JORDANIANS ASK FOR U.S. HELP IN FACILITATING

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