Israel has released a Jordanian member of parliament suspected of attempting to smuggle weapons and gold into the West Bank after a two-week detention, Israeli and Jordanian authorities said.
Israel’s Shin Bet intelligence agency said Imad Adwan was released to Jordan “for further investigation and prosecution”.
It said Israel “conveyed to Jordan a demand” to prosecute Mr Adwan in the kingdom, just hours before Jordan's parliament lifted Mr Adwan's immunity from prosecution.
Jordanian foreign ministry spokesman Sinan Majali confirmed that Mr Adwan was being handed over to Jordanian authorities on the bridge border crossing which connects Jordan with the Israel-occupied West Bank.
The case illustrates the complex relationship between Israel and Jordan, whose population comprises a large number of people of Palestinian origin. The two countries signed a peace treaty in 1994 and co-operate closely on security matters, although Jordan strongly criticises Israel for its treatment of the Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
State television in Amman quoted a Jordanian official as saying that accomplices of Mr Adwan had admitted to "trading and smuggling of firearms" in partnership with him, and that the MP would be referred to the state's security court for "legal action against him".
Mr Adwan was arrested on April 22 as he crossed by car into the West Bank. According to Israeli media reports, he was carrying bags with more than 200 hand guns, a dozen rifles and 100kg of gold. A military court extended his detention last week.
Shin Bet said an investigation revealed Mr Adwan had used his diplomatic passport to smuggle goods, including gold, birds and electronic cigarettes, into Israel on 12 occasions.
It said that a number of Jordanian officials connected to the case were also arrested in Jordan on Sunday. There was no official confirmation from Jordan.
Mr Adwan sits on the Jordanian parliament's Palestine Committee, which monitors Israeli actions in the occupied Palestinian territories but has no say on foreign policy.
He represents a district bordering Israel and his supporters in the area have staged protests to demand his release.
