Israeli authorities have arrested a Jordanian lawmaker on suspicion of arms smuggling.
It was a “very serious incident,” Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen told the news site ynet on Monday. Jordanian authorities are in contact with Israel “to clarify the exact facts,” the Jordanian Foreign Ministry wrote on Twitter. According to Israeli media reports, the MP was arrested over the weekend as he entered the West Bank with about 200 firearms and 100 kilograms of gold.
Israeli officials became aware of him because of the unusually heavy weight of his car. According to “ynet”, he has been handed over to the Shin Bet domestic secret service for questioning.
He sees no connection between the incident and Jordan as a whole, Cohen said. “I don’t want to blame the entire government or parliament in Jordan.” Rather, it is a “criminal background”. According to reports in the Jordanian media, the 35-year-old member of parliament is said to have ties to the Palestinian organization Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip. It is classified as a terrorist organization by the US, EU and Israel.
The neighboring countries of Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty in 1994. But there are regular diplomatic tensions, especially because of Israel’s Palestinian policy and the situation on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. (sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
