Former Mossad chief to Netanyahu: Work with Jordan's king to end ongoing crises
Danny Yatom says a deal should be reached between Israel and Jordan to resolve both diplomatic crises: 'The Jordanians will release our people from the embassy and especially the security officer, and in return we will help the Jordanian Waqf to carry on its role on Temple Mount. We will also take off the metal detector gates.'
"The two events are entirely different, but the end is the same. In order to end the crisis, Netanyahu needs to talk to King Abdullah," said Yatom, who was the head of the Mossad during the failed assassination of Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal on Jordanian soil 20 years ago.
"The prime minister needs to be in constant contact with King Abdullah and propose a 'give and take' deal in which the Jordanians don't feel like they're coming out suckers," Yatom elaborated in an interview with Ynet.
Late Sunday night, a 17-year-old Jordanian wielding a screwdriver attacked a security guard from the Israeli Embassy in Amman. The guard shot and killed the assailant, while the owner of the building, a Jordanian doctor, was struck by a stray bullet and killed as well.
Israel is refusing to allow Jordanian authorities to question the security guard under the Vienna Convention and as such, all security personnel and diplomatic employees are currently confined to the embassy compound.
Various diplomatic officials have claimed throughout the day Monday that the stabbing is a terror attack related to the unrest in the east Jerusalem and the Temple Mount.
According to Yatom, the assessment is certainly possible. "In any case, there was apparently a threat to the life of the security guard, so he did the right thing when he shot the person who tried to harm him," he opined.
He proposed a trade-off: "The Jordanians will release our people from the embassy and especially the security officer that shot, and in return we will help the Jordanian Waqf to carry on its role on Temple Mount. We will also take off the metal detector gates."
"I see this as an opportunity to solve the problem on the Temple Mount," Yatom said. "We don't need to prove that responsibility for security is on us or that we control the territory; we see it every step of the way and every time there is a clash between an angry Palestinian mob and our policemen, who do dangerous and excellent work. We don't need to prove that we are the best, we know it."
Former Mossad deputy director Ram Ben Barak echoed similar sentiments. "I hope the Jordanians manage to get out of this with a deal. The embassy guard has immunity and he acted in self defense.
"The Jordanians have a lot to lose if they don't have a relationship with Israel. There are a lot of shared interests; Jordan is invested in Israel and Israel is invested in Jordan. There are a lot of interests and in the end, it will work out."
What will happen before this ends?
"Islamic extremists will try to score a few points, Arab leadership will try to see how it can get out of this mess—because they have no interest in breaking relations—and Israeli leadership needs to see what it can do so everyone can get out of this. That's what needs to happen."
What do you think Israel needs to give in return to end this crisis?
"They mentioned the metal detector issue, maybe that will be the deal or maybe they'll freeze the use of them so it sounds better. Israel has more ways to pressure Jordan."
For example?
"Israel supplies Jordan water. I don't want to talk about the other ways."
We have already heard MKs calling for the cancellation of agreements with Jordan.
"I am not calling for cancellation, our relations with Jordan are strategic and we don't need to make the situation worse, but we definitely need to see how to get out of this mess. In the meantime, there is nothing but constant deterioration…"
Jordanian expert: 'You should've listened to the Shin Bet, IDF'
Ayman Hunaiti, a Jordanian expert on Israel, told Ynet the incident with the Israeli guard is "still being investigated and it is not yet clear what the real story is."
"Our security forces want to investigate this incident and that is our right. The situation is sensitive because of Al Aqsa and the metal detectors that Netanyahu wants to leave. This is against the peace treaty with Jordan and Jordanian sovereignty. Israel violates the peace treaty every day," said Hunaiti.
Hunaiti also explained that tensions are inflamed in Jordan and demonstrations similar to those last Friday in Amman are expected.
"We need to sit now and make all the necessary arrangements for a deal, with Jordan's full agreement, because Jordan is the one that holds sovereignty over Al Aqsa and Israel is violating the status-quo by making unilateral moves. That is what angers us. We want to ease tensions. We do not want escalation.
"The blood of the Salomon family from Friday and the blood of the four Palestinians that were killed in unrest is on the hands of Netanyahu, (Education Minister) Bennett and (Public Security Minister) Erdan. They should have listened to the IDF and the Shin Bet. If they would have taken the recommendations of the Shin Bet and the IDF, there would be no casualties. I condemn killing on both sides."
