JORDANIANS REACT TO RANTISSI KILLING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 002957 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/18/2014 TAGS: ASEC KPAL PREL PGOV PTER JO SUBJECT: JORDANIANS REACT TO RANTISSI KILLING REF: A. AMMAN 2395 ¶B. AMMAN 2170 ¶C. AMMAN 2882 Classified By: CDA David M. Hale for reasons 1.5 (b) (d) -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) King Abdullah and the GOJ strongly condemned the Israeli killing of Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantissi, stating that the move would only lead to more violence and anger in the region. A spontaneous demonstration erupted at the Baqaa refugee camp shortly after news of the killing broke, but no violence was reported. The Muslim Brotherhood and the Islamic Action Front promised to organize several events to protest Rantissi's assassination, the first being a march April 17 in Amman following afternoon prayers. Public security forces plan to allow Jordanians to express their anger through peaceful demonstrations, but will not tolerate violence. Press reaction was muted since the late hour of the killing precluded editorial comment. Embassy contacts voiced frustration over the attack and warned that the Jordanian public is increasingly blaming the U.S. for Israel's targeted killings. End Summary. -------------- KING, GOJ CONDEMN KILLING -------------- ¶2. (U) In a press statement released from Los Angeles, where he is currently visiting, King Abdullah strongly denounced Israel's attack against Rantissi, describing the killing as a "crime" that reflects Israel's "policy of arrogance." The King warned that this latest action would breed even greater violence and instability in the region and further undermine the peace process. GOJ Minister and Government Spokesperson Asma Khader similarly rejected "Israel's policy of military escalation and assassination of Palestinians." She stressed that the Rantissi killing was a "heinous" violation of international conventions that would "only lead to more rage, violence and bloodshed in the region." -------------- JORDANIANS PROTEST IN CAMPS, STREET MARCHES -------------- ¶3. (C) Shortly after news broke of Rantissi's killing, spontaneous protests erupted at the Baqaa refugee camp, the scene of violent demonstrations following the Israeli killing of Hamas founder Sheikh Yassin (see refs a, b). According to the head of the Public Security Directorate (PSD),a "few hundred young people" initially gathered together to chant slogans against Israel and the U.S. Others later joined them to march through the camp and burn Israeli and U.S. flags, but no violence was reported. ¶4. (U) A spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) and its political wing, the Islamic Action Front (IAF),announced that the two organizations would organize several events to protest the Rantissi killing, the first being a march following afternoon prayers April 17 in downtown Amman. The MB also declared that it would receive official "condolence calls" on April 18 and 19. A peaceful public rally marked by fiery pro-Palestinian political speeches took place April 17 outside the Professional Associations building. ¶5. (C) The PSD has informed the Embassy that, although it does not plan to approve permits for protests, it will nonetheless not interfere with peaceful demonstrations to allow Jordanians to vent their anger. (Comment: The PSD successfully followed this tactic in the aftermath of the Sheikh Yassin killing.) The MB claimed in a statement that Acting Minister of Interior Amjad Majali called the MB Controller General to say that the government would help "facilitate" public expression against Rantissi's assassination. The PSD has assured us, however, that it will not tolerate acts of violence. -------------- A QUIET PRESS ... FOR NOW -------------- ¶6. (U) Due to the late hour of the Israeli attack against Rantissi, the Jordanian press on April 17 carried only factual accounts of the killing with no real editorial comment or opinion pieces. The major Arabic daily Al Arab Al Yawm carried the headline "Israel Assassinates Al Rantissi with an American Green Light." The written media will undoubtedly provide a wealth of (negative) commentary starting in April 18 editions. -------------- CONTACTS EXPRESS MOUNTING FRUSTRATION -------------- ¶7. (C) Embassy contacts have uniformly condemned the killing, not out of love for Hamas, but for its potential to generate more violence and instability in the region. Jamal Tahat Director of Research at the National Defense College, said that the Israeli action ended any chance of restraining Hamas and feared that Hamas may seek to retaliate outside of Israel and the Occupied Territories, including against U.S. targets. Dr. Fawzi Samhoury, a human rights activist, warned that the killing would only increase Hamas determination and the Palestinian public's support for violent resistance. Noting the popular perception that the U.S. has given Israel free rein to kill militants, he questioned, "How can you say that Israel acted in self-defense and then ask why people here hate the U.S.?" ¶8. (C) In a related note, female member of Parliament Nariman Rousan (East Banker, Irbid-5th District) called April 18 to express her disgust at the assassination of Rantissi and to cancel her meeting with PolOff. She said that she could no longer meet with anyone from the Embassy because of "what you people are doing." -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶9. (C) It is too early to know whether Rantissi's killing will provoke as pronounced a reaction in Jordan as Israel's attack against Sheikh Yassin. The GOJ will likely continue its strategy of selectively "joining in" protests, either through official statements or participation in events by government officials, to emphasize its solidarity with the public and to head off demands that it take political action against Israel. Anger at the U.S., especially after the recent summit between President Bush and Israeli PM Sharon in Washington (see ref c),will likely grow as Jordanians increasingly blame the U.S. for giving Israel carte blanche to engage in targeted killings. 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. HALE