A shooting and an alleged stabbing attack near the grounds of the Israeli embassy in Amman escalated on Monday into a diplomatic stand-off between Jordan and Israel as tensions over restrictions at Al Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem threaten to ignite violence on both banks of the River Jordan.
Two Jordanians were shot dead and an Israeli security officer wounded in Sunday's incident at the Israeli embassy, with the exact details and series of events still unclear. Amman has blocked the Israeli security officer — who is believed to be back at the embassy compound after receiving treatment in hospital for stab wounds - from leaving the country in order to carry out further investigations.
Israel on Monday demanded the immediate return of the security officer, who they claim holds diplomatic immunity from investigation and imprisonment, citing the Vienna Convention.
The diplomatic row began when 17-year-old Mohammed Jawawdeh, a carpenter who also worked in his father’s furniture store in downtown Amman, was hired to repair and replace furniture in an apartment rented out to the Israeli embassy — and adjacent to the embassy building — on Sunday, the Jordanian police say.
According to the Israeli foreign ministry’s version of events, Jawawdeh was replacing furniture within the embassy compound itself when he attacked the deputy director of the embassy's security from behind with a screwdriver, causing the officer to withdraw his gun and fire. Jawawdeh was shot dead.
The second person killed in the incident was the landlord of the apartment, renowned Jordanian physician and orthopaedic surgeon Bashar Hamarneh, who was also shot dead by the Israeli security officer. Hamarneh appeared to have been killed accidentally, an Israeli official told Reuters.
Jordanian security sources say it is the circumstances surrounding Hamarneh's death, and the questionable order of events that have caused Jordanian officials to order the Israeli security officer to remain in the country for questioning.
Conflicting reports claim that a third Jordanian, another carpenter, was also injured in the shooting, which Jordanian police said took place at the rented apartment.
Local media reports quoting the family of Hamarneh, however, claimed that the shooting took place at the physician’s home near the embassy, not at the rental property.
Jawawdeh’s family, who hail from the 1948 Palestinian village of Dawayima, near the West Bank city of Hebron, have demanded a full investigation into the incident and the release of Israeli security camera footage around the embassy, according to Jordanian media reports.
The Israeli embassy sits upon a hill in the west Amman neighbourhood of Rabiah. Along the road leading to the embassy, private cars and taxis are stopped by multiple checkpoints before being allowed to continue, and many are turned back.
Neighbouring residents must also register their movements and vehicles with the Jordanian police.
Jordan has in the past managed to contain anger against Israel on the streets, preventing anti-Israel protests and pro-Palestine rallies from getting any closer than two kilometres away from the heavily-fortressed Israeli embassy. Previous protests that have been held near the neighbourhood but within the permitted zone have been broken up by Jordanian police with force.
“All diplomatic institutions, including Israeli, are well-protected in Jordan, this is an isolated incident and the circumstances are not yet clear,” said Nabil Sharif, former Jordanian information minister and observer.
“We look forward to a solution to the aftermath of this situation that respects Jordan’s sovereignty and puts people who are involved in the incident in the hands of justice in accordance to local and international law.”
Whether the shooting was spurred by a revenge attack by the teenage carpenter, was an act of aggression by the security officer or was simply a tragic misunderstanding that escalated, the incident yet again highlights Jordan’s precarious peace with Israel — and the reverberations of the Israeli government’s policies in its neighbour.
Jordan has deep security ties with Israel which are often tested in times of tensions in the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza.
The closure of the Israeli embassy in Amman and an end to the 1994 Wadi Araba treaty between Jordan and Israel have been common demands by protesters in Jordan, particularly of demonstrations organised by the Islamist or leftist opposition.
Control of Al Aqsa mosque and the surrounding compound, known as Haram Al Sharif, remains a vital issue for Jordan. Under its peace treaty with Israel, Jordan is the official custodian of Haram Al Sharif and is itself home to over two million Palestinian refugees.
Events in Palestine also have reverberations among Jordan’s non-Palestinian tribes, many of whom have relatives who fought and died in the 1948 and 1967 wars with Israel and are strongly against the presence of an Israeli embassy in Amman.
Sunday's embassy incident came 48 hours after thousands of Jordanians protested across the country against security restrictions at Haram Al Sharif, with rallies taking place in the capital, as well as the cities of Zarqa and Karak and the town of Salt.
On Friday, the Jordanian government sanctioned its imams to devote their Friday sermons to the issue of Al Aqsa and the Israeli occupation of Jerusalem. The passionate sermons were well-attended, emotional and received vocal responses from prayer-goers.
In one Friday sermon in west Amman, the imam referred to Zionist plots to take Palestine, urged a boycott of business with Israeli companies or government, and likened the standoff over Al Aqsa to the betrayal of Muslims by a Jewish tribe in Medina in the seventh-century Battle of the Trench.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Scoreline:
Everton 4
Richarlison 13'), Sigurdsson 28', Digne 56', Walcott 64'
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton)
UAE%20PREMIERSHIP
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFinal%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%20Hurricanes%20v%20Jebel%20Ali%20Dragons%0D%3Cbr%3E%0DSaturday%2C%208.15pm%2C%20Al%20Ain%20Amblers%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESemi-final%20results%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EDubai%20Exiles%2020-26%20Dubai%20Hurricanes%0D%3Cbr%3EDubai%20Tigers%2032-43%20Jebel%20Ali%20Dragons%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ETable%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E1%20Dubai%20Tigers%2C%2033%20points%0D%3Cbr%3E2%20Dubai%20Exiles%2C%2024%20points%0D%3Cbr%3E3%20Dubai%20Hurricanes%2C%2018%20points%0D%3Cbr%3E4%20Jebel%20Ali%20Dragons%2C%2014%20points%0D%3Cbr%3E5%20Abu%20Dhabi%20Harlequins%2C%2014%20points%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
PAKISTAN SQUAD
Abid Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali (test captain), Babar Azam (T20 captain), Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmad, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Imran Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Sohail Khan, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz, Imad Wasim, Kashif Bhatti, Shadab Khan and Yasir Shah.
The specs: 2019 Jeep Wrangler
Price, base: Dh132,000
Engine: 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 285hp @ 6,400rpm
Torque: 347Nm @ 4,100rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.6L to 10.3L / 100km
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
UAE v Zimbabwe A
Results
Match 1 – UAE won by 4 wickets
Match 2 – UAE won by 5 wickets
Match 3 – UAE won by 25 runs
Match 4 – UAE won by 77 runs
Fixture
Match 5, Saturday, 9.30am start, ICC Academy, Dubai
Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
Your Guide to the Home
- Level 1 has a valet service if you choose not to park in the basement level. This level houses all the kitchenware, including covetable brand French Bull, along with a wide array of outdoor furnishings, lamps and lighting solutions, textiles like curtains, towels, cushions and bedding, and plenty of other home accessories.
- Level 2 features curated inspiration zones and solutions for bedrooms, living rooms and dining spaces. This is also where you’d go to customise your sofas and beds, and pick and choose from more than a dozen mattress options.
- Level 3 features The Home’s “man cave” set-up and a display of industrial and rustic furnishings. This level also has a mother’s room, a play area for children with staff to watch over the kids, furniture for nurseries and children’s rooms, and the store’s design studio.
MATCH INFO
Norwich 0
Watford 2 (Deulofeu 2', Gray 52')
Red card: Christian Kabasele (WatforD)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
INDIA SQUAD
Rohit Sharma (captain), Shikhar Dhawan (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik (wicketkeeper), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammad Siraj and Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper)
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont
Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950
Engine 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox Eight-speed automatic
Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm
Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km
Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.
Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.
For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae
57%20Seconds
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Anxiety and work stress major factors
Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.
A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.
Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.
One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.
It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."
Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.
“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi.
“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."
Daniel Bardsley
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Everything Now
Arcade Fire
(Columbia Records)
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
