Jordanian ambassador to Israel arrives in Amman

By Laith Joneidi

AMMAN (AA) - Jordan's ambassador to Israel arrived in Amman on Wednesday after he was recalled over Israeli practices against Jordanian citizens, the country's Foreign Ministry said.

Ghassan al-Majali was summoned late Monday in protest against the continued detention of two Jordanian citizens by Israeli authorities.

"In light of Israel's failure to respond to our months-long demands to release Jordanian citizens Hiba al-Labadi and Abdulrahman Miri… we summoned the Jordanian ambassador in Tel Aviv for consultation as a first step,'' Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi said in a statement.

Al-Safadi held Israel responsible for the lives of the two citizens and vowed to take all necessary measures to ensure their safe return.

Israel detained Hiba al-Labadi on Aug. 20 and Abdulrahman Miri on Sept. 2 separately after crossing the King Hussein Bridge which links Jordan to the West Bank, without elaborating on the reasons for the arrest.

* Writing by Mahmoud Barakat