Israel is treating a suspected weapons and gold smuggling attempt by a Jordanian parliamentarian as a “serious incident”, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said on Monday, as he sought to contain possible damage to ties between the two countries.
Mr Cohen said the reported smuggling of a dozen rifles and 200 handguns guns as well as gold by Imad Adwan is “a very serious incident, which will be examined”.
“We are studying it in depth,” The Times of Israel quoted him as saying.
The case strikes at the core of the complex relationship between Jordan and Israel. The two countries signed a peace treaty in 1994 and co-ordinate closely on security matters, despite sharp political differences over the issue of Palestinian statehood and rights.
It also touches on tribal politics in Jordan: Mr Adwan is a member of one of the tribes that form the backbone of the country's security forces and the core of support for the Jordanian political system.
Mr Cohen said that he does not think that “the episode is connected to Jordan in general, but to an irresponsible criminal act”.
“I don’t want to assign guilt to the entire government or the entire parliament,” Mr Cohen said.
Jordanian officials and media said Israel had arrested Mr Adwan on Sunday on suspicion of smuggling weapons and 100kg of gold as he crossed by car into the occupied West Bank.
He is being held by Israel as Jordanian authorities work to find out the details of the issue, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Sinan Majali said.
Mr Adwan sits on the Jordanian parliament's Palestine Committee, which monitors Israeli actions in the occupied Palestinian territories but has no say on foreign policy.
His brother, Amer Adwan, said the Adwan tribe was confident that the Jordanian authorities were doing their utmost to free him.
Ammon, a Jordanian news site with ties to the government, said Mr Adwan was arrested on Allenby Bridge, which connects Jordan with the occupied West Bank.
Citing parliamentary sources, it said the weapons and gold were found in his car. It also published a photo purportedly showing an Israeli security officer examining a dozen seized handguns.
Jordanian and Israeli citizens can travel between the two counties after obtaining a visa.
Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
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French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
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