JORDAN AND ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN SECURITY

S E C R E T AMMAN 001121 SIPDIS SIPDIS NOFORN DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/IPA (KMEDLAND) AND NEA/ELA E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2023 TAGS: PREL KWBG KPAL IS JO SUBJECT: JORDAN AND ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS REF: STATE 34850 Classified By: Ambassador Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) Summary -------------- ¶1. (S/NF) Jordan's security interests in a Palestinian state are manifold, and felt very deeply both at the senior levels and in the street. The GOJ rejects any suggestion that Jordan assume security responsibilities in the West Bank, or that the fulfillment of Palestinian national aspirations be somehow diverted to the East Bank. The GOJ will maintain a hard-line toward Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups and is very supportive of USG efforts to create effective Palestinian Authority security forces. Jordanian-Israeli military and security cooperation is strong and will remain so. End summary. The Red Lines -------------- ¶2. (S/NF) The GOJ has two key red lines on security-related equities in any final status solution: Jordan's assuming a security role in the West Bank; and Jordan's becoming the Palestinian homeland. The GOJ will not concur with concepts or arrangements that point in the direction of Jordanian assumption of security responsibilities in the West Bank. Outside observers might see such an option as effectively importing Jordanian stability and security know-how into the West Bank. Jordan's leadership, however, sees it as a highly risky re-importation of Palestinian instability into Jordan, while making the GOJ liable to accusations, in front of its majority-Palestinian populace, that it is enforcing Israeli/U.S. security dictates on its Palestinian brethren. Similarly, Jordan categorically rejects the "Jordan is Palestine" view, and any similar proposals that find the solution to Palestinian national aspirations in the East Bank. The King has rejected repeatedly and unequivocally notions of Jordanian confederation with Palestine, and has said that discussions on the subject prior to Palestinian statehood are unhelpful and undermine the current Palestinian leadership. Jordan - a Partner for Regional Security and Against Hamas -------------- ¶3. (S/NF) For numerous reasons - shared borders, demographics, concerns about regional stability - Jordan has much at stake in any new security arrangements in the Jordan Valley. The Jordanians will seek regular consultations and maximum information-sharing as negotiations proceed. Jordan has made it clear that it is prepared to play a constructive role in any eventual overall security scheme. It maintains excellent military-to-military and intelligence service-to-intelligence service relations with ISRAEL at the senior and working levels. These contacts are strong, frequent and indicative of the close security relationship between the two countries, which will continue through the eventual formation of a Palestinian state. Jordan is committed to constraining regional radicalism in general, and preventing acts of terror by Palestinian rejectionists specifically. It has a strong track record. For reasons both domestic (the challenge the regime perceives from the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood) and foreign (Iranian support for radicalism),Jordan has viewed Hamas as a strategic enemy for the better part of a decade. The regime expelled Hamas' leadership in 1999 and works aggressively to diminish its support in Jordan and around the region. Training Palestinians in Jordan -------------- ¶4. (C) In addition to rhetorical and diplomatic support for peace and against radicalism, the Government of Jordan has been concretely supporting USG security goals involving the Palestinian Authority. It is presently training over 600 Palestinian Authority National Security Forces at the Jordan International Police Training Center (JIPTC) in Muwaqqar, Jordan. Over 400 Palestinian Authority Presidential Guard personnel recently completed a separate, 2-month training program at JIPTC and returned to the West Bank on April 14. Jordan's lead operational agency on training Palestinians in Jordan has been the Public Security Directorate (PSD),the equivalent of Jordan's national police. PSD leadership have told Emboffs and visiting delegations that their mandate to support the peace process between ISRAEL and the Palestinian Authority by training Palestinians in Jordan stems from the directives of King Abdullah. Recent discussions between the Embassy and GOJ leadership have confirmed that Jordan remains willing to continue offering security training to PA security forces in Jordan. Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/ HALE