JERUSALEM, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Israeli officials said they decided to evacuate the Israeli embassy in Jordan early, fearing anti-Israel protests.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman issued the order Wednesday, Haaretz reported.
An official said a protest was planned for Thursday and more than 3,000 people signed up to participate via Facebook.
Officials in Jordan predicted only a few hundred would actually join the protest and Jordanian forces would be able to control the crowd.
"Jordan has a 'responsible adult' and they will not allow for riots similar to those which took place in Cairo," one foreign ministry official said, adding that "the embassy was closed a day ahead of schedule just to be sure."
The decision to bring Israeli officials home from Jordan came after last week's violent anti-Israel protest in Cairo, which ended with protesters breaking into the embassy building and throwing documents out windows.
