US embassy cable - 05AMMAN7624

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 AMMAN 007624 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARN, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, INR/NESA, R/MR, 
I/GNEA, B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN 
USAID/ANE/MEA 
LONDON FOR TSOU 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
 
TAGS: KMDR JO 
SUBJECT: SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION ON KING ABDULLAH'S 
VISIT TO THE US 
 
                        Summary 
 
-- King Abdullah's visit, activities and remarks 
during his visit to the United States received 
prominent coverage in the local print media published 
over the weekend, September 23-25.  Front pages of all 
papers carried lead reports that highlighted the 
King's various meetings and remarks, particularly his 
meeting with President Bush.  All papers published 
today, September 25, focus on the announcement of the 
King's planned visit to the Palestinian territories 
and Israel to hold talks with the Palestinian and 
Israeli leaders in efforts to "continue the peace 
process".  Under the general theme of "a successful 
visit by an Arab Hashemite leader", few commentaries 
hail the King's "voice of moderation" and underscore 
his achievements in terms of correcting the ill- 
portrayed image of Islam in the world, the importance 
of continuing peace-making efforts towards resolving 
the Palestinian issue, and the significance of doing 
everything possible to bring stability and peace to 
Iraq and hence the entire region. 
 
                 Editorial Commentary 
 
-- "The Jordanian-American summit meeting" 
 
Center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour 
(09/23) editorializes:  "The meeting between King 
Abdullah II and U.S. President George Bush represents 
the climax of the extensive effort that the King has 
been exerting during his recent visit to the United 
States..  The King sought to correct the image of 
Islam and to put an end to the distortion from which 
the Muslim nation is suffering due to the despicable 
behavior adopted by the terrorists in the name of 
Islam..  Listening to impressions voiced by the people 
who met with the King, we can understand the success 
that he achieved on the ground and the in-depth change 
he effected on the viewpoint that prevailed post 9/11. 
It was a success to the point that many of the 
Americans who listened to the King's words about the 
values and principles of Islam now believe that it is 
necessary to overcome the past and to move forward 
towards a new era of dialogue and understanding 
between cultures, civilizations and people." 
 
-- "A working agenda packed with activities and 
fruitful meetings" 
 
Semi-official, influential Arabic daily Al-Rai (09/23) 
editorializes:  "King Abdullah's meeting with each of 
the U.S. Vice President, the U.S. Secretary of State 
and members of the U.S. Congress indicate the 
important nature of the vital role that Jordan is 
playing in the region on the political and diplomatic 
levels and on the noble mission he has undertaken 
personally and directly to explain the real image of 
Islam..  The King's visit also contributed to 
strengthening the long-standing Jordan-U.S. friendship 
and paved the way for increasing cooperative ties 
between Amman and Washington, perhaps leading to 
maintaining the U.S. support for Jordan's development 
programs." 
 
-- "What is wrong with having an Arab who shoulders 
his responsibilities?" 
 
Columnist Khairallah Khairallah writes on the op-ed 
page of independent Arabic daily Al-Ghad (09/25): 
"Away from the atmosphere of excitement, empty words 
and resonant slogans, we find that there are Arabs who 
have sufficient political vision and realism to 
benefit from the experiences of the past.  These 
Arabs, very simply, are trying to avoid new bitter 
experiences that lead to the isolation of Arabs on one 
hand, and leaving the Palestinians under the mercy of 
the Israeli colonialist policy on the other.  These 
Arabs know very well that abandoning the Palestinians 
and settling for supporting with rhetoric and words . 
constitute the best service for Ariel Sharon and his 
project that aims to get rid of Gaza in order to 
entrench the occupation of part of the West Bank, 
including Jerusalem.  It was true courage what King 
Abdullah II did.  He did not only meeting with Sharon 
to find out directly what the man wants in the 
upcoming stage, but he also met with President George 
Bush Jr., a meeting that led to a request for 
extending bridges between Sharon and Mahmoud Abbas.. 
It is significant that the request came from America, 
because it reflects the great trust in Jordan, its 
King and its institutions.  There were three types of 
Arabs in New York at the international summit.  The 
first were those preoccupied with their internal 
problems..  The second were those who believed that 
wordy support is more than enough to serve the 
Palestinian people and their cause..  Luckily, there 
was the third type of Arab who does not suffer from 
the complex of what is called normalization in the 
region.  This type of Arab is in touch with what is 
going on in the world and truly wants to serve the 
Palestinian people, to make sacrifices for them and to 
contribute to the establishment of stability in the 
Middle East, instead of leaving it under the mercy of 
the Israeli occupation.  This type of Arab has 
conducted open contacts and discussion with the 
Israeli officials in New York [referring to King 
Abdullah's meetings with Israeli officials]..  There 
is a void that needs to be filled.  It is a void that 
results not only from the war that Palestinian 
factions, supported by regional forces, are waging 
against the Palestinian Authority, but also from 
Israel's keenness to confirm that there is not 
Palestinian partner to negotiate with..  There is no 
shame in an Arab official meeting with Sharon or 
others if that serves the Palestinian people and 
stability in the region.  When King Abdullah heads for 
his meetings with the Palestinian President and the 
Israeli Prime Minister, we can say right now that the 
initial outcome yielded is the confirmation of the 
presence of a Palestinian partner in the peace 
process, as well as the confirmation that the Arabs, 
at least some Arabs, are willing to shoulder their 
responsibility instead of blaming others.  So what is 
wrong with having an Arab willing to shoulder his 
responsibility and deal with the status quo 
realistically?" 
 
-- "The King of courageous initiatives" 
 
Center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour 
(09/25) editorializes:  "This is a good time for King 
Abdullah II to confirm that the barrier of desperation 
can be broken and that the impasse in the Palestinian 
territories does not mean turning our backs to the 
opportunities available to move forward towards 
diminishing the Israeli occupation and increasing the 
hope for establishing the state so longed for by the 
Palestinian people.  The announcement about the King's 
intention to hold talks with the Palestinian President 
and the Israeli Prime Minister comes after the King's 
visit to the United States, during which he stressed 
the necessity of active movement towards ending the 
Palestinian Israeli struggle as well as helping the 
Iraqi people build their own future.  Moreover, King 
Abdullah, who has undertaken the biggest campaign ever 
done by an Arab Muslim leader to change the wrong 
impression prevalent about Islam, stresses the fact 
that communicating with others always provides an 
opportunity for mutual understanding and shared action 
to resolve crises and achieve security, stability and 
peace for all parties..  It is normal for these issues 
to be the topic of discussion between the King and 
President Bush, who hailed the King's desire to start 
an initiative between the Palestinian and Israeli 
leaders.  The U.S. administration knows that Jordan's 
role in regional issues is pivotal as much as it is 
positive.  The King, who put together the Aqaba summit 
meeting that highlighted the mutual commitments vis-- 
vis the roadmap, is still ready and willing to 
continue efforts towards placing the two parties on 
the right track..  The agreement with President Bush 
with regard to the importance of King Abdullah's 
initiative is meant to show the Palestinian and 
Israeli parties that the roadmap . is still the best 
option for ending the occupation and establishing a 
viable Palestinian state existing side by side with 
Israel in an atmosphere of just and lasting peace 
prevailing in the entire region." 
HALE