Report: Jordan arrests suspect in attack on Israeli convoy
Convoy transporting 3 Israeli diplomats targeted by remotely detonated roadside bomb; no casualties.
By Barak Ravid and Amos Harel Tags: Israel news JordanJordanian authorities arrested overnight Thursday in Amman a taxi driver suspected of involvement in Thursday's bomb attack on an Israeli embassy convoy in Jordan, Arabic-language news network Al-Arabiya reported.
Jordan's Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh called Israel's ambassador to Jordan Daniel Nevo on Thursday after a roadside explosive device went off near a convoy of cars carrying three Israeli diplomats traveling from Jordan toward Israeli earlier.
The blast occurred at around 6 p.m. close to the Allenby Bridge crossing between Jordan and the West Bank. No one was hurt.
Judeh stressed in his conversation with the Israeli ambassador that Jordanian authorities were investigating the incident and that every effort was being made to apprehend the perpetrators of the attack as soon as possible.
Israel's Foreign Ministry emphasized that Nevo was not in the convoy, and was never in any danger.
Thursday's bombing was the first time a roadside explosive device was used in an attack in Jordan, where suicide bombings and shootings have targeted foreigners in recent years. The method is widespread in neighboring Iraq.
The sundown attack also exposed a security breach for Israeli diplomats, who are usually escorted by security personnel from both countries and use different routes and departure times during their occasional travels in Jordan.
The explosion ripped through the right side of a curvy road cutting through hilly villages on the western outskirts of the capital, Amman. The blast left a large hole about 3 feet deep and damaged a highway guardrail.
Jordanian forensic officers were inspecting the site of the attack, a security official said. The area is halfway from the Allenby Bridge over the Jordan River, which links Jordan with the West Bank.
Israel and Jordan, which signed a peace treaty in 1994, maintain close security cooperation and cordial diplomatic ties.
But anti-Israeli sentiments have been running high as the Israel-Palestinian conflict drags on without a solution. A significant portion of Jordan's population is made up of Palestinians.
Police were trying to determine the size and complexity of the bomb, which appears to have been detonated remotely, the official said, insisting on anonymity because he is not allowed to release details during early stages of investigation.
Israeli media reported that one the timing of the remote-controlled detonation was off and the vehicles were not seriously damaged. The convoy later crossed the bridge to Israel.
The section of road, which is less monitored than the area closer to the bridge, is used by tourists and other travelers visiting the Dead Sea.
After the explosion, the convoy entered a small Jordanian army post as soldiers searched the area, Channel 2 reported.
Jordanian police sealed off the main road leading to the area, sending large numbers of firefighters, police and ambulances to the scene.
Information Minister Nabil Sharif said in a brief statement that an explosive device went off on the side of the road leading to the Jordan Valley as some civilian vehicles were passing by, including two Israeli diplomatic cars.
He said there were no injuries, and authorities have launched an investigation.
Two Jordanian security officials said the attackers may have thought that the Israeli ambassador to Jordan was in the convoy.
In Amman, Israeli Embassy spokeswoman Merav Horsandi confirmed there was a blast next to a convoy carrying embassy employees. "All I can say now is that everyone is fine," she said.
In Jerusalem, Israeli officials said four passengers and two security guards were in the convoy and they were heading to Israel for the weekend.
There have been several attempted attacks on Israeli citizens in Jordan in past years.
In 2001, Israeli jeweler Yitzhak Shnir, 51, was gunned down in Amman. An unknown group claimed responsibility, saying Shnir was an Israeli spy.
In 2005, al-Qaida in Iraq said after its triple hotel blasts in Amman that one of the targets included a hotel known to be patronized by Israelis.
Officials have warned of likely terror attacks against Israeli targets abroad for some time, with Hezbollah thought to seek revenge for the assassination of its deputy chief Imad Mughniyeh in 2008. Though Israel has denied any involvement in the assassination, the Lebanese militia has repeatedly accused Israel of orchestrating the Damascus bombing that killed Mughniyeh, and has vowed to avenge his death.
Over recent years, several attempts have been made to harm Israeli diplomats around the world, notably in an attempt to blow up the Israeli embassy in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku a year ago.
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We Jordanians don't believe in violence, and we would never do anything to put our country in danger, attacking an Israeli embassy convoy in our country is the last thing we need right now.. we're at peace with Israel, and we are working so hard to make this peace bring harmony and joy to our people.. we will not point our hands, we need to work even harder to stop those savages from destroying peace.. Love and peace from Jordan..
a mindset akin to: If you don't make peace we will kill you. Not very smart or civilized either.
If there is no progress on the peace front, then don't expect the situation to remain static. It will deteriorate on all fronts.
Well, maybe you should continue with reading! It wasn't only the "Palestinians" fighting the Jews of "Palestine". Obviously you have never heard of the Arab Legion, very well trained by the British, just to mention one aspect out of many. :-) good luck - get back to the books. Shalom / Salam
We condemn such coward attacks and I think this was a reaction from extremists to the government policy towards having peaceful relations with Israel. We're moving forward with what we believe is right as we're fed up with hatred and wars. We are after peace, not only on papers but also on the ground with natural relations, friendship and mutual respect. The good thing after all is that nobody was hurt ..
1948. They fought 5 Arab armies. Rednecks and midgets should stop posting...Haaretz is a high class news source.
on Palestinian side. When they invaded May 15, they had planes, Ships, tanks and artillery. The Hagana had none at that time. That's what counted. The Jews had to simultaneously fight ALL of them, so what is your point? Maybe you'l say that in WW II the US, England and Russia all ganged up against poor Italy, leaving out Germany and Japan?
oh yes, 60 years, who do you think lived on those lands before the creation of Israel? sure, they are "Arabs" by race, but that area was called "Palestine" by the British and prior. half of Jordan is Palestinians, where do you think they came from? Israel got created on the lands of other people. its a proven fact in history, so do not distort the truth. did Jews also live there? of course, but they were Semitic Jews, not European Jews like the majority of Israel today.
Prepare to paint your faces red. Who has been found to be culpable? Or at least who was arrested. The attack was not the work of experience or particularly competent men. What flagging organization sent them? OR have the diplomats of israel become so complacent that incompetent amateurs threaten them? Either seems likely.
Very impressive Jackie, except NYC guy wasn't talking about Arab armies, he said Palestinians and he was right.
Oh please how shallow of you..."over 60 years of occupation"...who did Israel occupy in "48'? Tell me Tareq do you hear complaints coming from the arabs that live in Haifa? Truth be told when the Israeli arabs are polled they would not want to live anywhere else but Israel. You certainly do not see them leaving for other arab countries. They would have to have their heads examined if they did that. Wise up buddy..your propaganda is old and stale and truth be told you are distorting the truth at the very least.
Arab armies were well trained and well led. The Jordanian army was led by a British officer, for example, when they attacked the newly formed nation of Israel. Wha beat those armis eventually was incompetence and insufficient motives. Although they had better weapons, the Arabs were fighting for land and destruction of Jews, not fighting for their very existence. A few Americans and Canadians joined the Israeli forces, but their numbers were few. Actually, the Arabs managed to kill 10 per cent of the Jewish population of the new country.
it was a turkish reprisal
They were smuggling in parts of fighter planes from europe and burying them in the sand. They were buying weapons with all the european and american money ..what are you talking about? The Zionists of Haganna were also being trained by professional Military from Europe. The Palestinians were farmers, sheepherders and fisherman. They had no weapons at all. Do a little reading first before you make these ridiculous claims
"The conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis didn`t start last year, it`s over 60 years of occupation, suppression, and killings." The killings started in 1920, when the Arabs led massacres against the Jews throughout the region. They led another massacre in 1929. They led another massacre in 1936. It was in the 1936 massacre that the Jews started fighting back. It wasn't until 1948 when the Jews started winning. So, no, it didn't start last year. It started in 1920 and the Arabs continue attacking the Jews.
It is known around the world that the extreme islamist method of attack is back stabing or against civilians. They do it from Gaza, Afganistan Iraq and I can go on and on and on. This act is same method using bomb against civilians.
"The explanation is easy. The conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis didn`t start last year, it`s over 60 years of occupation" Try this easy question... Who was occupying The West Bank up to 1967?
Amazing. Amusing. No one has taken credit and no one who is investigating has said a thing. Yet folks 'know' who did it. Round up the usual suspects.
any more then the Lebanese do. Hezbollah thugs are busy beating and killing Iranians who oppose the regime. Assad is playing both ends against the middle. I don't see war happening unless Hezbollah forces it on Israel and Lebanon, just like last time.
When you say 60 years of occupation you are in fact saying that there should be no Israel only since 60 years ago modern days' Israel was created. If you really want peace you make peace with Israel by first recognizing it. In that case there is no 60 years of occupation but there is a 60 year conflict that needs to be resolved by negotiations. Jews lived in Palestine including the WB during the Ottoman rule. When Arabs tried to kicked them out in those years Ottoman rulers protected them (Dave from Turkey must have studied in History classes in High School). Now it is time to share the region in a fair way between the 5 Million Jews in a state for Jews called Israel and one for the Arabs in the WB and Gaza. Selam Tareq.
Tareq, As you remember the history so well, pls remind me of what happened in September 1969 when 15.000 - 20.0000 soldiers died in your kingdom.
as a person who knows the history well you know there is two faces of history. at first israel didnt have more weapons than surrounding armies things changed.like for exemple 60 years before palestinian arabs refused to call themselfs palestinians cuz it meant jew.its not 60 years of occupation its 40 years and before that you were right 20 years of jordan occupation. lets try to be objective.even though both of us cant cuz we take sides none cant deny two people suffered none can deny two people has the same right to have their country. two people re both responsible for violences and suffering. they both dont want war anymore one side ceased attacks after gaza war. why continue attack when u can start talking. so for u palestinians have right to be angry and attack for the violence against them.its ok for u but when israelis attack back for the current violence against their territory this is outrage? my first question is not a for my lack of historical knowledge as u see!
"So Wael, do you really think that Israel would try to kill its own diplomats as a pretext to start a war?" -Ol Case Well, they didn't hurt anyone, did they? So who knows?
Yes over half of Jordanians are Palestinians AND over half of Jordan is Palestine. And ALL those calling themselves Palestinians today ALSO call themselves Arabs. And guess which side of the Semitic family has FAR more room to accommodate a "land for peace" solution. The Jewish side or the Arab side?
Has the bomb hosting country apologised to the country of the attacked citizens ?
but you must try, try and try...you'll succeed at last
So Wael, do you really think that Israel would try to kill its own diplomats as a pretext to start a war? C'mon, who do you think really did it?
hope i am wrong ,but i guess israelly intelligence might have done such an assasination attempt, so they can have an alleby to accuse hezbolla and start a new war. lets wait and see
The explanation is easy. The conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis didn't start last year, it's over 60 years of occupation, suppression, and killings. Guess who has the more lethal weapons? If you are objective, you can't look at what happen today as an isolated incident and don't forget that over half of the Jordanians are Palestinians.
israel has a hostile neighbourhood because Israel is the aggressor! since gaza war israel didnt attack unless being attacked! and still there re attacks! how do u explain this?