Jordan's Professional Unions Association has decided to install Israeli flags on the entrance floors of all of its branches throughout the country so that people can step on the flag as they enter and exit the buildings. According to a report in Jordan's Al-Rai newspaper, the unions association made the decision after Israel reprimanded acting Jordanian Ambassador Mohammed Hmaid after a photo of a Jordanian minister stepping on an image of the Israeli flag was published.
On Sunday, the Foreign Ministry summoned the acting Jordanian ambassador for a reprimand. In parallel, the Israeli Embassy in Amman delivered an official strong condemnation of the incident to the kingdom's government, the ministry said.
The photo, published on the Jordanian website Jfranews, showed Information Minister Jumana Ghuneimat walking over an Israeli flag painted on the floor of the headquarters of Jordan's professional unions in Amman.
Footprints were also painted on the flag.
The unions are controlled by Jordan's mainly Islamist opposition, known for its fierce ideological objection to the peace treaty between the two nations or any other move toward normalizing ties with the Jewish state.
The incident occurred last Thursday at Jordan's Trade Union building when Ghuneimat was on her way to a meeting between Jordanian Prime Minister Omar al-Razzaz and union representatives.
Razzaz entered the building through a rear door, avoiding having to walk over the flag.
Majed Qatarneh, a spokesman for Jordan's Foreign Ministry, confirmed that Israel had sought clarifications over the incident, saying the ministry was handling the issue through "diplomatic channels."
"The Israeli side was informed that the building is a private one and the minister entered it from the main entrance for an official meeting," he said. "We have emphasized that we respect the peace treaty with Israel."
At the time, Jordanian media outlets questioned why Prime Minister Omar al-Razzaz had avoided entering the building through the main entrance, where the Israeli flag was installed.
The incident comes amid increasing diplomatic tensions between the countries.
In October, King Abdullah announced he would not renew clauses in a 1994 peace deal with Jerusalem that allowed Israel to lease two small areas comprising 1,000 acres of agricultural land –Baqura, known as Naharayim in Hebrew, in the northern Jordan Valley, and Ghamr in the south – from the Jordanians for 25 years.
The king did not give a reason for his decision but he has faced escalating domestic pressure to end the lease and return the territories to full Jordanian control.
