DEMONSTRATORS DENOUNCE "THREAT" TO AL AQSA

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 006742

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2015
TAGS: PREL KPAL KISL ASEC IZ JO
SUBJECT: DEMONSTRATORS DENOUNCE "THREAT" TO AL AQSA


Classified By: CDA Christopher Henzel for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) Summary. Around 1000 Jordanians peacefully marched in
Amman on August 19 to "defend" the Al Aqsa Mosque in
Jerusalem. The demonstrators, who had received GOJ approval
for the event, shouted anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans
in addition to condemning the U.S. presence in Iraq. A
smaller protest took place the same day in Irbid. End Summary.


2. (U) A peaceful demonstration "in defense of the Al Aqsa
Mosque" took place in downtown Amman on Friday, August 19,
following noon prayers. According to press reports, more than
1,200 Jordanians took part in the march, though Jordanian
Public Security Directorate (PSD) sources say the number was
closer to 1,000. Organized by the Opposition Parties' Higher
Coordination Committee (which is dominated by the Islamic
Action Front),the protest began at the Al Husseini Mosque
and ended at the Greater Amman Municipality building, lasting
around one hour. The governor of Amman originally denied a
permit request for the event for "technical reasons", but
permission was eventually granted after organizers filed a
second request.


3. (U) The timing of the march coincided with the 36th
anniversary of an attempt by Israeli extremists to burn down
the Al Aqsa Mosque on August 21, 1969. The demonstrators
carried banners and chanted slogans demanding that the mosque
be protected from alleged plans by extremists to demolish it
and build a Jewish temple on the site. Some of the banners
read "No Normalization with Zionism", "Down With Israel and
America", "No to Zionists' Embassies on Islamic Grounds",
"Long Life for Palestinians and Iraqis", and "No to Americans
in Iraq".


4. (U) During the march, Fuad Dabour, Secretary General of
the small Baath Arab Progressive Party, reportedly called for
unified Arab efforts to counter "imminent threats" to
Jerusalem and its holy sites.


5. (U) Not to be left out, about 600 residents and supporters
of the Islamic Action Front (IAF) in the northern city of
Irbid held a peaceful rally on Friday night to mark the
Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Two IAF leaders addressed the
crowd during the event, calling the disengagement from Gaza a
result of the "continued resistance of the Palestinian troops
against the Zionist enemy". According to PSD sources, they
also warned the Israelis not to take any action against the
Al Aqsa Mosque.


6. (SBU) There were no arrests or injuries at either
demonstration, according to the PSD. GOJ authorities closely
monitored the events and had provided post with advance
notice of both marches.


7. (C) COMMENT: The organizers of the marches wisely couched
their events as demonstrations in defense of a revered
Islamic holy site rather than a protest against Israel,
making it difficult for the GOJ to deny their permit request.
The Islamists and other oppositionists then predictably used
the march to also attack two of their favorite targets:
Jordanian relations with Israel, and the U.S. presence in
Iraq. END COMMENT.
HENZEL