Jordan on the flag incident: We respect the peace agreement with Israel

The building not only sports an image of the Israeli flag on the floor at its entrance but it also includes footsteps to invite visitors to step on it.

DECEMBER 30, 2018 23:32

Updated: AUGUST 1, 2019 10:18

Jordan's flag incident angers Israel, welcomed by Jordanian unionists, December 31, 2018 (Reuters, JFRA News)

A Jordanian Foreign Ministry spokesperson released a statement on Sunday that "Jordan respects the peace agreement with Israel," following a request from the Israeli embassy in Amman regarding the incident in which a Jordanian government minister degraded the Israeli flag.

On Friday, Information Minister and Jordanian government spokesperson, Jumana Ghunaimat, arrived at the building of the Engineers' Union in Amman and purposely walked over the flag painted on the floor at the entrance to the building.

Our friend: the Jordanian Information and Government Spokeswoman, @Jumanaghunaimat arrives at the Trade Union Headquarters in Amman yesterday afternoon, and steps on the Israeli flag. #Jordan #Israel @JackyHugi pic.twitter.com/7fULrRt6wG
— Eli Dror (@edrormba) December 29, 2018

Jordan's trade union headquarters is fervently opposed to diplomatic ties with Israel despite the peace treaty signed between Jordan and Israel in 1994. The building not only sports an image of the Israeli flag on the floor at its entrance but it also includes footsteps to invite visitors to step on it.

Prime Minister O.Razzaz entered the building through a side entrance and was criticized in Jordanian media for avoiding stepping on the flag. In contrast, Ghunaimat received much praise on Jordanian social media for her decision to step on the flag.

The 1994 peace agreement between Israel and Jordan is extremely unpopular among the Jordanian people.