Israeli tourists with skullcaps assaulted in Jordan market

Mens’ Jewish headgear ‘provoked the sensibilities of the vendors,’ Jordanian
daily reports

By Elhanan Miller The Times of Israel June 5, 2012, 4:07 pm12
http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-tourists-assaulted-in-jordan-market/

Six Israeli tourists were assaulted Monday in a market in southern Jordan,
local media reported, after vendors were angered by their traditional Jewish
skullcaps.

The six men and women arrived at a market in the town of Rabba, 100
kilometers (62 miles) south of the capital Amman, when one of the vendors
identified the tourists as Israeli due to mens’ skullcaps, which “provoked
the sensibilities of the vendors,” independent daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm
reported.

The vendor proceeded to assault the men with shoes, a symbol of disdain in
Arab culture. The Israeli tourists fled the area in their cars as buyers
joined the attack, the daily reported.

No information was reported on their condition or if they remained in
Jordan.

“Israelis are not wanted in the market,” a shopper told Al-Arab Al-Yawm.
“Those who talk about peace between Israelis and Jordanians are delusional.
The signed agreements are nothing but ink on paper. They are meaningless.”

An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman told The Times of Israel he was
unaware of the incident.