Jordanian Parliament Recommends Expulsion of Israeli Ambassador Over Finance Minister’s Remarks
The parliament of Jordan has recommended the expulsion of Israel’s ambassador to Amman from the country in protest against the behaviour of a minister in Israel’s far-right government. The move comes after Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich denied the existence of the Palestinian people, leading to angry backlash from Jordan, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed al-Safadi, called on the government to take action against Smotrich, whose remarks have been described as reflective of “Israeli arrogance.” The Jordanian parliament issued a statement rejecting Smotrich’s comments, emphasizing that the map of Jordan is drawn only by Jordanians.
Israel’s national security adviser has since assured Jordan that Israel respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbour. Despite this, the Jordanian parliament remains united in its condemnation of Smotrich’s actions.
Jordan and Israel have a long and complicated history. Having fought against each other in 1948 and 1967, the two countries signed a peace treaty in 1994. Many Jordanians are Palestinian in origin, being the descendants of Palestinians who were forced from their homes by Israel.
