US embassy cable - 05AMMAN1094

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 001094 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2010 
TAGS: PREL, KPAL, JO, IS 
SUBJECT: RETURN OF JORDANIAN AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL 
 
REF: SATTERFIELD/HALE TELCONS 
 
Classified By: Charge David Hale, Reasons 1.4 (B) & (D) 
 
1.  (C) After Charge expressed U.S. concern about the 
vagueness on the timing of the return of Jordan's Ambassador 
to Israel late February 8, Foreign Minister al-Mulki informed 
that he would convoke the Israeli Ambassador in Amman on 
February 9 and seek agrement for Jordan's nominee.  At that 
point, Israel would be free to make any statements it chose 
on the matter.  Once agrement was granted, Mulki assured 
Charge, Jordan's nominee would move to Israel as soon as 
possible.  No cabinet decision was required, he said, 
although Mulki acknowledged he and the government spokeswoman 
had indicated otherwise publicly for domestic political 
reasons. 
 
2.  (C) On February 9, Israeli Ambassador Handelsman met with 
the Foreign Minister's private office director, Rajab 
al-Suqairi.  He was given a note verbale seeking agrement for 
Ambassador Ma'rouf Al-Bakhit, Jordan's current Ambassador in 
Ankara.  Suqairi said as soon as agrement was granted, Jordan 
would process Bakhit's move to Israel as quickly as possible. 
 Jordan had no objection to a statement by Israel that it had 
received Jordan's agrement request. 
 
3.  (C) Handelsman said he also discussed with Suqairi 
possible dates for an early visit to Jordan by Foreign 
Minister Silvan Shalom. 
 
HALE