Jordan: Olmert apologized
Acting PM speaks with King Abdullah in bid to resolve diplomatic crisis following IDF officer's remark that 'Jordanian king likely to be last to rule over Hashemite kingdom.' Jordanians claim Olmert called to apologize; sources at PM's Office say Olmert did not initiate talk, only clarified Israel's position
Israeli officials said that Olmert "made it clear" that Israel has great respect for the Hashemite royal family and views the partnership with the king and Jordan as an asset to Israel. Jordanian officials preferred to interpret the talk as an "apology" on the part of Israel.
The conversation between Olmert and Abdullah was held following discussions between Israeli and Jordanian officials throughout the day. A source at the Prime Minister's Office insisted that the conversation was not initiated by Olmert, but was "scheduled in order to settle the dispute."
According to thee official statement on the Jordanian news agency Petra, however, "His Majesty King Abdullah II on Thursday received a phone call from Acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, in which he apologized for King Abdullah and the Jordanian people over the statements against Jordan from the Commander of the Central Region in Israel."
During the conversation, which was defined by officials at the Prime Minister's Office as short and pleasant, the two spoke about the need to meet. The meeting will apparently take place after the Israeli elections.
Mofaz: IDF officers should watch what they say
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz also referred Thursday evening to Naveh's remarks, saying that "IDF officers should watch what they say."
When asked about the Jordanians' demand to dismiss Naveh, the minister said that he prefers not refer to the issue at the moment.
Naveh made his comments on Wednesday during a closed-doors meeting with diplomats and foreign journalists at the Jerusalem Center for Society and Policy.
Naveh reportedly said that “80 percent of Jordan’s population is Palestinian. King Abdullah II is likely to be the last king to rule over the Hashemite kingdom.”
Following the publication, irked Jordanian officials called the Foreign Ministry to submit an official complaint against the harsh remarks, demanding that steps be taken against the officer.
Omar a-Nasif, Jordan’s acting ambassador to Israel, rebuke Naveh's remarks and called on Israel to discipline the major-general.
Speaking to the Jordanian news agency Petra, a-Nasif said he expects Israel to “take the necessary steps against the officer who made these remarks which point to a lack of discipline and understanding.”
He added that should Israel fail to discipline Naveh, relations between the two neighbors could be dented.
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni told her Jordanian counterpart Abed al-Khatib that Israel sees in Jordan a strategic partner and will continue to improve relations between the two countries.
“Everything else contradicts the Israeli government’s policy,” she said.
IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz convened senior army officials Thursday following Naveh's remarks, and called on the IDF's senior officers "to be sensitive and careful" in their public statements.
Naveh intends on sending a clarification letter on Thursday to his counterparts in the Jordanian army over the remarks, which he claims were misunderstood.
During the General Staff's meeting, participants also discussed recent comments by Halutz's deputy, Major-General Moshe Kaplinsky, who said President Mubarak's regime in Egypt is weakening.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Shimon Peres said Thursday that Jordan has taken a series of brilliant steps, which have greatly advanced the kingdom. In a visit to New York, Peres exalted Jordan for building an industrial park in Irbid, which employs more than 100,000 people, and praised Abdullah for promoting education in his kingdom.
Roee Nahmias and Raanan Ben-Zur contributed to the report
