US embassy cable - 02AMMAN2587

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 002587 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2012 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, KPAL, JO 
SUBJECT: JORDANIANS ASK FOR U.S. HELP IN FACILITATING 
TRANSIT OF DONATION FROM KING TO JERUSALEM HOSPITAL 
 
Classified By: Amb. Edward W. Gnehm for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D) 
 
1.  (C)  In a meeting with Ambassador and PolCouns May 20, 
Prime Minister Ali Abul Ragheb stressed the need for U.S. 
intervention to improve the "humanitarian situation" in 
Palestinian areas of the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Gaza. 
Israel has recently made it more difficult for humanitarian 
supplies from Jordan to reach their destinations in the West 
Bank, he claimed.  For example, he said, Israel has held up 
for more than two weeks a personal donation of medical 
supplies from King Abdullah to the Makassad Hospital in 
Jerusalem.  He asked if the U.S. could intervene with Israel 
to assure delivery of the supplies. 
 
2.  (C)  He also complained that the pervasive Israeli 
checkpoints in the West Bank have humiliated the Palestinian 
population and brought normal life and economic activity to a 
halt.  He complained that al-Quds University has been unable 
to pay salaries to its teachers, but that Jordan had agreed 
to pay the salaries until the situation improves. 
 
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COMMENT 
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3.  (C)  We know that Embassy Tel Aviv and ConGen Jerusalem 
have worked tirelessly to facilitate humanitarian efforts. 
Is there anything that Embassy Tel Aviv can do to help 
persuade the Israelis to allow delivery of King Abdullah's 
personal contribution to Makassad? 
Gnehm