MEDIA REACTION ON HAMAS, ANTI-TERROR

UNCLAS AMMAN 004144

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARN, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, INR/NESA, R/MR,
I/GNEA, B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN
USAID/ANE/MEA
LONDON FOR TSOU
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: KMDR JO

SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON HAMAS, ANTI-TERROR
LEGISLATION, OIL PRICES

Editorial Commentary on Hamas

-- "Hamas must choose: the prisoners' document or the
referendum"

Daily columnist Jamil Nimri writes on the back-page of
centrist, independent, Arabic daily Al-Ghad (06/07):
"For what purpose is Hamas trying to buy time? Does
it have any exits in the horizon? The upcoming
project is the Israeli unilateral solution, namely
Olmert's plan to withdraw from half of the West Bank.
We fear that this is what Hamas wants without actually
saying it.. But Hamas must not misread the situation.
Israel never withdraws in return for nothing, and the
price for the withdrawal is an international
acknowledgement of the unilaterally imposed border.
What is the Hamas government going to do then? It
cannot even shoot a single bullet at Israel - as it
does now - because that will expose it and its people
to a crushing reaction.. What Hamas is doing now is
allowing the unilateral solution to pass. This
constitutes great danger not just for the Palestinians
but also for Jordan."

-- "Jordanian messages to Olmert and Haniyeh"

Columnist Fahd Kheetan writes in the inside page of
independent, mass-appeal Arabic daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm
(06/07: "The currently adopted Jordanian policy vis--
vis the Palestinians is not useful at all for both
parties. Arming Abbas' forces, to the other party,
only suggests a hostile Jordanian position and bias.
Direct contact with the Palestinian government will
enable Jordan to explain the dangers that the policy
of the Hamas government poses to Jordan and the
region. Direct meetings represent an opportunity to
make them understand that adopting a hardline stand
with the international community will only give Israel
an additional and a legitimate justification to
implement the withdrawal plan, and this harms Jordan
as much as it harms the Palestinian people."

Editorial Commentary on Jordan's Anti-Terrorism Law

-- "Terrorism and legislations"

Columnist Ibrahim Gharaibeh writes on the op-ed page
of centrist, independent Arabic daily Al-Ghad (06/08):
"Have the legislations currently in effect been the
cause for the success of terrorist operations? Is
there a relationship between terrorist incidents and
judicial loopholes through which terrorists could
escape? And as such, is there a need or justification
for intensifying laws and expanding the reasons for
arrests and observation? Most of the terrorist
operations that occurred in Jordan have failed (from
the technical viewpoint) and only a very limited
number of operations actually succeeded.. There was
no legislative related issue that had helped the
terrorists escape or accomplish their operation..
There is consensus of course on the need to combat
terrorism and put a stop to it. But is that
achievable through intensifying laws and regulations?
Even when we succeed in stopping instigation in favor
of terrorism and hatred, would we succeed in stopping
this beyond our border and in the media networks and
space which are outside the framework of state
sovereignty, laws and material and technical capacity?
Terrorism is not a Jordanian problem and does not have
to do with Jordanian citizens and Jordanian policies
and stands. It is a world issue that requires world
handling.. One way or the other, legislations,
however intense they are, will not solve the problem
because they are, in majority if not entirely, related
to the United States of America and Israel.. As for
terrorism that is related to local and internal
policies and stands, it is not difficult to control
and fight it within the context of legislations and
available resources, which are in fact more than
sufficient to confront terrorism and crime. Simply

put, fighting terrorism may be linked to justice and
equality first and foremost, then to the National Aid
Fund, The Development and Employment Fund, housing
projects, municipalities development, local governance
and education reform."

-- "Debate needed

The centrist, elite English daily Jordan Times (06/07)
editorializes: "Since September 11, most western
democracies have adopted anti-terror legislation
largely restrictive of basic freedoms. If well-
established democracies, if the very temples of
personal, civil and political rights, have reneged on
the principles of the inviolability of the human
person, freedom of assembly, right to privacy and
presumption of innocence, and have de facto legalized
incommunicado detentions and other undemocratic
practices, then why should less advanced and much more
fragile countries, with political systems that are
only close - or not even close- to real democracies,
not do the same? Less democracy exacerbates, and does
not curb, terror. Renouncing the democratic march
means giving in to the terrorists and helping them
achieve exactly what they want.. The time for a
serious and constructive campaign against the draft is
now. Time for dialogue is now. The government should
not shut the door and the opposition should lower its
propagandistic tone. And all, opposition and
government, should keep in mind King Abdullah's vision
when he urged the introduction of an anti-terror bill
late last year. He specifically asked for a law that
would allow Jordan to be, at the same time, 'an oasis
of security and stability and a haven for freedom
where human rights are respected.' He clearly does
not want any to be achieved at the expense of the
other. Neither do the people."

Editorial Commentary on Oil Prices/Nuclear Energy

-- "A nuclear energy plant in Jordan"

Columnist Basem Twaisi writes on the op-ed page of
centrist, independent Arabic daily Al-Ghad (06/08)
urges Jordan to consider nuclear power as an
alternative and a solution to energy problems in the
country. He says: "Sooner or later, we will arrive
at the conviction that one of the basic alternatives
to the chronic energy problem in Jordan is the same
solution that many other world countries have arrived
at . namely to resort to peaceful nuclear energy..
The national alternative to the energy crisis lies in
the basket of local energy sources, based on
constructing a nuclear energy plant to meet Jordan's
needs of electricity and energy for some production
sectors. From others' experiences, Jordan will be
able to save 40 to 50% of its energy needs. We can
easily develop our scientific capacity, because
Jordan's political values and friendships with nuclear
producing world countries will provide the necessary
support in terms of legitimacy, the right to import
this technology and even financing.. The nuclear
energy option for Jordan is a pivotal and decisive
option. If we do not start it now, future generations
may accuse us of shortsightedness and lack of
resourcefulness."
HALE