Israeli citizen stands trial in Jordan as tensions simmer
Jordanian-Israeli relations have grown increasingly tense as Jordan tries an Israeli accused to illegally crossing the border and holds a military exercise simulating an Israeli invasion.
AMMAN — The trial of Israeli citizen Konstantin Kotov started Dec. 2 in the State Security Court of Jordan. He stands charged with crossing illegally into Jordanian territory last October.
It was not the first time Israelis have crossed the border to Jordan or vice versa. Those caught are usually handed back to their country of origin by tacit agreement. Last July, Israel delivered a Jordanian citizen who had crossed into Jordan by mistake. In January, Jordan handed back an Israeli citizen who entered the city of Aqaba by boat from Eilat.
Kotov’s trial comes in the context of high tensions between Jordan and Israel, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressing his intention to annex the Jordan Valley and repeated Israeli violations of Jordanian sovereignty over holy sites including incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque, settlement expansion and the administrative detention of Jordanian citizens in Israel.
The Jordanian army held military exercises simulating an Israeli invasion Nov. 25. The drill was dubbed “Swords of Karama” after the battle near Karama village that Israel lost to the Jordanian army and Palestinian factions in 1968. The exercise was attended by King Abdullah and security leaders and members of parliament.
