Israel's ambassador to Jordan presents credentials to King Abdullah II

Weissbrod was appointed in February, and arrived in Amman in April, nine months after a stabbing and shooting incident at the Israeli embassy compound in Amman sent ties into a tailspin.

By HERB KEINON
Updated: SEPTEMBER 3, 2018 04:35
New Israeli Ambassador to Jordan, Amir Weissbrod (photo credit: FOREIGN MINISTRY)
New Israeli Ambassador to Jordan, Amir Weissbrod
(photo credit: FOREIGN MINISTRY)
It took nearly five months, but Israel’s envoy in Amman, Amir Weissbrod, presented his credentials to King Abdullah II on Sunday and Israel again officially has an ambassador in the Hashemite Kingdom.
Weissbrod was appointed in February, and arrived in Amman in April, nine months after a stabbing and shooting incident at the Israeli embassy compound in Amman sent ties into a tailspin.
A Foreign Ministry spokesman said there was nothing unusual about the amount of time Weissbrod waited to present his credentials, saying that it is normal practice to wait until a number of ambassadors arrive and have them present their credentials at the same time.
Jordan’s Petra News Agency posted six pictures of ambassadors on its website, including Weissbrod, presenting their credentials to Abdullah on Sunday, but did not identify any of them, writing instead, “The King accepts the credentials of a number of ambassadors.”
Weissbrod succeeded Einat Schlein, who the Jordanians demanded be replaced following an incident in July 2017 when an embassy security official, who was attacked by a man wielding a screwdriver, responded by shooting and killing the assailant and a bystander.
The guard, Schlein and the embassy staff were returned home shortly afterward, and the Jordanians were infuriated that the guard received a “hero’s welcome” from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with Schlein in attendance.
This put a severe crimp in ties with Jordan, with Amman demanding a trial and compensation.
In January, just before a visit to Jordan and Israel by US Vice President Mike Pence, an agreement was reached putting an end to the affair.
Israel expressed regret, but did not apologize for the incident. The Jordanian media reported that Israel paid $5 million in reparations for the death of the two men in the embassy compound, as well as for a Jordanian judge killed in an incident at the Allenby Bridge in 2014.
Weissbrod is one of the ministry’s senior diplomats, having directed the Middle East Bureau in the Foreign Ministry’s Center for Political Research for more than four years.

Stay updated with the latest news!

Subscribe to The Jerusalem Post Newsletter

Subscribe Now
Prior to that, he served as director of the Syria, Lebanon and Palestinian desks inside the center.
He also worked in the embassy in Jordan from 2001 to 2004 as the first secretary in charge of media and political affairs. In addition, he served in Israel’s Liaison Bureau in Morocco from 1997 to 1999.


Related Tags
israel jordan