Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04AMMAN6473
2004-08-02 14:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

GOJ SPOKESWOMAN BRISTLES AT REPORTS OF ISRAELI

Tags:  MASS PREL IS JO 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 006473 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2014
TAGS: MASS PREL IS JO
SUBJECT: GOJ SPOKESWOMAN BRISTLES AT REPORTS OF ISRAELI
OPPOSITION TO AMRAAM SALE

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires David Hale for Reasons 1.5 (b),(d)

-------
SUMMARY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 006473

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2014
TAGS: MASS PREL IS JO
SUBJECT: GOJ SPOKESWOMAN BRISTLES AT REPORTS OF ISRAELI
OPPOSITION TO AMRAAM SALE

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires David Hale for Reasons 1.5 (b),(d)

--------------
SUMMARY
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1. (U) The GOJ reacted angrily to Israeli media reports
August 1 claiming that Israel is trying to block the U.S.
sale of AMRAAM missiles to Jordan. Minister of State and
Government Spokeswoman Asma Khader alleged that Israeli
opposition to the arms deal was in response to Jordan's
strong stance against the separation barrier being
constructed in the West Bank. Khader added that Jordan was
interested in diversifying its sources of military purchases,
a point made earlier by King Abdullah with Chinese officials
during an official visit to Beijing. End Summary.

--------------
UP IN ARMS OVER MISSILES
--------------


2. (U) On August 1, Israeli daily Haaretz reported that the
government of Israel was trying to scrap a U.S.-Jordanian
arms deal to sell AMRAAM missiles for use in Jordanian
airplanes. Later the same day, Government Spokeswoman Khader
denounced the alleged Israeli campaign against the AMRAAM
sale, stating, "This is a Jordanian internal issue, and we do
not accept any interference under any circumstances."
Furthermore, although Haaretz claimed that the GOI was acting
out of concern that a Jordanian AMRAAM purchase could lead to
a similar acquisition by Egypt, Khader accused Israel of
seeking to penalize the GOJ for its active stance in
international fora against the Israeli separation barrier.


3. (C) In a conversation with EmbOffs on August 2, Khader
said that she was particularly upset over a quote from an
unnamed Israeli political source in the Haaretz article
asserting that Jordan did not need advanced weaponry since
Israel would come to Jordan's aid if attacked. Jordan, she
declared, was responsible for its own security and would not
rely on Israel for protection.

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GOJ LOOKING EAST?
--------------


4. (U) In her August 1 public statement, Khader also
announced that Jordan was interested in purchasing weapons
from new sources, a point made earlier by King Abdullah on
August 30 (prior to the Haaretz report) during an official
visit to China. Specifically, after meeting with Chinese
President Hu Jintao, the King stated that Jordan intended to
diversify its sources of military purchases and accordingly
was looking at China given its advanced military industry.

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COMMENT
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5. (C) Given the solid, strategic security relationship
between Israel and Jordan, Jordanian officials will be
confused and angry over active Israeli opposition to the
AMRAAM purchase -- especially as they see Israel as a
beneficiary of enhanced Jordanian air defenses. Israel's
stance will also be used by anti-normalization elements in
Parliament to embarrass defenders of the Israel/Jordan
relationship on the very point most frequently cited in favor
of the peace treaty, its role in preserving Jordan's
security. Khader's unfortunate - and inaccurate -
explanation of Israel's motives contrasts with that of
Israeli sources, which have emphasized the concerns relate
solely to fear that Egypt will be more likely to acquire
AMRAAM if the Jordan deal proceeds. This is another example
of Khader's penchant for statements which fuel problems,
rather than solve them. She admitted to one Embassy officer
on August 2 that she really didn't know what she was talking
about when she responded on the AMRAAM issue -- a rare moment
of accuracy for the spokeswoman.

Please visit Embassy Amman's classified web site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/ or through the
Department of State's SIPRNET site.
HALE