Netanyahu welcomes home Jordan envoy and freed embassy guard

“I am happy to see you, happy that things ended the way they did.”

JULY 25, 2017 12:35

Updated: JULY 25, 2017 16:12

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets in his office with Ziv the Israeli guard stabbed in the Jordan embassy complex (photo credit: CHAIM ZACH / GPO) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets in his office with Ziv the Israeli guard stabbed in the Jordan embassy complex

(photo credit: CHAIM ZACH / GPO)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met in his Jerusalem office Tuesday morning with Israel's Ambassador to Jordan, Einat Schlein, and Ziv, the Israeli guard stabbed in the embassy complex Sunday evening.

The meeting came less than 12 hours after they – along with Israel's delegation to Amman – crossed over the Allenby Bridge after a hair-raising drama that began with the stabbing of Ziv, and his firing two shots in self-defense, killing the assailant and another man at the scene.

PM Netanyahu met Israeli Ambassador to Jordan Shlain and security guard Ziv: "I am happy to see you here and that things ended as they did" pic.twitter.com/hw4IjMuHHB
— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) July 25, 2017

“I am happy to see you, happy that things ended the way they did,” Netanyahu told the two. “You acted calmly and well, and we had the responsibility to get you out, there was no question whatsoever. It was only a matter of time, and I am happy it was a short period of time.”

Netanyahu said that the two represented Israel, and Israel never forgot that.

Ziv replied, saying that a heavy burden was lifted from him. “I thank you with all my heart, I am happy to be here,” he said, adding that he and Schlein felt that the state stood firmly behind them. Schlein said, “It is good to be here, everything is excellent.”