TFLE01: PROTESTERS DENOUNCE ISRAEL, U.S. AND GOJ;

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 005529

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2016
TAGS: PGOV ASEC MARR IS LE JO
SUBJECT: TFLE01: PROTESTERS DENOUNCE ISRAEL, U.S. AND GOJ;
MEDIA FOCUS ON U.S. WEAPONS SUPPLIES TO ISRAEL

REF: AMMAN 5486

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


1. (C) Summary: Friday after-prayer protests remained
peaceful but were larger and more widespread than the
previous week's. The New York Times' report that the USG was
accelerating supplies of bombs to Israel dominated local
media, along with allegations that U.S. diplomatic efforts
were aimed at delaying a ceasefire. Senior GOJ advisors said
Nasrallah's recent TV interview won him considerable support
on the street. End summary.

Protests Peaceful, Larger
--------------


2. (SBU) A peaceful rally against Israeli operations in
Lebanon marched July 22 through downtown Amman. The Public
Security Directorate (PSD) estimated the crowd at 2500-3000.
Protestors also demonstrated peacefully in Irbid, Al Ramtha,
Ajloun, and Jerash after Friday prayers.


3. (U) The GOJ had issued a permit for the rally in downtown
Amman. PSD broke up another, unauthorized
protest, which the professional associations attempted to
mount at the same time at another downtown location. No
arrests were reported.


4. (U) Embassy Amman and Embassy staff housing are several
miles from downtown.


5. (SBU) In contrast to protests one week ago, the Muslim
Brotherhood and its political arm, the Islamic Action Front,
joined the authorized protest. Local and regional media gave
prominent coverage to the leaders of the Brotherhood and the
Front as they marched arm-in-arm with Muslim and Christian
clerics, and members of parliament, under flags that included
the yellow Hizballah banner. In addition to condemning
Israel and the U.S., Brotherhood leader Saleh al-Falahat and
Front SecGen Zaki Bani Irsheid both publicly challenged the
GOJ to distance itself from the U.S. and Israel and to
support Lebanon, and to release three imprisoned Front
members of parliament.

Media Blast U.S.
--------------


6. (SBU) Local headlines focused July 23 on the New York
Times report that the U.S. was accelerating the supply to
Israel of "smart bombs." This news overshadowed most other
developments, including news of the Secretary's plans to
travel to the region. The liberal "al-Ghad", Jordan,s most
widely-circulated independent daily, headlined "American
Smart Bombs Accompany Rice to the Region." The elite,
liberal English language Jordan Times, editorial was
typical, calling Washington "bloodthirsty" for giving Tel
Aviv the "green light" for continued military operations.


7. (C) The King's senior aides here told the Ambassador that
Nasrallah's weekend TV interview was hugely successful from
Hizballah's point of view, and cemented popular support in
Jordan for him as a heroic "David" fighting the Israeli
"Goliath."
Hale