Jordanian media: Israel paid $5 million to families of killed Jordanians

Jordanian media claims that in addition to the payments, Israel also agreed to begin legal action against the security guard who shot two Jordanians in the Israeli embassy in Amman last July.

By YASSER OKBI/MAARIV
Updated: JANUARY 20, 2018 17:27
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets in his office with Ziv the Israeli guard stabbed in the Jordan embassy complex (photo credit: CHAIM ZACH / GPO)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets in his office with Ziv the Israeli guard stabbed in the Jordan embassy complex
(photo credit: CHAIM ZACH / GPO)
Jordanian media reported Saturday that the Israeli government paid $5 million to the families of Mohammed Jawaedeh and Bashar Hamarneh, the two men who were shot by Israeli security guard Ziv Moyal in July 2017 in what Israel claimed was a nationaattack.
The Israeli government didn't pay the families directly, instead it transferred the funds to the Jordanian government.
The families accepted the compensation and what they saw as an expression of regret by the Israeli government, according to the report.
Money was also given to the family of judge Raid Zaitar, who was shot dead by Israeli soldiers who claimed he tried to grab a weapon from one of the soldiers by force in March 2014.
The Jordanian newspaper Al-Ad reported Saturday that these formal Israeli actions fulfill the Jordanian conditions for the reopening of the Israeli embassy in Jordan.
The newspaper also reported that Israel said it will initiate legal action against the security guard.
The shooting incident lead to rage demonstrations throughout the kingdom of Jordan and a deep diplomatic crises between Israel and Jordan.
People attend the funeral of Mohammad Jawawdah in Amman, Jordan July 25, 2017 / REUTERS
People attend the funeral of Mohammad Jawawdah in Amman, Jordan July 25, 2017 / REUTERS
Al-Ad described the events as "a diplomatic blow for Jordan in her fight for justice."
On Friday, when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned from his state visit to India, he said Israel “expressed regret” to Jordan over the shooting that took place at the Israeli embassy in Amman last year, but did not apologize.
Netanyahu said Israel would pay reparations to the Jordanian government, but not to the families.
He said Israeli Ambassador to Jordan Einat Shlain, whom he holds in the highest esteem, would be promoted and reassigned to a different position.