OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (Agencies)
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak made a secret visit to Amman on Tuesday and met with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Israeli public radio reported on Thursday.
During the meeting the king urged the Israeli leaders to refrain from a large-scale incursion into the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by the Islamist group Hamas, the radio reported citing a senior Israeli official.
Olmert's press secretary declined to comment on the report when contacted by AFP.
At least 1,000 people demonstrated in Amman on Wednesday against the Israeli blockade on Gaza.
The radio station said that King Abdullah told the Israeli leaders that he was concerned such violence in Gaza could cause trouble for Jordan, home to many Palestinians.
Israel has imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip since Hamas took power there in June 2007. But it tightened restrictions on Nov. 5 when it closed all crossings following a resurgence of violence and Palestinian rocket attacks on southern Israel in a move that several international organizations condemned as "collective punishment."
Israel said it will not tolerate rocket fire from the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. Dozens of rockets have been fired since Israel raided Gaza two weeks ago. Israel has killed at least 12 alleged militants. The violence has shaken a five-month-old truce. |
