Bomb explodes near convoy of cars from Israeli Embassy in Jordan

Occupied Jerusalem: A bomb went off near a convoy of cars from the Israeli Embassy in Jordan on Thursday, but no one was hurt in the attack, the Israeli and Jordanian governments said.

Israeli officials said their ambassador, Daniel Nevo, was not in the convoy. There was no claim of responsibility.

The attack took place on a road through farmland between Israel and Jordan, 16 kilometers from the King Hussain-Allenby Bridge over the Jordan River, about halfway between the Jordanian capital of Amman and the border.

Israeli media reported that one or two roadside bombs exploded as the convoy passed, but the timing of the remote-controlled detonation was off and the vehicles were not seriously damaged.

Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty in 1994, and there is close security cooperation between them. Relations have become cool in recent years as the Israel-Palestinian conflict drags on without a solution. A significant portion of Jordan's population is made up of Palestinians.

After the explosion, the convoy entered a Jordanian army base and soldiers searched the area, Israel's Channel 2 TV said.

Jordanian security closed off the area and blocked roads, sending large numbers of fire fighters, police and ambulances to the scene.

"An explosive device exploded on the side of the road leading to the Jordan Valley," said Jordanian Information Minister Nabil Sharif. "This happened as some civilian vehicles were passing by, including two Israeli diplomatic cars. There were no injuries, and authorities have launched an investigation."

Two Jordanian security sources said the attack was aimed at a senior Israeli diplomat in Jordan. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

They said the attackers probably thought they were targeting the ambassador.
The spokeswoman at the Israeli Embassy in Amman, Merav Horsendi, confirmed there was a blast next to a convoy carrying embassy employees.

"All I can say now is that everyone is fine," she said.

Israeli officials said four passengers and two security guards were in the convoy and they were heading to Israel for the weekend.

There have been several attempts to attack Israeli diplomats in Jordan in past years.