The Jordanian pilot, Lt. Moath al-Kasasbeh, was burned alive by ISIS militants in a video shared online around the world.
The tragedy is a prime opportunity for Netanyahu to shore up a relationship that has undergone some strain in recent months over restricted Palestinian access to the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
Jordan recalled its ambassador three months earlier over rising tensions in Jerusalem, but on Monday the ambassador was back in Tel Aviv, a sign that Jordan sees the importance of smoothing over its relationship with Israel.
Jordan has been a crucial partner in the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS, not only flying missions over Syria and bombing ISIS targets, but also lending its territory to the CIA’s covert program to train moderate Syrian rebels.
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“The difference between ISIS and Hamas and ISIS and Iran and so on is they all agree that the world should be an Islamist hill, but … each of them wants to be the king of the hill,” Netanyhau said on CBS in October.
Netanyahu made a similar point in a speech to the United Nations in September and has also likened ISIS beheadings to Hamas’ execution of alleged collaborators.
Netanyahu’s social media accounts continued to push posts this week about the danger of extremism and nuclear weapons — a not-so-subtle wink at the dangers of Iran.
Netanyahu isn’t just playing for an international audience. He’s up for reelection again in March, propping himself up on a security-focused platform.
