Guard at centre of embassy row to be questioned under caution: report
26-07-2017 01:09 PM
Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The security guard at Israel's embassy in Jordan who found himself at the center of a diplomatic row between the two countries will be questioned by Israeli police on suspicion of manslaughter, Israeli news site Ynet reported on Wednesday.
The officer, known only as Ziv, fatally shot Jordanian teen Zakaria al-Jawadah, who he said tried to stab him with a screwdriver at the Israeli embassy compound in Amman on Sunday night.Bashar Hamarneh, a doctor and the landlord of Ziv's apartment, was also shot and killed in the ensuing struggle, according to a statement released at the time by Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).
A diplomatic standoff developed after Israel refused to turn over the embassy staff for questioning, citing the diplomatic immunity bestowed on them under international law.Israel's Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit reportedly told the security cabinet that Israel is obligated under the relevant international treaty - the 1961 Vienna Convention - to investigate those suspected of crimes in the country of service.Because the crime in this case is manslaughter, he will likely be questioned under caution, Ynet reported.
A spokesman for Israel Police has been contacted for comment. The guard received a warm welcome home when a deal - struck with US intervention - between Jordan and Israel secured his release.
Both Ziv and Israel's ambassador to Jordan were invited to the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office shortly after their release."I am happy to see you, happy that things ended as they ended, you acted in a cool, collected manner, and we had a commitment to take you out, it was not a question at all," the Prime Minister said.
"You represent the State of Israel and the State of Israel does not forget that for a moment."This reception angered the Jordanian Foreign Minister, who vented his feelings on CNN Wednesday."They tried to portray things as if the ambassador and the suspect [the guard] were under siege, and that they were liberated and celebrated as heroes coming home," he told the network."That is really absurd. This is a criminal case. Jordan acted legally and morally and Israel has a duty to act similarly and cease its provocative behavior and distorting facts."
*i24