Israel is exerting efforts to end crisis with Jordan after killing Palestinian judge

Israel is intensifying its diplomatic efforts to sort out the crisis with Jordan after occupation forces killed on Monday morning a Palestinian judge who holds Jordanian citizenship, Israel Radio reported on Tuesday.

The report did not mention the source of its information or describe what kinds of diplomatic efforts are being exerted to end the crisis.

Israeli occupation forces shot to death judge Raed Za’eiter, aged 38, while he was entering Allenby Bridge between Jordan and the occupied West Bank. Israeli army commander Yaron Beit On told reporters that Za’eiter had attempted to snatch the rifle of an Israeli soldier.

The Jordanian government demanded immediate investigations into the judge’s death. The Israeli foreign ministry replied that an investigation into the incident has already started and Amman would be informed about the findings as soon as the probe was completed.

Jordan’s Foreign Minister Nasser Joudeh summoned on Monday Israel’s acting ambassador in Amman to express his country’s deep concern about the killing.

Another Jordanian official noted that the incident has put Jordanian-Israeli relations at stake. The official, who preferred anonymity, said that: “Diplomatic channels witnessed hot contacts on Monday, including serious protests from Jordan and a demand to punish the perpetrators.”

The official added that what is increasing Jordan’s anger is the timing of the crime, which coincides with declining Jordanian-Israeli relations due to Israel’s escalating violations against the holy sites in Jerusalem and the Knesset’s proposed draft resolution to revoke Jordan’s custodianship over them.

Jordanian security forces forcefully dispersed a demonstration against the judge’s killing in front of the Israeli embassy in Amman. Protesters called for an end to Jordanian-Israeli relations and demanded the dismissal of the Israeli ambassador in Amman and recalling his counterpart in Tel-Aviv.

Jordan and Israel have maintained official relations since 1994, when the peace accord known as Wadi Araba was signed.