Israel, Jordan relations warm up, but not thanks to Netanyahu

Israeli press reveals that Defense Minister Benny Gantz had met in secret recently in Jordan with Jordanian King Abdullah II.
A car drives past a road signal indicating the Allenby crossing point to Jordan (background), in the city of Jericho in the occupied West Bank, on January 28, 2021. - The Allenby (King Hussein) bridge crossing is due to be closed in the evening as part of restrictions to stem the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP) (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images)
A car drives past a road sign indicating the Allenby Bridge crossing point to Jordan (background), in the city of Jericho, West Bank, Jan. 28, 2021. - Ahmad Gharabli/AFP via Getty Images
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Rina Bassist
@RinaBassist

According to a Feb. 28 report by Israeli news site Ynet, Defense Minister Benny Gantz had met secretly in Jordan with King Abdullah II. The meeting apparently took place a few weeks ago. The report did not divulge its sources for this information, nor did it give a precise date for the meeting.

Also, on Feb. 26, during a Zoom meeting with Blue and White party activists, Gantz hinted at contacts with Jordan and also criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for allegedly damaging bilateral relations.

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