OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE HUMANITARIAN AND ECONOMIC

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 002942

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2015
TAGS: KHDP MASS PGOV PREL IS JO
SUBJECT: OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE HUMANITARIAN AND ECONOMIC
BENEFITS OF PEACE

REF: AMMAN 1123

Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 5.

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Summary
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2. (C) Israeli assistance in the removal of mines laid by
Israel in the Wadi Araba region of Jordan would highlight the
humanitarian and economic benefits of the 1994 Jordan-Israel
peace treaty. End Summary.

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Israeli Land Mines in Jordan
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3. (U) There are approximately 70,000 mines laid by the
Israeli military on lands that reverted to Jordanian control
after the signing of Jordan's 1994 peace agreement with
Israel. Most of these mines are in the Wadi Araba and Aqaba
areas in southern Jordan. A cooperative humanitarian demining
effort between the two countries could provide a visible
example of the tangible benefits resulting from Jordan's
strategic decision for peace. The symbolism of landmine
removal along the shared border and the prevention of
civilian casualties would serve both sides well. Cooperative
demining would also open the Wadi Araba and Aqaba areas to
further touristic and agricultural development.


4. (C) As reftel described, the removal of Israeli landmines
on Jordanian soil carries a greater risk of casualties if
attempted without Israeli assistance. It is always safer for
a country to remove its own mines since the military force
that laid them has familiarity with the type of devices used,
the pattern of mines within a minefield, and the techniques
used for laying the mines. Additionally, in order to remove
the Israeli mines, the Jordanian Royal Engineering Corps
(REC),the military unit charged with demining, would require
extensive retraining that would drain resources from other
demining efforts.

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Comment and Action Request
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5. (C) Post recommends encouraging the GOI to respond
favorably to a Jordanian request for assistance in demining
the Wadi Araba and Aqaba regions, both to counter the dangers
in removing Israeli mines and to help showcase the benefits
of Arab cooperation with Israel. It is in our strong interest
to encourage practical, cross-border Israeli-Jordanian
cooperation, particularly in the wake of the Sharm summit and
the return of a Jordanian ambassador to Israel, as a means to
demonstrate the humanitarian and economic advantages of
normalized relations. Along with engagement of the GOI, a
relatively modest U.S. contribution of funds for spare parts
for Jordan's existing de-mining equipment could help
facilitate a joint landmine removal effort. Post would
appreciate Department's reaction.


6. (C) Comment continued: The proposed demining would
contribute to the reinvigoration of the Jordan Rift Valley
Joint Master Plan (JRVJMP) that provided an integrated vision
of the economic development of the Jordan Rift Valley,
including a wide variety of bilateral Jordanian-Israeli
projects across and along the border. JRVJMP was part of the
trilateral U.S.-Jordan-Israel Joint Economic Committee now in
the process of being revived. End Comment.
HALE