Halk TV and Haberturk broadcasters reported that the drone was transported to Ankara for analysis.
Citing farmers, several media outlets reported that the crash appeared to have taken place days ago.
The incident, the third of its kind since Monday, comes after Turkiye warned both Russia and Ukraine against letting their ongoing war spill over elsewhere in the region.
The authorities have pointed the finger at Russia for an unmanned aerial vehicle discovered on Friday near the city of Izmit, around 30 kilometers (18 miles) south of the Black Sea, which has seen strikes on ships in recent weeks.
According to the Turkish interior ministry, which has opened an investigation, the drone “is believed to be of Russian-made Orlan-10 type used for reconnaissance and surveillance purposes according to initial findings.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned against the Black Sea becoming an “area of confrontation” between Russia and Ukraine, which occupy the opposite shores of the body of water to Turkiye.
