The government denounces this attack and Jordan will not permit such action on its territory

Jordanian Foreign Minister

An official statement read out on Jordan Television said the Israeli was in "good condition" after he was wounded by "a gun shot in his left foot... during an attack by an unidentified assailant".

Reports said he was attacked in his car as he was leaving a supermarket in Amman's wealthy Seventh Circle district.

An embassy spokesman identified the victim of the attack as Shlomo Razabi, but gave no indication of his position at the embassy.

Jordan's foreign minister, Abdel Ilah al-Khatib, condemned the attack and said it would not permit such action on its territory.

Worrying attacks

Witnesses said at least two bullets hit the dark blue Hyundai car, which had Jordanian plates, as Israeli diplomatic cars in Amman normally do for security reasons.

The diplomat was driving an unmarked car

The wounded man was rushed to Amman's Arab Centre for Heart Surgery following the shooting, which took place at about 1900 (1700 GMT)

Jordanian police sources said an investigation was underway to determine the circumstances of the attack.

On 19 November vice consul Yoram Havivian was slightly wounded in the arm and the leg when an unknown gunman fired on his vehicle.

Precautions were being reviewed in the light of the attacks, and the Israeli embassy spokesman told the BBC that Israel found the situation "very worrying".

Arab anger

Jordan has seen a number of angry anti-Israeli protests during the 10-week uprising in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Jordan is one of only two Arab countries to host Israeli embassies on their soil, but much of the population remains hostile in principal to the Jewish state.

BBC Middle East correspondent Frank Gardner says most Arabs want to see the embassies in Amman and in Cairo closed.

In reaction to the current Israeli-Palestinian violence, which has claimed 300 lives, mostly Palestinian, Jordan has suspended moves to replace its own ambassador to Israel after the incumbent retired.

Our correspondent says Tuesday's attack will come as an embarrassment to Jordan's King Abdullah, demonstrating that his police are not always able to guarantee the safety of diplomats.