Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02AMMAN4526
2002-08-12 14:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

GOJ RECALLS AMBASSADOR TO QATAR FOR CONSULTATIONS,

Tags:  PGOV PREL PHUM QA JO 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
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).

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

--------------
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.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


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