US embassy cable - 04AMMAN8353

UNCLAS AMMAN 008353 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, KPAL, JO 
SUBJECT: REACTIONS TO ISRAELI INCURSIONS IN GAZA, U.S. VETO 
 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1. (U) The Israeli operations in Gaza prompted demonstrations 
in the Baqa'a refugee camp near Amman October 5 that resulted 
in clashes with Jordanian security forces. The Jordanian 
government has continued its call for a halt to incursions in 
Gaza and for renewed effort on the peace process. The Lower 
House of Parliament issued a statement condemning Israeli 
military operations. The U.S. veto of the U.N. Security 
Council resolution on Gaza was reported too late for 
extensive commentary, but we expect the veto will be the 
focus of strong criticism and popular emotion. Report on 10/6 
EAC meeting septel. END SUMMARY. 
 
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GOJ VIEWS ON GAZA INCURSIONS 
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2. (U) Responding to a negative mood in Jordan, King Abdullah 
and Foreign Minister Marwan Muashar both took time during 
their travel overseas to denounce recent Israeli incursions 
into northern Gaza. According to the local press, the King 
called for an immediate end to the Israeli offensive during a 
meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair on October 5. 
The King reportedly also called on Palestinians to make a 
concerted effort to help create a favorable climate for the 
resumption of peace negotiations. Muashar made similar 
comments during a joint press conference with Spanish Foreign 
Minister Miguel Morantinos. 
 
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MPs SOUND OFF 
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3. (U) The Lower House of Parliament also denounced Israel's 
actions in Gaza. The press reported that a statement issued 
by Parliament and signed by House Speaker Abdul Hadi Majali 
characterized the Israeli actions a "horrific massacre and 
cowardly terrorist act against the defenseless Palestinian 
people." The statement called on the international community 
to intervene in order to end the Israeli offensive. During 
Charge's lunch October 6 for MPs returning from a recent 
International Visitor program, four lower house members 
interrupted their discussion of the benefits of their 
meetings in the U.S., and harangued A/DCM over the alleged 
injustice of the U.S. veto. 
 
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INCURSIONS IGNITE DEMONSTRATIONS 
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4. (SBU) Fueled by anger at the continuing incursions in 
Gaza, demonstrators clashed with Jordanian security forces in 
the Baqa'a refugee camp on the evening of October 5. The 
unauthorized demonstration, planned at least one day in 
advance, involved between 100 to 500 young men who gathered 
at the Baqa'a market at 2130 Jordan time and moved to a main 
street where the demonstrators started setting tires on fire 
in an attempt to block the main entrance to the camp from the 
Amman-Irbid highway. The camp police garrison fired tear-gas. 
Camp notables assisted in calming the demonstrators, who 
dispersed at 2300 local. According to sources in the 
Jordanian Public Security Directorate, three persons were 
injured, including one policeman. Six demonstrators were 
arrested. According to UNRWA, there have been no other Gaza 
related demonstrations in Jordanian camps in the last week. 
 
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REACTIONS TO U.S. VETO 
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5. (SBU) A local daily - Al Arab Al Yawm - led with a story 
on the U.S. veto. The headline reads, "Americans Veto 
Cessation of Gaza Massacre." POL FSN spoke October 6 with a 
moderate Jordanian contact who, out of character, delved into 
a condemnation of the U.S. veto as something "disgusting" 
that Americans should be "ashamed of." The late vote in the 
UNSC did not give columnists the opportunity to ventilate 
their views, but we can expect extreme criticism in the days 
ahead. 
 
6. (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
 
Visit Embassy Amman's classified website at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/ or access the site 
through the State Department's SIPRNET home page. 
 
HALE