Border police return fire; no casualties in incident near Rabin Terminal in Eilat; patrol jeep damaged.
By YAAKOV KATZYitzhak Rabin Border Terminal 248.88(photo credit: Courtesy of NYC2TLV)
A Jordanian soldier opened fire Tuesday at a Border Police patrol along the border near Eilat.
Border Police forces returned fire, and defense officials said the soldier had likely shot at the force in protest against the IDF operation in the Gaza Strip. The IDF contacted the Jordanian military, which launched an investigation.
There were no casualties in the incident, which took place near the Yitzhak Rabin Border Terminal in Eilat. The patrol jeep sustained minor damage.
Israel and Jordan signed a peace agreement in 1994, and the border is usually quiet. However, tensions have been high in the region due to the Gaza operation.
There was a similar shooting incident Sunday along the border with Syria, when gunshots were fired at an IDF vehicle.
Later in the day, a Palestinian tried stealing an IDF soldier's rifle at the Tarkumiya checkpoint, south of Hebron. The soldiers opened fire at the Palestinian, who was evacuated by the Red Crescent in serious condition and later reportedly died of his wounds.
