Official: Jordan's ambassador returns to Israel

Amman, Jordan: A Jordanian Foreign Ministry official says the country's ambassador has returned to Israel after an absence of several weeks that was widely interpreted as a protest over Israel's offensive in Gaza.

The official says Ambassador Ali Al Ayed resumed his post in Tel Aviv on Sunday after a period of "normal leave."

The official says Al Ayed left Israel at the end of December for a meeting in Amman of Jordanian ambassadors - just days before Israel's devastating three-week offensive in Gaza - and remained there on personal leave.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity on Tuesday because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Jordan and Egypt are the only two Arab countries that have peace treaties with Israel.