US embassy cable - 04AMMAN2754

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 002754 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/12/2014 
TAGS: PREL, KPAL, IS, JO 
SUBJECT: JORDAN PUBLISHES GIST OF KING'S LETTER TO 
PRESIDENT, LAYS DOWN PUBLIC MARKER ON GAZA WITHDRAWAL 
 
REF: AMMAN 2690 (NOTAL) 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Edward W. Gnehm for reasons 1.5 (b) (d) 
 
1.  (U)  The semi-official Arabic-language daily al-Ra'i on 
April 12 summarized a letter from King Abdullah to President 
Bush stating Jordan's support for the President's vision of a 
two-state solution as the only acceptable means for ending 
the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and achieving stability in 
the region.  According to the summary of the letter, King 
Abdullah emphasized that the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza 
must be part of the roadmap, not a substitute for it.  He 
also called for a Security Council resolution to support 
establishment of an independent Palestinian state beside 
Israel.  Finally, the King expressed his hope that the 
international community can agree upon a plan to help the 
Palestinians rebuild their institutions.  He added that 
Jordan will do its utmost to support Palestinian efforts to 
rebuild their capabilities to enable them to assume effective 
control of Gaza after the Israeli withdrawal. 
 
2.  (C)  The press synopsis mirrors, but does not repeat 
verbatim, the actual letter, a copy of which the Palace 
provided to the Ambassador on April 8 (ref).  Of note, the 
press summary does not mention King Abdullah's concerns about 
Israel's requests for U.S. assurances on border demarcation 
and refugee issues, as conveyed in the letter.  The 
Jordanians did not inform us in advance that they intended to 
share the substance of this letter with the press.  We view 
it as an attempt by the GOJ to lay down a marker with its 
public on this issue in advance of King Abdullah's visit to 
Washington. 
 
Visit Embassy Amman's classified web site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman or access the site 
through the State Department's SIPRNET home page. 
GNEHM