US embassy cable - 02AMMAN5690

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 005690 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2012 
TAGS: PREL, PREF, ASEC, KPAL, JO 
SUBJECT: GOJ ALLOWS WEEKEND PROTESTS; QUIETER THAN EXPECTED 
 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR EDWARD W. GNEHM FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D) 
 
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FIRST RALLY IN MONTHS ATTRACTS SMALL TURNOUT 
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1. (C) The GOJ allowed--officially or unofficially--several 
rallies to be held this weekend, September 27-28, to mark the 
second anniversary of the beginning of the Intifada.  These 
were the first protests the GOJ has allowed since April, when 
demonstrators threatened to march to the Israeli Embassy. 
The largest was a march sponsored by the professional 
associations and opposition parties that took place on 
September 28 and drew a crowd of roughly 500 protesters.  The 
IAF mouthpiece Al-Sabeel reported that there were new GOJ 
restrictions enforced during the weekend's protests, 
including a ban on allowing foreign-based speakers to call in 
at rallies (probably an attempt to head off calls from 
Damascus-based HAMAS leaders).  There were also several 
protests on September 27, mostly in the refugee camps. 
Attendance was surprisingly small at all the Intifada-related 
events.  Although a few U.S. and Israeli flags were burned, 
security services reported no violence or clashes at any of 
the demonstrations. 
 
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COMMENT 
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2. (C) The limited turnout for these demonstrations was due 
to Intifada fatigue, careful management by the authorities, 
fear of the GOJ's response, and a widespread sense of 
resignation--a feeling that public expression of political 
disaffection have very little effect on regional issues.  Our 
contacts make it very clear that there has been no 
diminishment of frustration and anger felt by the great 
majority of Jordanians as the Israel-Palestinian 
confrontation has continued to deteriorate with little 
perceived intervention from the outside. 
 
GNEHM