Diplomatic Stand-off Following Shooting in Israeli Embassy in Amman

Jerusalem and Amman are in a diplomatic standoff following an attack and shooting in the Israeli Embassy in the Jordanian capital. On Sunday evening, a 17-year old Jordanian who was part of team of carpenters hired by the embassy to install furniture in the apartment of a security guard in the embassy compound attacked the guard with a screwdriver. In the ensuing scuffle, the guard, who was slightly injured, shot and killed the teen and the landlord – whose involvement in the incident is unclear. Fearing the worst – such as a repeat of the 2011 assault on the embassy in Egypt — Israeli officials decided to evacuate embassy personnel, but the Jordanians refused to allow them to depart. Israel claims the guard is a credentialed diplomat exempt from interrogation and prosecution by the Geneva Convention. On Monday, the two nations were continuing to look for a solution before it triggers unrest and public demonstrations. The attacker’s motivation has not been established.