Jordan, Egypt strike balance between Israel ties, angry public

Tel Aviv, Jan.6 (ANI): In a growing chorus of warnings against Israel's Gaza operation emanating from the Arab world, Jordan's Prime Minister Nader al-Dahabi has that his government retained the right to reconsider its relations with Israel.

"All options are available to assess the relationship with every side, especially Israel," the Jerusalem Post quoted Prime Minister al-Dahabi as telling parliament during a heated debate on Sunday.

The announcement came more than a week after Israel began targeting Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip, and two days after riot police pushed back hundreds of Jordanian protesters who marched on the Israeli embassy in Amman.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's government has blamed Hamas for the assault, it has also strongly condemned Israel's offensive.

Official Israeli sources, however, say similar warning calls have been made in the past.

"It's true that there are very strong calls in Jordan [to reduce diplomatic ties]," but at the moment, there isn't any indication of anything happening, a source said.

And while Israel "is beginning to lose points" with Egypt and Jordan due to its operation in Gaza, it is natural for these two nations, to sympathize with their Palestinian brothers, the source added.

Relations with Jordan and Egypt are not expected to significantly change unless something more "traumatic".

The 10-day Israeli assault on Gaza is exposing moderate Arab states, particularly those that have full diplomatic relations with Israel, to a tremendous amount of internal pressure that is forcing governments to address the issue, experts say. (ANI)