Heads of Shin Bet, IDF intel said to visit Jordan to discuss effects of Syria upheaval

Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and the head of the IDF’s Military Intelligence Directorate, Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder, covertly visited Jordan and held talks Friday with Jordanian generals on the situation in Syria, according to several reports.

The Walla news site says the talks were held with Ahmad Husni, director of the General Intelligence Department, and with other senior Jordanian officers.

Citing three senior Israeli officers, the outlet reports that the sides also discussed the growing threat of weapons smuggling by Iran to via Jordan to Palestinian terror groups in the West Bank. Walla also reports that Jordan is a central mediator between Israel and the Syrian opposition groups currently working on forming a transitional government.

Meanwhile, the Kan public broadcaster reports that talks come against the backdrop of fears in Israel that extremist groups in Jordan will be inspired by the Syrian rebels’ swift overthrowing of the Assad regime, and will try in turn to oust the Hashemite Kingdom’s ruler, King Abdullah II.

Citing senior Israeli sources, Kan reports that top Israeli officials, including in the security cabinet, have discussed the possibility of what happened in Syria being replicated in Jordan, which would have major implications for Israel, whose longest land border is with Jordan.