Jordan's King Abdullah II has slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of a shooting incident in the capital of Amman, calling his behaviour "unacceptable and provocative".

An Israeli guard shot and killed two Jordanians after one of them attacked him with a screwdriver at the Israeli embassy on Monday.

The two countries have been engaged in a diplomatic stand off over Israel's decision to recall the guard home, after the Jordanian authorities said they wanted him for questioning.

Metal detectors removed from holy site by Israel authorities

Mr Netanyahu's conduct "angers us all, threatens regional security and fuels extremism," the king told a meeting of Jordan's National Policies Council (NPC) meeting at Al Husseiniya Palace on Thursday, calling for the shooter to stand trial.

“The Israeli prime minister is required to honour his responsibilities and take the necessary legal measures to ensure that the killer is tried and justice is served, rather than exhibiting political showmanship in dealing with this crime to score personal political points."

Israel shielded the guard in question under the Vienna convention, claiming diplomatic immunity, and Mr Netanyahu praised him for acting "calmly".

The incident has led to protests in Jordan, where a 1994 peace deal with the Jewish state remains deeply unpopular.

Israel: From independence to intifada Show all 7 1 /7 Israel: From independence to intifada Israel: From independence to intifada The proclamation of the state of Israel is read by David Ben-Gurion in Tel Aviv on 14 May 1948 © EPA Israel: From independence to intifada Sixty years on, an illuminated flag is shown in Tel Aviv this week © PA Israel: From independence to intifada Young Jews celebrate the proclamation of the state of Israel in 1948 © AFP/Getty Images Israel: From independence to intifada Palestinian children throw stones at a retreating Israeli tank during an incursion into the West Bank city of Jenin in August 2003 following a suicide bombing in Jerusalem © AP Israel: From independence to intifada How Israel's borders have changed - click image to enlarge © Independent Graphics Israel: From independence to intifada From 1948-50, the world's mostcelebrated war photographer Robert Capa captured extraordinary imagesof Israel's pioneering settlers. Here, Turkish immigrants arrive in Haifa © Robert Capa/Getty Images Robert Capa/Magnum Israel: From independence to intifada The Negba kibbutz, where the walls have been damaged by shells fired during the Israeli-Arab war © Robert Capa/Getty Images Robert Capa/Magnum

The guard and the other embassy staff returned to Jerusalem, where the Israeli authorities were also dealing with a crisis with the Palestinians over access to the holy site known as the Temple Mount to Jews and Haram al-Sharif to Muslims.

The site - a recurrent flash point for Arab-Israeli violence - is located in East Jerusalem, which was annexed by Israel in 1967, but is administered under the auspices of Jordan to avoid conflict.

Tensions have been running high in the city since 14 July, when Palestinian gunmen shot and killed two Israeli police officers, prompting the authorities to install new security measures at the site such as metal detectors and CCTV cameras.

"We have managed the crisis at... Haram Al Sharif after continuous efforts... to contain its ramifications and reopen the mosque in its entirety through our common stand with our Palestinian brethren. It is important to stress the need to ensure full respect of the historical and legal status quo at Al Haram Al Sharif to prevent the recurrence of such crises,” the king added.

While the Palestinian authority and the site's religious body Waqf said on Thursday morning they were satisfied Israel had removed the new measures, urging worshippers to end protests outside the al-Aqsa mosque and return to pray inside, fresh clashes erupted during the afternoon's prayers, injuring at least 37.

Observers had hoped the issue would be resolved before Friday, the Muslim holy day, which usually attracts thousands more worshippers and often sees heightened religious violence.