Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02AMMAN5690
2002-10-02 11:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

GOJ ALLOWS WEEKEND PROTESTS; QUIETER THAN EXPECTED

Tags:  PREL PREF ASEC KPAL JO 
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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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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