Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03AMMAN1215
2003-03-02 08:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, SAME CONCLUSION: THE USG

Tags:  PREL PGOV PHUM 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 AMMAN 001215 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/24/13
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM JO
SUBJECT: DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, SAME CONCLUSION: THE USG
MUST PUSH NOW TO SOLVE THE ISRAELI/PALESTINIAN CONFLICT


Classified By: AMBASSADOR EDWARD W. GNEHM. REASONS: 1.5 (B) and (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 001215

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/24/13
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM JO
SUBJECT: DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, SAME CONCLUSION: THE USG
MUST PUSH NOW TO SOLVE THE ISRAELI/PALESTINIAN CONFLICT


Classified By: AMBASSADOR EDWARD W. GNEHM. REASONS: 1.5 (B) and (D)


1. (C) SUMMARY. On February 24th PolOff met together with
former senator Hosni Ayesh, a Palestinian-Jordanian, and
former parliamentarian Dr. Ahmad Ennab, an East-Banker. The
two men differed in their background, reasoning and style of
discourse. Both however, arrived at the same conclusion:
The US should not expect support from the Arab world on
anything, including a war against Saddam Hussein, until it
moves forward to help achieve peace in the
Israeli/Palestinian conflict. END SUMMARY.

--------------
AYESH: GIVE US JUSTICE IN PALESTINE
AND I'LL MARCH WITH YOU INTO BAGHDAD
--------------


2. (C) Despite PolOff's attempts to discuss the newly-formed
Center for Human Rights, Ayesh immediately veered into a
twenty-minute invective on USG policy failures. PolOff (and
Dr. Ennab) were helpless to steer the discourse. Much of
Ayesh's commentary was polemic and ad hominem; why, he asked,
are Americans not concerned that USG policy is now directed
by former "Netanyahu hawks"; why are Arabs unsafe in America
now with "thousands" rounded up; why not target the human
rights record of Saudi Arabia before Iraq... As the smoke
cleared, Ayesh said he would gladly join an American army
marching into Baghdad if America adopted a "fair" policy on
the Israel/Palestinian crisis. This, he exclaimed, is the
view of most Palestinians.

--------------
ENNAB: YOU WALKED ON THE MOON BUT
NOW YOU CANNOT EVEN WALK ON THE EARTH
--------------


3. (C) Dr. Ennab delivered his arguments with composure and
in a somewhat detached fashion. America is the greatest
power on Earth for many reasons, he said. "You walked on the
moon," he said softly. But these days, "you cannot even walk
on Earth without angering the rest of the world." As Ayesh
left the room to take a telephone call, Dr. Ennab told
PolOff, "Personally I'm for the war. We need the change and
it would be probably be good for Jordan. But, you'll never
win the Arab street on anything, not even on support against
a guy like Saddam, until you work out the Palestinian
problem." Palestinians care about their brethren while other
Arabs care about refugee inflows resulting from Israeli
polices, he said. He noted that while Saddam is not popular,
the Iraqi regime has effectively managed to convey support
for Palestinians while portraying itself as a "victim" of the
very same western "humiliation" that has beset the
Palestinians. The result here is a shift in focus away from
Saddam's crimes and toward the motives of the USG.

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

4.(C) Ayesh and Dr. Ennab, long-time friends, faithfully
articulated their "East Banker" and "Palestinian"
perspectives. Despite different starting points, ultimately
the two arrive at a conclusion which is held nearly
universally here: the US must move forward on the
Israeli/Palestinian crisis before it will be able to quell
growing anti-American sentiment, much less win acceptance of
the need for military action in Iraq.


5. (C) BIO NOTES. Hosni Ayesh is a former senator originally
from Nablus. Prior to his appointment to the senate he was a
teacher (in Nablus),lecturer and author of many articles and
a book on democracy in the Arab world. On February 18, he
was selected to be on the Council of Trustees for the newly
formed National Center for Human Rights. Ayesh occasionally
appears on Al-Jazeera and contributes to Al-Rai newspaper.
He pushed his points aggressively with PolOff. Dr. Ennab is
an East-Banker and former parliamentarian from Ajlun. He is
now a retired dermatologist, and is a long-time embassy
contact. Dr. Ennab was composed, willing to listen, and more
at ease when discussing the controversial topics of Iraq and
the Israel/Palestinian conflict.
GNEHM