UNCLAS AMMAN 000435

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARN, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, INR/NESA, R/MR,
I/GNEA, B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN
USAID/ANE/MEA
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH
PARIS FOR O'FRIEL

E.O. 12958: N/A

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


Summary

-- Lead story in all papers today, January 20, focuses
on the Jordanian parliament debate on and rejection of
the Jordanian government's plan to raise prices and
taxes. Another major story highlights Jordan's
official response to the Israeli Prime Minister's
"threat" to Jordan with regard to Jordan's campaign
against Israel's separation wall. Foreign Minister
Marwan Muasher said that the separation wall not only
harms the Palestinian people's interests, but also
Jordan's national security.

Editorial Commentary

-- "Sharon's warning will only make us stronger"

Center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(01/20) editorializes: "With rejection and
denunciation, Jordan's political arena received
Israeli Prime Minister Sharon's warnings to Jordan
about the repercussion of Jordan continuing its
campaign against the racist/colonialist separation
wall.. As Jordanians, we are proud and honored of the
role that our leadership and our government is playing
in the national battle against the policy of racist
isolation and the New Berlin Wall. Jordan, leadership
and people, past, present and future will continue to
support the Palestinians' legitimate and just right to
freedom and independence, self-determination and to
establishing an independent Palestinian state with
Jerusalem as its capital. Jordan, in its political,
diplomatic and judicial battle against the racist wall
of separation, is actually defending its own strategic
security and its national interests.. We express our
pride and underscore our faith in the stances and
policies of our Hashemite leadership and our
government, and we say that this position will only
become more firm and solid in the face of the rude
warnings of Israeli officials. Nothing is going to
dissuade us, not for a single moment, from providing
all help and support to our brotherly people west of
the river until that day when they attain their
freedom and independence."

-- "Rejected threats"

Semi-official, influential Arabic daily Al-Rai (01/20)
editorializes: "Because there is no alternative to
just and balanced peace and because the will of he
international community, the human community and the
Israeli moderates agree with that principle, the
Israeli government is the one that bears full
responsibility for impeding the peace process and the
resulting repercussions on its relations with the Arab
world. Instead of hailing irresponsible accusation
and empty threats, it would be better to listen to the
voice of reason and to stop usurping lands and rights
and differentiating between peoples' suffering, for
this is a sure recipe for endless struggles. What is
required is to strengthen and build on what has been
achieved in the peace settlements and to fulfill,
before it is too late, the peace requirements, and to
stop playing with minds and ridiculing other people's
intelligence."
GNEHM