The Israeli government lodged a formal protest with Jordan over a picture of the government spokesperson, Jumana Ghunaimat, stepping on the Israeli flag during her visit to the headquarters of the trade union complex in Amman.
Political sources in Tel Aviv said the minister of State for Media Affairs chose to take this “hostile” step at a time when the Israeli and Jordanian governments were trying to “bring the views closer and deepen relations of peaceful cooperation between them.”
The spokeswoman for the government in Amman was photographed on Thursday stepping on the Israeli flag, while was on her way to attend a meeting between Jordanian Prime Minister Omar Al-Razzaz and union representatives. Al-Razzaz, however, entered the building through a rear door, avoiding having to walk over the flag.
The Israeli Foreign ministry expressed “strong protest” to Jordan over the image, which angered senior officials in Tel Aviv. On Sunday, the ministry summoned Jordanian Ambassador Ghassan al-Majali to its headquarters in West Jerusalem, where it handed him a strong-worded letter.
Israeli media reported that the Jordanian ambassador tried to explain the matter, saying that the Israeli flag was painted on the floor facing the entrance of the trade union building, so that those who enter the building cannot avoid stepping on it, intentionally or unintentionally. He said Al-Razzaz entered the building through a side door to avoid trampling on the flag.
The behavior of the Jordanian prime minister sparked a wave of criticism in Jordan, whether in the media or in social networks, while Ghunaimat received wide support from the public, as well as from politicians and parliamentarians. Some of them wrote: “All respect. We do it in response to the crimes of the occupation in Jerusalem and the West Bank.”
“Jumana Ghunaimat represents me and represents every Jordanian citizen,” read another post.
