The Israeli acting Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, called on Thursday King Abdullah of Jordan and apologized for the statements of the Israeli OC Central Command Major General, Yair Naveh, who said that the “Islamic Axis” could topple the Hasehemite kingdom.Halutz also expressed “uncertainty regarding the future of Hashemite rule in Jordan, adding that the Palestinian majority there may topple the regime.
Halutz told king Abdullah that the statements of Naveh only reflect his own opinion and do not represent Israel’s official stand, Israeli online daily Haaretz reported.
Olmerts’ call followed a similar call by the Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni to her Jordanian counterpart.
Both Israeli officials said that Israel places a big importance for the “warm ties between the two countries”.
According to Haaretz, Olmert and Abdullah had agreed to meet after Israel conducts it March 28 general elections.
Earlier on Thursday, The Israeli Chief of Staff, Dan Halutz, headed a special meeting to deal with the diplomatic imbroglio triggered by Naveh’s statements.
Halutz told senior Israeli military officials that they should be more careful in their public statements.
