JORDANIANS DETAINED IN ISRAEL RELEASED, CROSS BACK TO JORDAN

JERUSALEM POST STAFF

Jordan last week had recalled its ambassador, Ghassan al-Majali, to protest the arrest. Based on an agreement worked out between the two countries, Majali said that he would return to Israel.

Jordanian citizen Hiba Labadi gestures upon her release by Israel, at the King Hussein Bridge crossing near Amman, Jordan. (photo credit: REUTERS/MUHAMMAD HAMED)

The two Jordanian citizens detained in Israel at the center of a diplomatic crisis between Jerusalem and Amman crossed the border at the Allenby crossing after being released from prison on Wednesday.

On Wednesday morning, Joint List MK Ahmad Tibi wrote on his Twitter account, in both Hebrew and Arabic, that Heba al-Labadi, 24, and Abdul Rahman Miri, 29, were going to be freed within an hour.

On Monday, Israel said it was planning to release the two, who were jailed on suspicion that they constituted a security risk.

Jordan last week had recalled its ambassador, Ghassan al-Majali, to protest the arrest. Based on an agreement worked out between the two countries, Majali said that he would return to Israel.

The exchange came after lengthy protests for the release of the detainees, including a social media campaign, which focused in particular on Labadi, who went on a hunger strike 41 days ago. She ended the strike on Tuesday.

In announcing the deal, the Prime Minister’s Office spoke of the importance of the relationship between the two countries, which was cemented in a peace deal signed 25 years ago last month.

“Israel views the relationship between Jordan and Israel as a cornerstone of regional stability, and will continue to act to ensure the region’s security,” the office said.

It explained that “Jordan will return its ambassador to Israel in the coming days, after an agreement was reached between the countries for the transferring of the responsibility of the two arrested Jordanians in Israel to the Jordanian security forces.”

Tovah Lazaroff contributed to this report.