Israel summons Jordanian embassy official over call by Jordan’s Justice Minister to release ’hero’ who killed six Israelis

The Israeli Foreign Ministry summoned a Jordanian embassy official on Tuesday, to rebuke him over an earlier call by Jordan's justice minister to free hero Ahmed Deqamseh who killed seven Israelis in an attack.

Jordan's newly elected justice minister, Hussein Mjali, joined protesters on Monday who were demonstrating for the release of Deqamseh. "I'm committed to be here with you as his lawyer," Mjali told the group demonstrating for Deqamseh's release. "He doesn't deserve to be in prison."

Mjali, while showing solidarity with the demonstration, called Daqamesh a "hero" and said his imprisonment is unjustified.

During the meeting between Israeli Foreign Ministry representatives and the Jordanian embassy official, Israel stressed that it harshly condemns the Mjali's comments, and demanded that the Jordanian government issue a public statement condemning all calls to release Deqamesh. The ministry also insisted that Jordan clarify that Daqamesh will continue to serve out his 25-year sentence in a Jordanian prison.