RETURN OF JORDANIAN AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 001094

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2010
TAGS: PREL KPAL JO IS
SUBJECT: RETURN OF JORDANIAN AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL

REF: SATTERFIELD/HALE TELCONS

Classified By: Charge David Hale, Reasons 1.4 (B) & (D)


1. (C) After Charge expressed U.S. concern about the
vagueness on the timing of the return of Jordan's Ambassador
to ISRAEL late February 8, Foreign Minister al-Mulki informed
that he would convoke the Israeli Ambassador in Amman on
February 9 and seek agrement for Jordan's nominee. At that
point, ISRAEL would be free to make any statements it chose
on the matter. Once agrement was granted, Mulki assured
Charge, Jordan's nominee would move to ISRAEL as soon as
possible. No cabinet decision was required, he said,
although Mulki acknowledged he and the government spokeswoman
had indicated otherwise publicly for domestic political
reasons.


2. (C) On February 9, Israeli Ambassador Handelsman met with
the Foreign Minister's private office director, Rajab
al-Suqairi. He was given a note verbale seeking agrement for
Ambassador Ma'rouf Al-Bakhit, Jordan's current Ambassador in
Ankara. Suqairi said as soon as agrement was granted, Jordan
would process Bakhit's move to ISRAEL as quickly as possible.
Jordan had no objection to a statement by ISRAEL that it had
received Jordan's agrement request.


3. (C) Handelsman said he also discussed with Suqairi
possible dates for an early visit to Jordan by Foreign
Minister Silvan Shalom.

HALE