US embassy cable - 02AMMAN4526

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 004526 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2012 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, QA, JO 
SUBJECT: GOJ RECALLS AMBASSADOR TO QATAR FOR CONSULTATIONS, 
CLOSES AL-JAZEERA OFFICE FOLLOWING INFLAMMATORY EPISODE OF 
"OPPOSITE DIRECTION" 
 
Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION GREGORY L. BERRY  REASONS:  1.5( 
b) and (d). 
 
1. (C)  SUMMARY.  The Government of Jordan closed the 
al-Jazeera office in Amman on August 7 and subsequently 
recalled its Ambassador to Qatar for consultations in 
response to an "inflammatory" episode of "Opposite Direction" 
by al-Jazeera.  The program featured a guest who was 
aggressively critical of the Hashemite regime, accusing it of 
colluding with Israel, Great Britain and the United States to 
subdue and oppress the Palestinian people. 
Across-the-spectrum Jordanian media response to the program 
has been supportive of the Hashemite family and the GOJ. 
This is the latest instance in the sometimes stormy 
relationship between the GOJ and al-Jazeera, and hardens the 
GOJ belief that the Qataris are using al-Jazeera as a 
mouthpiece to irritate rival Arab nations such as Jordan. END 
SUMMARY 
 
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GUEST ON PROGRAM:  THE HASHEMITE 
FAMILY IS NO FRIEND TO THE ARABS 
------------------------------- 
 
2. (SBU)  Assad Abu Khalil, an Associate Professor of 
Political Science at the University of California-Berkley, 
flayed the Hashemite family during the August 6 segment of 
the popular al-Jazeera program "al-Itijah al-Moakez" 
(Opposite Direction).  The segment, broadcast throughout the 
Arab world, was supposed to be a discussion of Jordan's 
position on potential USG action against Iraq.  However, 
Khalil accused the Hashemites of essentially being 
co-conspirators with the Israelis against the Arab world. 
Khalil asserted that King Abdullah "does not speak on behalf 
of any Arab man or woman", and that the late King Hussein had 
received money from the CIA.  His basic message was that the 
Hashemite family, for nearly 100 years, has been 
anti-Palestinian and in cahoots with the Israelis, British, 
and the USG.  He said that the credibility of King Abdullah 
was "at rock bottom" in the Arab world, and accused him of 
"subservience" to the USG. 
 
3. (SBU)  Khalil's co-guest, former Jordanian parliamentarian 
Mahmoud Kharabsheh, was often off-balance and defensive in 
his attempts to protect the image of the Hashemite family as 
well as Jordan's intelligence services (which were also 
criticized by Khalil).  The show fielded callers, one of 
which was Sameer Hiyari, a reporter for the Jordanian 
newspaper "al-Rai'i".  In a rant that was so loud it was 
barely understandable, Hiyari lambasted Khalil and rose to 
the defense of the Hashemite family.  (Note: "Opposite 
Direction" is one of the original al-Jazeera programs that 
propelled it to its current popularity.  It is similar to 
CNN's "Crossfire" and routinely indulges in raucous guests 
and inflammatory topics, often at the expense of sitting Arab 
governments). 
 
-------------------------------- 
GOJ CLOSES LOCAL OFFICE OF AL JAZEERA, 
AIRS TELEVISION SEGMENT OF ITS OWN. 
-------------------------------- 
 
4. (SBU)  Following the initial airing of the program, the 
GOJ closed the Amman office of al-Jazeera on August 7 
"indefinitely" (note:  The program has been re-aired at least 
once by al-Jazeera since the closing of the Amman office). 
Jordan's official Petra news organization reported that the 
GOJ withdrew al-Jazeera's license to operate as well as their 
correspondents' media credentials.  Local media editorials, 
across the political spectrum, have roundly criticized 
al-Jazeera and Khalil's attack upon the royal family.  Rumors 
have already been spun accusing Khalil of having a "Zionist" 
wife who was expelled from Jordan several years ago.  On 
August 8, Jordan TV aired a program in an effort to counter 
Khalil's accusations and allowed viewers to call in.  A few 
former GOJ ministers and Kharabsheh appeared during the one 
hour segment and fielded phone calls from a supportive 
Jordanian public. 
 
5. (C) On August 8, a senior MFA official told POLCOUNS that 
FonMin Muasher had convoked the Qatari ambassador that day 
and expressed the GOJ's extreme displeasure with al-Jazeera 
and, by extension, the GOQ. The official told us that he had 
rarely seen Muasher so tough or emotional delivering a 
demarche.  POLCOUNS cautioned that the closure of the 
al-Jazeera office would raise questions in the international 
media about Jordan's freedom of the press and developing 
democracy. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
QATARI SILENCE LEADS TO RECALL OF JORDANIAN AMBASSADOR 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
6. (C)  On August 10, the GOJ recalled its ambassador to 
Qatar, Omar Amad, for consultations.  On August 11, FM 
Muasher told the DCM that "Jordan isn't buying the Qatari 
claim of al-Jazeera's independence over editorial content." 
The GOJ, Muasher said, had demanded that the GOQ issue a 
public statement distancing itself from the views expressed 
on al-Jazeera.  When this failed to appear, the Jordanians 
decided to recall their ambassador to Doha.  Muasher insisted 
the GOQ was using al-Jazeera as a mouthpiece because it feels 
excluded from Arab councils on major regional issues, 
particularly the MEPP.  The FM gave no indication of how long 
Amad will remain in Amman for consultations. 
 
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COMMENT 
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7. (C)  This is not the first time the GOJ has butted heads 
with al-Jazeera.  The news agency has routinely run stories 
the GOJ considered to be slanted against Jordan and the Royal 
Family, and "Opposite Direction" has repeatedly addressed 
controversial topics regarding Jordan.  Closing the local 
al-Jazeera office is not unprecedented; in 1998 the GOJ shut 
the office briefly after a similar incident.  Jordanian media 
have closed ranks behind the government and its reaction, 
certainly because of government urging, but also as a general 
circling of the wagons against allegations perceived as 
highly inappropriate.  At the same time, some journalists 
have used the controversy to renew calls for a more open 
media environment in Jordan as a way to lessen the 
attractiveness and influence of foreign satellite channels 
such as al-Jazeera. 
Gnehm