ANTINORMALIZERS IN JORDAN RALLY AGAINST GENEVA

UNCLAS AMMAN 008321 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAL KISL IS JO SUBJECT: ANTINORMALIZERS IN JORDAN RALLY AGAINST GENEVA ACCORD REF: AMMAN 08122 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The unofficial Geneva accord -- particularly its provisions dealing with the Palestinian right to return -- is the latest cause celebre for antinormalizers in Jordan. The Professional Associations Council in Jordan -- headed by a prominent Muslim Brotherhood member -- is leading the charge against the accord, organizing rallies and a petition campaign that reportedly has gathered 10,000 signatures so far. The group is sending the message that if, down the road, Jordan's official support becomes more than merely rhetorical, it is in for a public challenge. End Summary. -------------- -------------- OPPOSITION: NO COMPROMISE ON RIGHT OF RETURN, EVER -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) Following up on strong public statements condemning the accord after the much-publicized (and debated) ceremony in Geneva on December 1 (reftel),the 14-member Professional Associations Council (PAC) has made good on its pledge to organize events opposing the accord. The PAC on December 14 sponsored a conference in al-Baq'aa refugee camp -- the largest in Jordan -- which attracted more than 600 PAC members, representatives of opposition parties, and activists from across the political spectrum, according to press reports. The participants issued a statement at the end of the conference rejecting the initiative and emphasizing the Palestinian refugees' right to return to their original homeland. The statement also called for armed struggle against the occupation, saying force is the only viable option. "Those who signed the accord represent only themselves and not the Palestinian people." ¶3. (U) The statement added that the accord "compromises Palestinian rights," and that all attempts at resettlement of refugees and compensation are unacceptable. Many of the participants also signed a petition rejecting the accord and other attempts at "depriving Palestinians' of their just claim to their homeland." The petition thus far has over 10,000 signatures, a PAC official said in a press interview. ¶4. (U) Activists attended a similar rally on December 13 at the Professional Associations Complex, blasting the accord and its authors, demanding that they be tried in public. The rally, which also featured national Palestinian songs and music, urged the Arab public to join in condemning the initiative and to reject all settlement deals that aim at "liquidating the Palestinian cause." "The right of our people to return to their homeland is sacred and we will not compromise or negotiate that right," PAC President and MB member Wael Saqqa declared in an interview. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Members of the 14-member PAC serve as the backbone of the disparate antinormalization movement in Jordan, which advocates terminating Jordan's peace treaty with Israel and spans all levels of society -- from the refugee camps to Jordan's lower house of parliament. The initiative has provided the antinormalizers another reason to challenge the government about its unpopular peace treaty with Israel. The group also seems to be sending a message to the GOJ that it is in for a public challenge if, down the road, Jordan's official support for the initiative becomes more than merely rhetorical. Visit Embassy Amman's classified web site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/ or access the site through the State Department's SIPRNET home page. GNEHM