Jordanian diplomat's car attacked in Israel

The car of a Jordanian diplomat was attacked and damaged in a Tel Aviv neighborhood last week, Jordanian dailies reported Tuesday.

It was the second time in three months that the diplomat's car was vandalized while it was parked outside his house, the dailies quoted Jordan's ambassador to Israel, Omar al-Refa, as saying. The reports did not identify the diplomat.

Refa said the reason for the attacks was not known and that the diplomat was not in the car during the incidents.

It said the first attack occurred in October. On both occasions, the car's windshield was broken and the body was damaged.

Refa' was quoted as saying that the embassy notified the Foreign Ministry and the police after the latest attack. "They promised to do their utmost," he said.

There was no immediate comment from Israeli officials on the incidents. The Jordanian daily al-Rai said Refa "expressed concern over the lack of protection provided by Israeli security to Jordanian embassy staff, especially in light of the fact that this attack was in the same location and against the same person."

Jordanian Information Minister Samir Mutawi said "high level diplomatic contacts" have been initiated to ensure that protection is increased.

Jordan is the only Arab state besides Egypt to have full diplomatic relations with Israel. Relations between the two countries were strained after the Israeli Mossad tried but failed to assassinate a key Palestinian Hamas official, Khaled Mishal, in Jordan in September.