ENSURING A PEACEFUL GAZA DISENGAGEMENT: JORDAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 006447 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2015 TAGS: PREL PTER KPAL GZ IS JO SUBJECT: ENSURING A PEACEFUL GAZA DISENGAGEMENT: JORDAN REF: STATE 147192 Classified By: CDA David Hale for Reasons 1.4 (b),(d) (C) Charge delivered reftel points on August 11 to Foreign Minister Farouk Kasrawi. Kasrawi replied that Jordan was in full agreement with our message and shared U.S. concerns surrounding Israel's withdrawal from Gaza. He emphasized King Abdullah's personal involvement in attempting to ensure a peaceful disengagement process, including the King's recent meetings with Israeli Defense Minister Mofaz, Quartet Envoy Wolfensohn, and Palestinian Authority President Abu Mazen. Kasrawi said that Saeb Erekat and other Palestinian officials had shared with him on August 9 their fears that HAMAS would attempt to take credit for the Israeli pullout, if not by attacking Israeli soldiers, then by staging public "celebrations" to promote their supposed role in the Israeli decision to leave Gaza. He further stated that Palestinian Islamic Jihad posed a significant danger and would likely try to "spoil" the progress made toward a smooth disengagement. As the GOJ does not communicate with either HAMAS or PIJ, there was little Jordan could do directly to influence them, he added. HALE