The Zebari (L) and Ben Eliezer 'reunion'
Photo: AP
'Iraqi reunion' in Jordan
Infrastructure minister Ben Eliezer exchanges greetings with Iraqi foreign minister at economic forum in Amman
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari shook hands and exchanged greetings with National Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer Sunday, a rare gesture by officials whose countries have no diplomatic ties.
More than 1,300 participants attend the World Economic Forum in Jordan to discuss social and political reforms in the Middle East, Arab-Israeli peacemaking and Iraq reconstruction.
Ben Eliezer, who is of Iraqi origin and was born in Basra, made his way towards the conference center with his Jordanian counterpart, when they unexpectedly bumped into Zebari.
However, the Jordanian Minister turned this awkward moment into a diplomatic and photographic opportunity and asked Ben Eliezer if he would agree to meet with Zebari over a cup of coffee.
Ben Eliezer turned to the Iraqi minister, shook his hand and said "How are you" in Arabic.
Arab media coverage
There are two versions of what followed next.
Zebari claims he answered, "I'm very good" in English and only shook Ben Eliezer's hand out of politeness. But, according to Ben Eliezer, the friendly conversation lasted a few minutes.
Following the "reunion," Ben Eliezer said he had met senior Iraqi officials in the past at various international conferences, but "nothing was like this warm meeting."
"My dream is to take my children and grandchildren to Iraq and show them where I was born and grew up," he said.
The unusual handshake received media courage throughout the Arab world, which may account for Zebari downplaying the encounter.
"I was told the Israeli minister is of Iraqi origin," Zebari told al-Jazeera in an interview following the meeting, "but don't think this handshake means normal relations with Israel."
- Nurit Palter and Nachama Duak contributed to this report
