JORDANIANS, ISRAELIS FAULT THE OTHER FOR LACK OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 007111

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2013
TAGS: KPAL IS PTER LE JO
SUBJECT: JORDANIANS, ISRAELIS FAULT THE OTHER FOR LACK OF
PROGRESS ON PRISONER DEAL

REF: A. JERUSALEM 03548


B. BEIRUT 04585

Classified By: Ambassador Edward W. Ghehm for reasons 1.5 (B, D)

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) Jordanian Foreign Minister Muasher on October 28
publicly defended Jordan's as yet unsuccessful efforts to
negotiate the release of 82 Jordanian prisoners currently
held in Israel. Muasher's public comment on this issue was
partly driven by Hizballah's recent public statements that it
is negotiating on behalf of the Jordanian prisoners.
Privately, MFA officials blamed Israel for the stalemate,
saying the Israelis needed to make a "political decision" to
conclude a deal. The Israeli Ambassador in Jordan complained
that the Jordanians are "holding hostage" a potential meeting
with the Israeli foreign minister over the prisoner issue.
MFA officials also privately slammed Hizballah for attempting
to advocate on behalf of Jordanian citizens, saying there has
been absolutely no communication with the group on this
matter. They also confirmed that no Palestinian prisoners --
including jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghuti -- would be
included in any Jordanian-Israeli deal. End Summary.

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JORDANIANS SLAM ISRAELIS, HIZBALLAH ON PRISONER ISSUE
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2. (C) In a wide ranging press conference October 28,
Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher said the GOJ had intensified
efforts to gain the release of 82 Jordanians currently held
in Israeli jails and that he expected the efforts to bear
fruit "soon." However, the MFA action officer on this issue,
Ashraf Zeitoon, told Poloff that Jordan had refused an
Israeli request to meet on the matter unless the Israelis
come to the table with a clear mandate from the Prime
Minister to cut a deal. Until now, it does not appear that
the Israeli foreign minister has this mandate, he said.


3. (C) Zeitoon denounced Hizballah's public statements that
Jordanian prisoners were included in the prisoner swap it was
currently negotiating with Israel (ref b),saying that only
the Jordanian government has the right to negotiate on behalf
of Jordanian citizens. Muasher's office director Ali al-Ayed
reiterated this point to PolCouns, saying that there has been
absolutely no communication or cooperation between the GOJ
and Hizballah on this matter. Zeitoon also denied that
Palestinian prisoners would be included in any
Jordanian-Israeli deal, including detained Fatah leader
Marwan Barghuti -- saying it was "none of our business." (ref
a).

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ISRAELIS COMPLAIN FM MEETING "HELD HOSTAGE" OVER DISPUTE
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4. (C) The Israeli Ambassador to Jordan Yacov Handlesman
complained to the Ambassador over lunch on October 29 that
the Jordanians had effectively cut him out of discussions on
the issue because the Jordanians have been dealing directly
with Dov Weissglas in PM Sharon's office through the
Jordanian Charge in Tel Aviv, Mazen al-Tal. According to
Handlesman, Muasher was not pleased with Weissglas's
explanation that there are legal restrictions on releasing
the prisoners, especially the four longest-held "murderers,"
as he put it. Handlesman complained that the Jordanians were
"holding hostage" a meeting between Muasher and the Israeli
FM Shalom over this issue.

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COMMENT
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5. (C) Hizballah's public advocacy on behalf of the
Jordanian prisoners put the Jordanians on the spot and
probably compelled the GOJ to publicly tout its efforts to
gain the prisoners' release. The GOJ, which has stopped just
short of conditioning return of its Ambassador to Tel Aviv on
the release of the Jordanian prisoners, clearly is frustrated
that its behind the scenes discussions with Israel to win the
prisoners release have not borne fruit.
GNEHM