MEDIA REACTION ON THE MIDDLE EAST

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 003075

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TAGS: KMDR JO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON THE MIDDLE EAST

Summary

-- Majority of commentaries in papers published today,
April 21, praise the King's decision to postpone his
meeting with President Bush in view of recent U.S.
statements in relation to Palestinian-Israeli issues.
The decision is seen as "bold", "wise" and in keeping
with pan-Arab and Jordanian interests. The lead story
today highlights Jordan's official spokesperson Asma
Khader briefing about the shootout incident yesterday
between Jordanian security forces and four terrorist
suspects in a part of Amman, which resulted in the
killing of the four suspects. Another lead story in
all papers highlights the King's return to the Kingdom
and the Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher's talks with
Secretary Powell in Washington vis--vis the recent

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U.S. statements, focusing on Muasher's comments that
he is "reassured" about the U.S. stand towards the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Reports on continued
developments and violence in Iraq are highlighted on
the front pages of all papers today, but have taken a
backseat to domestic reporting.

Editorial Commentary

-- "Times of divergence"

Centrist, influential among the elite English daily
the Jordan Times (04/21) editorializes: "His Majesty
King Abdullah's decision to postpone his talks with
U.S. President George Bush and return home was not
simply wise. It demonstrates Jordan's astuteness.
Washington's surprise endorsement of Israel's plan for
a unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and okay
on keeping some settlements in the West Bank, caused
confusion.. With that quandary persisting, it was
best to allow time for the situation to be sorted out
first by Foreign minister Marwan Muasher. Although
the United States and Jordan, at all levels, have
maintained strong ties, there have and will be times
when gut issues, such as the Palestinian-Israeli
conflict and the U.S. occupation of Iraq, present
predicaments. This is one such time.. The message to
the neo-conservatives in Washington is that friends
should not be taken for granted. Washington must deal
with its friends in the Arab world in order to
understand the region."

-- "Jordan's reservations towards America's policy in
the region"

Daily columnist Mohammad Amayreh writes on the op-ed
page of semi-official, influential Arabic daily Al-Rai
(04/21): "His Majesty King Abdullah II chose to
postpone his meeting with President Bush for next
month and expressed his desire that the Foreign
Minister continues talks with American officials vis--
vis the peace process and the recent American
statements. This is a clear Jordanian stand that
indicates displeasure with the American policy in the
region and reflects the desire to see a more balanced
and more just policy towards the Arab-Israeli
conflict.. The royal move to show displeasure with
the American policy is likely to witness further
reactions, unless Washington reconsiders its policy,
clarifies its position, and regains its required
balance in the region, that is instead of going
further in its support of Israeli stances, pledging
more new promises to Sharon, and encouraging his
terrorist and extremist policies. Such a Jordanian
stand is worthy of appreciation and must be followed
suit so that we could achieve a unified Arab stand vis-
-vis the American policy in the region. This is the
e
only way to influence this policy in order to achieve
the required balance under these difficult and
delicate circumstances suffered by the Arab nation and
amidst very serious military and political
developments in Palestine and Iraq."

-- "The Arabs and America"
Daily columnist Rakan Majali writes on the op-ed page
of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(04/21): "The King's decision to postpone his visit
to Washington was wise and brave, and it expressed the
highest levels of pan-Arab responsibility, national
commitment and conviction that just peace is the
foundation of all options, that peace is the only
guarantee for uprooting terrorism, and that it is the
correct base from which reform, change and development
can be launched. We do not view this stand as one
directed against the United States, but rather as a
call for a genuine moment for reconsidering all prior
positions and commitments by the United States and the
international community towards the Palestinian
cause."

-- "A necessary decision"

Daily columnist Urayb Rintawi writes on the op-ed page
of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(04/21): "The decision to postpone the Jordanian-
American summit meeting was not neither an easy
decision to make nor a hurried one. After all, the
Jordanian-American relationship has a strategic nature
and expands to include all economic, commercial,
financial, military and security areas. Yet, the
motives behind that postponement decision were very
strong.. The region stands at a crossroads: Sharon's
plan either becomes the beginning and the end, as Tel
Aviv wants, or it becomes part of the roadmap, as
Amman is calling for. This battle has not been
concluded yet, and Bush's statements and guarantees
are not the end of the road. As for Jordanian-
American relations, I believe they are going through a
state of coolness, but it is in nobody's interest,
particularly Jordan's, to push it towards a crisis, as
some people are calling for."

-- "The postponement circumstances"

Chief Editor Taher Udwan writes on the back page of
independent, mass-appeal Arabic daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm
(04/21): "It is well known that King Abdullah and the
Egyptian President continue to place their trust in an
American role for achieving just peace between the
Palestinians and the Israelis, and they are working
hard to go back to the negotiating table and the peace
process. It was not appropriate or even friendly for
Bush to give Sharon all that support and backing at a
time when the Egyptian-American and the Jordanian-
American summit meetings were due to take place and at
a time when Sharon continues his policy of liquidating
Palestinian leaders. The King asked to postpone the
meeting and this is a genuine expression of the
prevailing feelings of anger and resentment abound
among the Jordanian, Palestinian and Arab people vis--
vis these American stances, which could be described
at the least as a major deviation towards recklessness
about Arabs and their interests."
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