US downplays Jordan recalling its Israel envoy after Jabaliya strike, says 'integrated' West Asia preferable

White House Thursday threw the ball in Jordan’s court in a comment on the latter removing its ambassador from Israel and if the move would deepen Tel Aviv’s isolation in the region.

“Well, certainly that’s going to be a comment for — or that’s an issue for the Jordanian government to speak to. I — I wouldn’t get involved in that. They — they have a right to manage bilateral relations the way they see fit,” said John Kirby, US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications.

“We still believe that an integrated Israel is good for the region. And we still believe that that is a path worth pursuing. And we’re not giving up on that. I think you’ve heard me say we’re still interested in pursuing this normalization arrangement between Israel and Saudi Arabia. And as I said yesterday, the Saudi Arabians have indicated a willingness to continue in that regard,” he said.

“Again, the Jordanian government can and should speak for their own decision. We still believe that — that there is great power and there’s great promise in a more integrated, more cooperative Middle East, and we’re not going to give up on that,” Kirby added.

Jordan had withdrawn its ambassador from Israel amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

“Today, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs @AymanHsafadi decided to summon the Jordanian ambassador to Israel to Jordan immediately, and Al-Safadi directed the relevant department to inform the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs not to return its ambassador who had previously left the Kingdom, as an expression of the position of Jordan,” Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates’ said in its post ‘X’.

The ministry said Jordan rejects and condemns the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip “which is killing innocent people, causing an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe, and carries dangerous possibilities for its expansion, which will threaten the security of the entire region and international security and peace.”

With input from agencies