Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
03AMMAN6000 | 2003-09-17 14:06:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Amman |
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 006000 |
1. (c) Summary. The Jordanian Central Bank canceled an order to commercial banks to freeze bank accounts of HAMAS-connected individuals and entities in Jordan following a political firestorm sparked when the order leaked in the local press. Although there were no actual HAMAS-related funds in Jordan -- following Jordan's 1999 decision to close HAMAS offices and expel organization leaders -- the incident shows the depth of sympathy for HAMAS's charitable work among some elements of the Jordanian public. End Summary. 2. (c) Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) Deputy Governor Muhammad Said Shahin confirmed a September 16 Petra news agency report that the CBJ had rescinded an instruction to commercial banks to freeze financial assets of HAMAS-related individuals and entities in Jordan. Shahin said this followed a political firestorm sparked by the September 15 publication by al-Rai newspaper of the CBJ instruction, which CBJ Governor Umayya Toukan circulated to the banking community during the last week of August, following the receipt of reftel request. The Petra report, quoting information minister Nabil Sharif, was featured prominently in Arabic and English dailies September 17. 3. (c) Shahin said Toukan had no alternative but to cancel his instruction, which had been issued in conformity with the GOJ's practice of following U.S. asset freeze orders, in order to help "cool things down." He said the issue was, in any case, academic -- since none of the six HAMAS leaders or organizations maintained accounts in Jordan. Indeed, he noted that Jordan had already made the politically costly decision in 1999 to arrest HAMAS leaders (including several listed in the assets freeze) and expel the organization from Jordan. Thus, the current uproar made little sense, and Shahin hoped it would pass quickly. 4. (c) Shahin also blamed the Banking Association, from which al-Rai had apparently obtained the Governor's handwritten letter, for mishandling the instruction, as well as al-Rai, a government-owned and controlled newspaper, for publishing it. The CBJ had hoped to keep the instruction confidential among banks to avoid the furor that has indeed SIPDIS resulted. 5. (c) Comment: While the GOJ shares U.S. views on HAMAS, the incident shows the depth of sympathy for HAMAS's charitable work (and more) among large segments of the public. A senior MFA official recently described to POL and ECON counselors the dilemma the government faced in taking action against HAMAS, which many Jordanians see as a "humanitarian" organization providing much-needed services to Palestinians. Thus, the GOJ had never formally designated HAMAS as a political organization. Members of the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood/Islamic Action Front, longtime advocates of HAMAS, decried the asset freeze and the European decision to blacklist HAMAS (ref b). We expect IAF deputies in parliament to denounce the incident -- as yet another example of US favoritism of Israel as they have in response to nearly recent events perceived to hurt HAMAS or the Palestinian cause. HALE |