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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Members of the Jordanian Obeidat tribe this week attempted to dissuade their tribe member and newly designated Jordanian Ambassador to Israel Walid Obeidat, from taking the post.

A number of tribe elders and figures visited Walid Obeidat's house and attempted dissuade him from accepting the post, Ammon News learned, offering him a number of alternative posts and financial incentives.

The Prime Ministry had decided last week to appoint Walid Obeidat as its envoy in Tel Aviv.

Sources from the tribe told Ammon News that the Obeidats offered Walid several alternatives, including financial offers, and promised to elect him to represent them in the House of Representatives for 'four consecutive parliaments.'

The offers also included a monthly salary for four years that "doubles his salary as ambassador," and ownership of land property.

Relatives told Ammon News that the Ambassador-designate considered the post in relation to his 'career future.'

The Obeidat tribe blasted Israeli officials for claimed press statements that described them as 'extremists' for condemning Walid Obeidat's acceptance of the post.

Members of the Obeidat tribe earlier this week condemned the appointment of Walid Obeidat as Jordan's new envoy to Israel, considering the move 'shameful' and blasted Obeidat's acceptance of the position a grave offense to his tribe.

Following a meeting of a number of Obeidat tribe members in northern Jordan Saturday evening, a statement was issued renouncing Khalid Obeidat from the tribe, stating that "whoever accepts this position, and puts his hand in the hands of those who seized the land, killed and displaced Palestinians... has crossed all prohibitions and red lines."

The statement, a copy of which was sent to Ammon News, considered the acceptance of the post as a grave insult to the nation and the tribe, stressing that this 'shameful' stance contradicts the history and stance of the tribe and its successive generations towards the Palestinian cause.

Designated ambassador Obeidat will become the fifth Jordanian envoy to Israel since the signing of the Wadi Araba peace treaty in 1994.

Jordan has not sent an ambassador to Israel since July 2010, when former ambassador Ali al-Ayed was returned to Jordan and appointed as Minister of Media Affairs in Prime Minister Samir Rifai's government.

Observers noted that the Jordanian-Israeli relations have been chilled since, witnessing tensions on a number of bi-lateral issues.

If appointed, Obeidat will be Jordan's fifth ambassador to Israel, succeeding Marwan Muasher, Omar Rifa'i, Marouf Bakhit, and Ali al-Ayed.