US embassy cable - 04AMMAN5007

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 005007 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, ASEC, KPAL, IS, JO 
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN VISITS TO WEST BANK STIR CONTROVERSY 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Edward W. Gnehm for reasons 1.5 (b)(d) 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1.  (C)  The visit of two Jordanian delegations to the West 
Bank earlier this month has fueled speculation among some 
quarters about the GOJ's future role in the West Bank.  On 
June 2-3, a group of retired Jordanian generals conducted a 
Track II related visit to Israel and the West Bank. 
Separately, GOJ military and media representatives visited 
two Jordanian field hospitals in the West Bank, and 
inadvertently interacted with a member of the al-Aqsa 
Martyr's Brigades in Janin.  Misleading press reports about 
the purpose of the visits and sensitivity about a future 
Jordanian role in the West Bank may have prompted Interior 
Minister Habashneh's public statement that the GOJ intended 
only to support the Palestinians in rebuilding their 
institutions.  However, the Islamic opposition in Jordan (and 
some Palestinians) are not convinced.  End Summary. 
 
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VISITS RAISE SPECTER OF FUTURE JORDANIAN WEST BANK ROLE 
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2.  (C)  The visit of two Jordanian groups has raised the 
issue of Jordan's future role in the West Bank.  Retired Gen. 
Mansour Abu Rashid, a decorated Jordanian general who now 
chairs the pro-peace Amman Center for Peace and Development, 
told PolOff on June 15 that he had led a group of retired 
Jordanian generals to Israel on June 2-3 (as he has done 
frequently in the past).  During the visit, the group met 
various Israeli military and political leaders, toured the 
Jordan Valley, and viewed the separation barrier from both 
the Israel and West Bank side.  He said during the visit the 
Jordanians offered suggestions of how to alleviate the 
hardship on the Palestinian population.  "As a military man," 
he told PolOff, "I support the wall, but on the 1967 
borders."  He said that the suffering of the Palestinian 
population is palpable and not sustainable, but he believes 
that the Israelis have workable plans in mind to ease passage 
though the barrier, such as increasing the number of gates. 
 
3.  (C)  Separately, Ali al-Ayed, the head of Foreign 
Minister Muasher's private office, confirmed to PolCouns June 
15 that a media group from the Armed Forces' public relations 
office and Jordan TV had traveled to Jenin and Ramallah a 
week later to tour Jordanian field hospitals to prepare a 
news report.  During the visit to Ramallah, the group 
"interacted" with at least one member of the al-Aqsa Brigades 
as reported in press reports, but the contact was 
inadvertent, according to Ayed. 
 
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WHY ALL THE FUSS? 
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4.  (C)  The visits spurred a flurry of press reports about 
the two groups' activities, some inaccurately suggesting that 
both were official visits intended as fact-finding missions 
to prepare for a future Jordanian role in the West Bank 
(behind the back of the Palestinian Authority).  The press 
reports fueled suspicion in some quarters that the Jordanians 
(at Israel and the U.S.'s behest) were contemplating a future 
role in West Bank security or governance.  For example, the 
Islamic Action Front's mouthpiece (and largest circulation 
weekly in Jordan) al-Sabil front-paged an editorial on June 
15 voicing these concerns, suggesting that many Jordanians 
did not believe GOJ explanations on the matter.  The 
editorial was accompanied by a lengthy news article 
discussing the recent Jordanian visits to the West Bank. 
 
5.  (C)  Although he acknowledged he could not speak to GOJ 
intentions, Gen. Abu Rashid said that Jordanian involvement 
in the West Bank is a highly sensitive issue on both sides of 
the river, noting that most Palestinians in the West Bank 
(and some in Jordan) strongly oppose a Jordanian presence 
there.  While they may accept Jordanian humanitarian 
assistance, help in rebuilding institutions, and training of 
security forces, most would strenuously oppose the physical 
presence of Jordanian troops or police on West Bank land.  He 
said that Palestinians -- particularly those who only have 
known life under occupation -- do not reminisce favorably 
about Jordanian rule pre-1967.  Many Palestinians would 
perceive a Jordanian presence in the West Bank (as he 
suspects the Israelis may want on some level) as if they are 
trading one occupation for another, according to Abu Rashid. 
 
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COMMENT 
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6.  (C)  The Jordanian visits to the West Bank were 
completely routine, but the worried reactions were not. 
Public discussion of an Egyptian security role in Gaza is 
most likely making Jordanians and Palestinians 
hyper-sensitive to any action that may imply that Jordan 
seeks a similar direct role in the West Bank. 
 
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