MB AND MP'S CONDEMN EU BLACKLISTING OF HAMAS; GOJ

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 005941

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAL JO
SUBJECT: MB AND MP'S CONDEMN EU BLACKLISTING OF HAMAS; GOJ
AND ISLAMISTS DENOUNCE ISRAELI DECISION TO EXPEL ARAFAT


Classified By: Charge d'Affaires David Hale for Reasons 1.5 (B,D)

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SUMMARY
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1. (U) Both the Jordanian Mulsim Brotherhood (MB) and a
majority of members of Parliament (MP's) publicly rebuked the
European Union for its recent moves against the political
wing of Hamas. After Israel announced its intention "in
principle" to expel Yaser Arafat, the GOJ came out firmly
against the decision, while Islamists used it as ammunition
in their campaign to cut ties with the Israel.

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TAKING AIM AGAINST THE EUROPEANS
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2. (U) In response to the EU decision to classify the
political wing of Hamas as a terrorist group and to freeze
its assets, the MB in Jordan issued a harshly worded
statement on September 8 denouncing the EU action. Calling
on the EU to immediately annul the decision, the MB stated
that it was "tantamount to a new crusader's war" and that it
was "hostile to our Islamic nation and the Palestinian people
because Hamas . . . is the conscience of the Arab and Muslim
nation."


3. (U) To further express its anger at Brussels, the MB also
threatened to call for a boycott of European goods unless the
EU backed down from its position. According to the
statement, the MB would urge Muslim clerics to issue a fatwa,
or religious edict, to enforce the proposed boycott.


4. (U) In a related development, 59 out of 110 members of the
Lower House of Parliament signed and circulated on September
13 a memorandum condemning the EU decision, alleging that it
came under U.S. pressure and revealed an unacceptable bias
towards Israeli occupation. The memo further stated that by
supporting Israeli "injustice," the EU was depriving itself
of a political role in the region.

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A RESOUNDING "NO" TO BANISHING ARAFAT
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5. (U) Apart from the EU action, there was also widespread
opposition to the recent Israeli decision "in principle" to
expel Yaser Arafat. According to the local press, Foreign
Minister Marwan Muasher deemed it a "dangerous" move with
serious repercussions for the region, while Information
Minister Nabil Sharif described the decision as a "serious
mistake."


6. (U) Hamzah Mansour, the secretary general of the Islamic
Action Front (IAF),the political arm of the MB, described
the Israeli decision as "humiliating" to the Palestinians,
and called on Arab nations that have relationships with
Israel to immediately cut all ties and to expel Israeli
ambassadors from Arab capitals.


7. (U) The IAF also led a charge against Israel's expulsion
decision in Parliament. Seventeen MP's signed a letter
urging the GOJ to play a more vigorous role to "expose
Israeli practices," including the effort to banish Arafat, "a
legitimate leader elected by the Palestinian people."
Fourteen IAF MP's signed a memorandum denouncing the Israeli
action as a "criminal and reckless decision" and threatened
to ask the Lower House of Parliament to annul or abrogate the
peace treaty between Jordan and Israel.

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COMMENT
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8. (C) The fact that a majority of MP's denounced in writing
the EU action against Hamas shows that, while Jordanians may
not approve of Hamas tactics and violence, many nevertheless
see it as a legitimate resistance group providing valuable
social services. (We note that the GOJ has just decided to
freeze Hamas assets in Jordan - septel.) The dearth of
signatures on the other memorandums reflects far less
approval in Parliament for efforts to cut Jordanian ties with
Israel.
HALE