Netanyahu meets defense chiefs on crisis with Jordan

GAZA CITY - 25 July 2017: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held consultations with defense chiefs on the crisis at the Israeli embassy in Amman, Yediot Ahronot reported Monday.

A security guard from the Israeli Embassy in Amman opened fire Sunday on a 17-year-old Jordanian, claiming that he was wielding a screwdriver and attacked the guard. The owner of the building, a Jordanian doctor, was struck by a stray bullet and killed as well.

Jordanian security forces who arrived at the scene surrounded the embassy building in order to launch an investigation into the incident and sought to question the security guard.

Israel claims that according to the Vienna Convention, the security officer is immune from all criminal charges and civil suits in Jordan, and he will not be subject to arrest or interrogation.

The guard suffered only superficial injuries in the attack and was treated at the embassy by a trained medic. While he needs further treatment at a hospital, he was not taken to one because of the circumstances of the incident.

While the Jordanians agreed to allow the rest of the diplomatic staff to leave the embassy, they insisted the guard remains for questioning. The diplomatic staff refused to leave without the guard, leaving some 30 of them on lockdown in the embassy compound.

Speaking in front of the UN Security Council on Monday, Israel's Ambassador Danny Danon said he believes the crisis be resolved soon, while a Jordanian official told Ammon News the guard will not be allowed to leave the country until the official investigation into the incident is completed.

According to the source, "Diplomatic steps will be taken if Israel continues with its position that the guard not be questioned under the Vienna Convention."

A Jordanian official in Amman said, "Jordan is aware of the treaty (Vienna Convention) and all options are open."

Two additional Jordanian officials told Jordanian newspaper Al Ghad that Jordan will take diplomatic steps against Israel if the guard is not turned over to Jordanian authorities for questioning. The officials also stated that the guard is not allowed to leave the Israeli embassy in Amman due to the killing of the two Jordanians.