Government spokesman Mohamed Momani described the incident as a "terrorist attack" and said the attacker was a criminal with a history of drug-related crimes.
Investigations were under way to uncover the circumstances and motives for the attack, which took place at dawn, he told the official Petra news agency.
Earlier, the Public Security Directorate, Jordan's law enforcement agency, reported an exchange of fire in the Amman neighborhood of Rabieh, where the Israeli embassy is located.
"The man opened fire at security forces, who in turn applied the rules of engagement, resulting in the perpetrator being killed," the agency added.
It said three public security personnel were injured during the incident and are receiving treatment.
Jordan, which signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994, maintains largely stable relations with its neighbours.
But the Rabieh area has been a focal point of protests against the Israeli embassy since Israel's war against the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas erupted in the Gaza Strip last October. | BGNES
