Israel-Jordan Crisis: Arrested Israeli was FSU immigrant, wanted by police

An “Israeli can be held as a bargaining chip for the release of our two citizens,” said Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Jordanian Parliament, Nidal a-Taani, to the Arabic daily Al-Quds on Wednesday morning about the deepening crisis between Jordan and Israel.

The IDF confirmed Tuesday evening that an Israeli citizen crossed the border into Jordan and was being interrogated by the Jordanian security forces. On Wednesday morning, Kan news reported that the Israeli was an immigrant from the former Soviet Union who was wanted by police and escaped from the country.

Earlier in the day, Jordan recalled its ambassador to Israel for consultations in protest over Israel’s refusal to heed its demands to release two citizens it said were illegally detained for months without charges, the kingdom’s foreign minister said on Tuesday.

Ayman Safadi said in a tweet he held the Israeli government responsible for the lives of Hiba Labadi and Abdul Rahman Miri whose “health conditions have severely deteriorated.” He added that recalling the envoy was a first step but did not elaborate.

Labadi, 24, went on a hunger strike and was hospitalized on Wednesday after her health deteriorated. She was arrested in August after crossing to the West Bank to attend a family wedding and so far has not been indicted.

Arab-Israeli politician, Yousef Jabreen posted on his Twitter account support for Labadi, and wrote in Hebrew, “The Israeli government is responsible for denying Hiba’s freedom, torture, and deteriorating health. Administrative arrests and torture are morally and legally invalid.”

היבא אללבדי שובתת רעב זה היום ה-33 במחאה על צו מעצר מינהלי שהוצא נגדה לאחר חקירה קשה בה עברה גם עינויים. ממשלת ישראל אחראית לשלילת חירותה של היבא, לעינויה, ולהידרדרות במצבה הבריאותי.
מעצרים מנהליים ועינויים הם פסולים מוסרית ומשפטית. צריך לשחרר את היבא לאלתר.#FreeHiba pic.twitter.com/XqDTAIzocM

— Yousef Jabareen (@DrJabareen) October 26, 2019

Safadi said Israel’s administrative detention of both citizens was “illegal” and vowed his country would “take all necessary legal and diplomatic measures to ensure their safe return home.”

Jordan’s relations with Israel have been strained in recent years and the kingdom, which is one of only two Arab states that have a peace treaty with its neighbor, fears Israel’s annexation of territory in the occupied West Bank dashes hopes of a future Palestinian state.

However, on Wednesday morning, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan responded in an interview with Reshet Bet radio that “there is excellent cooperation with Amman.”

The peace treaty with Israel is unpopular among the people of Jordan, where pro-Palestinian sentiment is widespread. Many of Jordan’s 7 million citizens are of Palestinian origin.