US embassy cable - 05AMMAN44

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 000044 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/03/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KPAL, IS, JO 
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN DELEGATION TO MONITOR PALESTINIAN 
ELECTIONS; PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY FOR ISRAELI FM VISIT 
 
REF: 04 TEL AVIV 06651 
 
Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1.  (C)  Summary.  Jordan's FM, in coordination with Egypt, 
is looking for ways to return an ambassador to Tel Aviv this 
month.  Silvan Shalom may visit Amman as early as January 12. 
 Contradicting a previous announcement, Jordan is sending a 
mixed public/private sector delegation to help monitor the 
Palestinian election.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (C)  A Jordanian delegation headed by Senator Abdul Salam 
al-Majali will leave Amman on January 4 for the West Bank to 
observe Palestinian elections on January 9.  According to 
Auda Abu Tayeh of the Foreign Minister's Private Office, the 
delegation is comprised of a several private and public 
individuals, including Interior Ministry Secretary General 
Mukhaimer Abu Jamous, the newly-appointed Director of the 
Department of Palestinian Affairs Wajih Azayzeh, and 
columnist Sultan Hattab (an East Banker known for his 
nationalist views).  He noted that a former university 
president and other members of Parliament also would 
participate.  Abu Tayeh said he was surprised at the 
announcement that a delegation would be sent; as of last week 
his understanding was there would be no Jordanian observers. 
(Note:  Indeed, the GOJ spokesperson said as much during a 
press conference last week, despite an official invitation 
from the Palestinian Charge in Amman.) 
 
3.  (C)  Abu Tayeh also confirmed that preparations are 
underway for a possible visit by Israeli Foreign Minister 
Silvan Shalom.  He said the date was not yet set, but if it 
proceeds it likely will closely follow the Palestinian 
elections.  He cautioned that "a lot can change between now 
and then," however, given the volatile regional situation. 
(Note: Local press reports indicated that Shalom will visit 
Jordan on January 12.)  Abu Tayeh said specifics of Shalom's 
agenda were still being worked out, but he was unaware of the 
Israelis' interest in another Aqaba conference (ref). 
 
4.  (C)  Meanwhile, Jordanian press quoted unnamed Jordanian 
"political sources" as saying that at the time of Shalom's 
visit, a number of Jordanian prisoners in Israel would be 
released.  The sources ruled out that the four accused of 
killing Israelis before the peace treaty will be among those 
set free.  Meanwhile, Jordan's newly-appointed Charge 
d'Affaires to Tel Aviv, Ali al-Ayed, arrived in Israel on 
January 2 to assume his new post.  Foreign Minister al-Mulki 
has discussed with Charge his contacts with the Egyptians 
about coordinating the return of their ambassadors to Tel 
Aviv.  Mulki said both states wish to make the move quickly 
after the Palestinian election, as that will be the most 
favorable moment.  He said the Egyptians would like to have 
the initiative come from Abu Mazen, however, with a 
post-election statement to the effect that the Palestinian 
cause would be better served if Egypt and Jordan were engaged 
with Israel with resident ambassadors.  Mulki acknowledged 
that Jordan had "boxed itself in" by insisting publicly on a 
prisoner release as a precondition; he was searching for some 
unspecified face saving way for Jordan to get around this 
self-imposed obstacle. 
 
5.  (U)  Baghdad minimize considered. 
 
Please visit Embassy Amman's classified web site at 
http://www.state.sgov/p/nea/amman/ or access the site through 
the Department of State's SIPRNET home page. 
HALE