A Jordanian minister has been photographed stepping on an Israeli flag, infuriating the occupying regime and leading it to summon Amman's envoy to Tel Aviv.
A photo was recently released showing Jumana Ghunaimat, Jordan’s minister for media affairs and communications and government spokesperson, stepping on an Israeli flag painted on the floor of the trade union headquarters in Amman last week while on her way for a meeting.
Israel’s foreign ministry has lodged a strong protest with Jordan over Ghunaimat's move, both to government officials in Amman and to the kingdom’s embassy in Tel Aviv.
On Monday, the ministry summoned Jordan’s envoy to Tel Aviv to clarify the incident.
Another Israel-Jordan Crisis. Jordanian amb to Israel summoned tomorrow to discuss incident at Israel Foreign Office in Jerusalem " Jordan's Information Minister and Gov Spokeswoman Jumana Ghanimat arrived yesterday at Trade Union HQ in Amman stepping on Israeli flag @JackyHugi https://t.co/xa8p7J31v9
— Eli Dror (@edrormba) December 29, 2018
The Amman meeting brought a number of Jordanian government officials, among them Prime Minister Omar Razzaz who entered the trade union building through a side entrance and avoided trampling on the Israeli flag.
During Razzaz's speech at the event, political activists heckled him and accused him of hypocrisy in “supporting the Zionist entity.”
Israel and Jordan have maintained diplomatic relations since they signed a peace deal in 1994. However, many Jordanians strongly oppose Amman ties with Tel Aviv.
The Israeli mission in Amman shut down last July after two Jordanians were gunned down by an embassy guard, prompting the return of the Israeli ambassador along with the killer to the occupied territories.
The guard received a hero’s welcome on his return, further enraging the Jordanians.