Jordan arrests man for desecrating Israeli flag

Authorities in kingdom reportedly question shopkeeper on charges of hurting relations with a friendly country

Jordanian security services reportedly arrested a shop owner in the northern city of Irbid who painted an Israeli flag on the floor of his store in support of the recent wave of Palestinian terror attacks against Israelis. The idea was that customers would tread on the flag as an expression of hostility to Israel.

The man’s son, Qusai Ja’roun, was quoted by the news site “Arabic 21″ as saying that his father, who was not named in the report, was held on charges of disrupting relations with a friendly country.

He was released on a bail of 3,000 Jordanian dinars ($4,200), and after promising not to repeat the stunt.

Officials ordered the man to remove the flag.

But following his arrest, other shop owners in Irbil reportedly rallied to his side by drawing Israeli flags on the floors of their own stores.