AMMAN, Jordan, April 22 (UPI) -- A Jordanian political party expelled one of its members of Parliament for allegedly attending a reception with Israeli President Shimon Peres, officials said.
The Islamist Centrist Party, after a unanimous vote, said Monday it expelled parliamentarian Mohammad Asha al-Dawaymeh from the party and parliamentary bloc, after investigating his recent visit to Israel, the Jordanian website Ammonnews.net said. Dawaymeh had attended a reception hosted by Peres marking Israel's 65th Independence Day celebrations.
A statement from the party said the decision to expel Dawaymeh came because he visited the "Zionist entity" and shook hands with the "criminal" Peres, the site said.
"The Bloc and Political Committee voted unanimously to expel him considering that such acts violate the party's principles and foundations that reject all forms of normalization with the Zionist entity," the statement said.
A peace treaty signed by the two countries in 1994 normalized ties and agreed to resolve territorial disputes.
