US embassy cable - 04AMMAN2164

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 002164 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2014 
TAGS: ASEC, PREL, KPAL, JO, KTER 
SUBJECT: YASSIN ASSASSINATION SPARKS CONDEMNATION, RALLIES 
AND LIMITED VIOLENCE IN CAMPS 
 
REF: AMMAN 2156 
 
Classified By: DCM David Hale for Reasons 1.5 (b), (d) 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1.  (S) Both King Abdullah and Prime Minister al-Fayez 
publicly condemned the Israeli assassination of Hamas 
founder Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, warning that the killing would 
lead to an escalation of violence and instability in the 
region.  A visibly upset Foreign Minister Muasher 
complained to the Ambassador that the Israelis had chosen 
to kill Yassin only three days after the King's meeting 
with Israeli Prime Minister Sharon.  Approximately 800 
persons each demonstrated against the assassination at the 
University of Jordan and the Professional Associations 
headquarters, while a protest later in the day at the King 
Hussein mosque garnered roughly 2,500 Jordanians.  A 
violent demonstration at the Baqa refugee camp led to the 
closing of schools and government offices in the camp, as 
well as the deployment of additional police.  Public 
security forces have been instructed to allow demonstrators 
to let off steam, but to keep any violence from getting out 
of hand.  Embassy contacts outside the government have 
unanimously denounced the assassination and warned of its 
negative effects on the peace process, the upcoming Arab 
League summit, and attitudes towards the U.S. in the 
region.  End Summary. 
 
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GOVERNMENT CONDEMNATION 
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2.  (U) In a written statement released by the palace March 
22, King Abdullah condemned the Israeli killing of Yassin, 
saying "We are disappointed and pained by the new 
development despite the relentless efforts that we have 
exerted with all parties, including the Israeli government, 
to prevent continuation of the policy of military 
escalation."  The King called on the Israeli government to 
return immediately to the negotiation table with the 
Palestinians, while he urged the international community to 
make all efforts to put the peace process back on track. 
In a similar press statement, Prime Minister Faisal 
al-Fayez called Yassin's assassination a "crime ... 
committed against the Palestinian people" and "a flagrant 
violation of all charters and norms."  He further warned 
that the killing would lead to more bloodshed and undermine 
opportunities to achieve peace in the region. 
 
3.  (C) During a March 22 meeting with the Ambassador and 
visiting Ambassador Dick Jones from CPA, Foreign Minister 
Marwan Muasher was visibly upset as he briefly talked about 
the assassination.  He noted with bitterness that the 
Israelis had chosen to kill Yassin only three days after 
the King had met with Israeli Prime Minister Sharon in 
Israel (reported septel), implying that this would 
embarrass the King both in Jordan and the Arab world and 
fan more public opposition to the government's policy of 
engagement with Israel.  "Jordan looks terrible this 
morning," said Muasher.  This act, he stated, would silence 
his efforts to ensure moderate treatment of 
Israeli-Palestinian issues at the Arab League Tunis 
Summit. 
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HOSTILE PUBLIC REACTION 
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4.  (C) The Jordanian Public Security Directorate (PSD) and 
mobile Embassy security units reported a non-violent 
demonstration of roughly 800 students, academics and others 
at the University of Jordan strongly condemning Israel for 
its killing of Yassin.  A similar rally of around 800 
persons organized by labor activists and opposition 
political parties took place at the Professional 
Associations headquarters in Amman.  Roughly 2,500 people, 
some carrying HAMAS flags, gathered later in the day at the 
King Hussein mosque in downtown Amman for a march towards 
City Hall to voice their outrage against the 
assassination.  As a precautionary measure, the Israeli 
embassy did not open March 22 and sent all but three 
diplomats and security officers home to Israel.  That 
embassy will evaluate the situation over the next week. 
(See ref for U.S. Embassy/EAC responses.) 
 
5.  (S) The most serious protest against Yassin's death 
erupted at the Baqa refugee camp with reports of burning 
tires and the smashing of vehicles.  As a result of the 
unrest, schools and government offices in the camp were 
closed and the PSD sent in additional police to the camp. 
The government also temporarily closed roads to Jerash, 
Irbid and the Syrian border.  Security officials indicated 
that while public security forces will prevent any violence 
from getting out of hand, they have been instructed to 
allow demonstrators in the country to let off steam. 
6.  (S) According to the Jordanian military, military units 
with back-up security responsibility for refugee camps have 
been placed on alert, though none has been deployed.  King 
Abdullah was scheduled to attend a meeting at 13:00 at the 
military general headquarters to discuss the security 
situation. 
 
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PRIVATE DESPAIR 
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7.  (C) Embassy sources outside the government contacted 
March 22 all expressed sharp condemnation of Israel's 
action and predicted that it could have serious negative 
consequences in the region.  One noted academic and media 
columnist feared that it would provoke a hard-line stance 
in the upcoming Arab League summit and increase hostility 
towards Americans, as well as further damage any prospects 
for Arab-Israeli peace negotiations.  A former member of 
Parliament who represented the Wehdat refugee camp in 
Jordan called the assassination an "ugly crime" and said 
the resulting mood inside the camp was "very tense." 
 
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COMMENT 
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8.  (C) While there is little love lost for HAMAS in the 
GOJ, nearly all Jordanians agree that the assassination of 
Sheikh Yassin was unnecessary and escalatory.  It is likely 
that we will see more protests in the coming days, 
particularly after communal prayers on Friday. 
 
Please visit Embassy Amman's classified web site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/ or through the 
Department of State's SIPRNET site. 
GNEHM