Israel has detained Jordanian member of parliament, Imad al-Adwan, in a case related to the alleged smuggling of arms and gold into the occupied West Bank, according to Jordan’s foreign ministry according to Al Jazeera. Al-Adwan was arrested and interrogated by Israeli authorities after crossing a main border crossing along the Jordan River on Sunday by car, said Sinan Majali, a Jordanian foreign ministry spokesperson, in a statement to state media on Sunday.
Investigating the Case
“The ministry and all relevant agencies in the kingdom are working to ascertain the details of this issue and address it as quickly as possible,” Majali added. Al-Adwan, 35, is a member of the Jordanian parliament’s Palestine Committee. Israeli media reported that he was arrested at the King Hussein Bridge (Allenby) border crossing in the occupied West Bank according to The Times of Israel. There has been no official comment from Israeli authorities on al-Adwan’s arrest. A spokesperson for Israel’s foreign ministry declined to comment on the reports.
Tensions between Jordan and Israel
Political relations between Israel and Jordan have soured in recent years over Israel’s stance on the right of Palestinians to a state. Prominent Jordanian legislator Khalil Atiya, known for his vocal opposition to Israel, said the government would be held responsible if it failed to act quickly. “There should be no room left for the enemy to harm the dignity of Jordanians by detaining and jailing a member of the parliament,” Atiya stated.
