Israel hands over to Jordan lawmaker held in gun-running case

Israel on Sunday handed over to Jordan a member of the Jordanian parliament who had been held on suspicion of trying to smuggle weapons into the occupied West Bank.
Israel’s Shin Bet intelligence agency said, Imad al Adwan, who was arrested on April 22 at an Israeli-controlled border crossing, was transferred to Jordan where the investigation and legal process will continue.
The Jordanian speaker of parliament said Adwan’s parliamentary immunity has been revoked, meaning he could face prosecution. A Jordanian security source said the case will be brought to trial.
Shin Bet also provided further details of the case, which had threatened to strain the neighbours’ almost three-decade-old ties that have been often tested by Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians and a major Jerusalem mosque.
The agency said, Adwan, who was allegedly caught with 12 rifles and 194 pistols in his car, had used his diplomatic passport to smuggle items before, including weapons, animals, electronic cigarettes and gold.