This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-40804471

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Israeli PM prevents border 'punch-up' between firebrand MPs Israeli PM prevents border 'punch-up' between firebrand MPs
(about 1 hour later)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has intervened to prevent a possible fistfight between an outspoken MP and his Jordanian counterpart.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has intervened to prevent a possible fistfight between an outspoken MP and his Jordanian counterpart.
The pair had arranged to meet on the border between their countries after exchanging insults on social media. A violent clash was widely expected.The pair had arranged to meet on the border between their countries after exchanging insults on social media. A violent clash was widely expected.
But at the last moment Mr Netanyahu ordered MP Oren Hazan to pull out.But at the last moment Mr Netanyahu ordered MP Oren Hazan to pull out.
Relations between the two neighbouring countries have been strained since a shooting at the end of July.Relations between the two neighbouring countries have been strained since a shooting at the end of July.
On 30 July, an Israeli security guard shot dead two Jordanians near Israel's embassy in Jordan. On 23 July, an Israeli security guard shot dead two Jordanians near Israel's embassy in Jordan.
Israel said that one of the assailants was killed because he was attacking the guard with a screwdriver, while a second person was inadvertently killed in the gunfire. Jordan has called for the guard to be put on trial. One was killed after he attacked the guard with a screwdriver. The second was inadvertently shot dead, Israel says. Jordan has called for the guard to be put on trial.
Mr Hazan - a member of Mr Netanyahu's right-of-centre Likud party - has been described by The Times of Israel as the country's "most unruly lawmaker" and "the enfant terrible of Israel's parliament".Mr Hazan - a member of Mr Netanyahu's right-of-centre Likud party - has been described by The Times of Israel as the country's "most unruly lawmaker" and "the enfant terrible of Israel's parliament".
He tweeted on the day of the shooting that Jordanians "who we keep supplied with water and whose butts we defend day and night" required "re-education".He tweeted on the day of the shooting that Jordanians "who we keep supplied with water and whose butts we defend day and night" required "re-education".
His comments provoked a belligerent response from Jordanian lawmaker Yahya al-Saud, who also has a reputation as a firebrand.His comments provoked a belligerent response from Jordanian lawmaker Yahya al-Saud, who also has a reputation as a firebrand.
"Let him meet me, if he is a man," Mr Saud said. He went on to call Mr Hazan a "loser" who "without the USA's protection would be defenceless"."Let him meet me, if he is a man," Mr Saud said. He went on to call Mr Hazan a "loser" who "without the USA's protection would be defenceless".
The pair arranged to confront each other on Wednesday morning on a bridge crossing that separates the two countries.The pair arranged to confront each other on Wednesday morning on a bridge crossing that separates the two countries.
But at the last minute, Mr Netanyahu ordered Mr Hazan to withdraw from the engagement. A statement from the prime minister's office did not explain why the order had been given.But at the last minute, Mr Netanyahu ordered Mr Hazan to withdraw from the engagement. A statement from the prime minister's office did not explain why the order had been given.
Mr Saud turned up at the bridge for the appointment, streaming it on Facebook Live, and later accused his rival of cowardice.Mr Saud turned up at the bridge for the appointment, streaming it on Facebook Live, and later accused his rival of cowardice.
The cancelled duel showed that "cooler heads prevailed", The Times of Israel said.The cancelled duel showed that "cooler heads prevailed", The Times of Israel said.
"It could have gone down in a footnote of history as the Rumble on the Bridge," the paper commented, in a reference to the famous Rumble in the Jungle boxing clash in Kinshasa in 1974 between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman."It could have gone down in a footnote of history as the Rumble on the Bridge," the paper commented, in a reference to the famous Rumble in the Jungle boxing clash in Kinshasa in 1974 between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman.