AMMAN: The Jordanian Parliament鈥檚 Lower House has voted to expel Israel鈥檚 ambassador in Amman in protest over Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich鈥檚 reference to a map of Israel that included the occupied West Bank, Gaza, and Jordan.

During a speech in Paris on Sunday, Smotrich claimed the notion of a Palestinian people was artificial.

He said: 鈥淭here is no such thing as a Palestinian nation. There is no Palestinian history. There is no Palestinian language.鈥�

The minister was speaking at a memorial event for a French Israeli right-wing activist who had denied the existence of a Palestinian nation and advocated annexation of the West Bank.

During the Jordan Parliament session on Wednesday, MPs described Smotrich鈥檚 words as reflecting 鈥渁n Israeli arrogance and disrespect of international treaties and conventions,鈥� the Jordan News Agency reported.

Lower House speaker, Ahmed Safadi, called on Jordan鈥檚 government to take proactive measures against Smotrich鈥檚 statements and behavior.