Israel to investigate shooting by Israeli embassy guard in Jordan

Shin Bet ordered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to probe incident which has caused a diplomatic storm

The Israel Security Agency will investigate the shooting of two Jordanian civilians by an embassy guard in what an initial investigation determined was a self defence shooting during a terror attack.

The ISA, or Shin Bet, has been ordered by the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to investigate the incident, Ynet reported.

During the incident, which occurred on July 23, the Israel embassy security guard, identified as Ziv, shot and killed an assailant, 17, who had entered a residential building in Amman occupied by the embassy to install furniture and stabbed the Israeli guard with a screwdriver. The building’s owner, who according to Ynet tackled the assailant and attempted to prevent the attack, was killed after being hit by a stray bullet.

Following the incident, Israel refused to hand over the guard for questioning by Jordanian authorities citing diplomatic immunity. The embassy staff was allowed to leave Amman for Israel nearly two days later amid demonstrations and calls for the death penalty for the security guard.

The investigation is being overseen by Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit and State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan, according to Ynet. Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed the investigation to Israeli media.

Jordan has said it will refuse to allow Israel’s embassy staff to return unless a trial takes place.

On Thursday, Jordan’s Attorney General Akram Masaadeh charged the guard in absentia with two counts of murder and for bearing an unlicensed weapon.

Hundreds of protesters marched in Amman on Friday, attempting to surround the Israeli embassy and calling on the government to shut the embassy down, expel the ambassador and cancel the 1994 peace treaty with Israel, i24 reported. The protesters also chanted “Death to Israel” and “No Zionist embassy on Jordanian soil.”