TFLE01 - REACTIONS TO QANA TRAGEDY

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 005745 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC IS LE JO SUBJECT: TFLE01 - REACTIONS TO QANA TRAGEDY Classified By: Ambassador David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) King Decries Qana "Massacre" -------------- ¶1. (C) Contacts and press express anger over the Qana attack, but are still digesting the Secretary's success in gaining a 48-hour suspension of airstrikes and prospects for comprehensive action in the Security Council. In most respects, it is business as usual in Amman but we are monitoring security closely. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) King Abdullah described the Qana attack publicly as an "ugly crime" and a "massacre," clearly feeling he needed to get in step with public opinion, which is outraged across the spectrum, from elites to the man in the street, and from liberals to Islamists. Until the announcements that Israeli air strikes would be suspended, Jordanians were blaming the U.S. for the continued violence, focusing in particular on media reports of accelerated arms shipments to Israel and of alleged U.S. efforts to block an unconditional ceasefire. Newspaper headlines describe &the second Israeli massacre in Qana8 and front pages feature full-page color photos of dead infants. It will take time to see what impact the USG's latest diplomatic efforts will have on public opinion. Evaporation of Support for Engagement with Israel -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) A wide range of contacts who normally support engagement with Israel tell us that they and others like them can no longer sustain such a position with friends and relations; in some cases they claim to have personally turned against the concept of engagement. Some of this emotion will dissipate if the regional situation returns soon to something like normal. Several leading op-ed columnists call into questions Jordan's relationship with Israel, and call for the closure of Israel's Embassy in Amman. Demonstration Planned -------------- ¶4. (SBU) According to media, the authorities have granted a permit for a protest march the afternoon of July 31 in the Shmeisani neighborhood, a traditional venue for such events. The Jordanian police and intelligence services report no attempts to stage demonstrations at the Embassy or other places of U.S. interest, but we are nevertheless discussing with the authorities additional security contingency planning, and are monitoring the situation closely. Demonstrations were lighter Friday, July 28 than the previous week, possibly because the GOJ refused to grant permits. In Most Respects, Business as Usual -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Most of our contacts relate their deep unhappiness with events in Lebanon, but continue relationships with us as usual. One econ contact declined to meet with emboffs because of Qana, but we were able to get our business done with his superior, who received us as usual. ¶6. (SBU) Jordanians have cancelled some cultural and festive events. Other festivities took place as usual. High school students who passed their national standards tests celebrated last weekend as they do every year with happy, noisy processions of cars all over west Amman. ¶7. (SBU) USAID Amman's Mission Director spoke at a well-attended aid event in Madaba late July 30, (post Qana) and was received normally -- a sign we can continue with judiciously chosen and controlled public events focused on our aid relationship, for now. Comment -------------- ¶8. (C) If the USG's latest diplomatic initiatives are unable to prevent a full resumption of hostilities, we expect deterioration in attitudes here toward the U.S., from an already very low base. This would put further pressure on King Abdullah but he shows no sign of wavering in his support for the U.S. approach. Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/ Hale