Jerusalem – Israeli media reports the country’s Shin Bet intelligence chief met with security officials in Jordan in an attempt to defuse a crisis over a Jerusalem shrine and an Israeli embassy guard who killed two Jordanians after being attacked by one of them.
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Media reported Nadav Argaman was in Amman Monday to try and negotiate a deal to end the diplomatic standoff with Jordan that also administers the holy site via its religious body.
According to reports, Jordan will free the guard in exchange for Israel removing metal detectors from entrances to the site.
However Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office later issued a statement saying there was no Jordanian demand linking the issues.
Israel set up the security devices after Arab gunmen killed Israeli policemen at the site, holy to both Muslims and Jews. The move incensed the Muslim world and triggered violence.
A phone call between Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Netanyahu is expected later, media reported.