MEDIA REPORTS FURTHER GOJ CONTACT WITH THE MUSLIM

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 002781

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/28/2018
TAGS: JO KISL KPAL PGOV
SUBJECT: MEDIA REPORTS FURTHER GOJ CONTACT WITH THE MUSLIM
BROTHERHOOD AND HAMAS, POINTS TO POSSIBLE KING MEETING

REF: A. 06 AMMAN 5222

B. AMMAN 189

C. AMMAN 867

D. AMMAN 1385

E. AMMAN 1395

F. AMMAN 1455

G. AMMAN 1631

H. AMMAN 1984

I. AMMAN 2424

Classified By: Ambassador R. Stephen Beecroft for reasons 1.4(b) and (d
).


1. (U) Media outlets reported recently that the director of
the General Intelligence Department (GID),LTG Mohammad
Dahabi, held a third round of meetings with the Muslim
Brotherhood (MB) and spoke on the phone with HAMAS Political
Bureau Director Khaled Meshal in mid September.
Islamist-leaning newspaper Amman Al-Majd suggested on
September 20 that the meeting with Hamzah Mansur and Azzam
Al-Hunaydi, both members of Parliament representing the
Islamic Action Front (IAF, Ref B),dealt primarily with the
relationship between Jordan and HAMAS. The meeting was
reportedly followed by the Dahabi-Meshal phone call. A
separate report suggested that HAMAS figure Mohammad Nazzal
would return to Jordan soon for another round of talks with
GID.


2. (SBU) The Al-Majd report went on to state that the IAF MPs
left the meeting with the expectation that King Abdullah
himself plans to receive a delegation from the Brotherhood
after Eid Al-Fitr. Another opposition daily, Arab Al-Yawm,
reported on September 28 that the IAF deputies also expect to
finalize discussions over the Islamic Center Association, the
MB's charitable arm which was taken over by the GOJ in 2006
on the grounds that it was misusing its funds (Ref A). Other
outstanding issues that the Brotherhood reportedly expects
movement on include travel and work permits for their members
who have been banned from such activities, as well as the
lifting of restrictions on those banned from delivering
speeches in mosques.


3. (C) Comment. While earlier rumors of a visit by HAMAS
chief Khaled Misha'al have not been repeated lately, the
GOJ's renewal of contacts with the MB seems to be proceeding
apace. Embassy contact, former Muslim Brother, and columnist
for the independent, pro-reform daily Al-Ghad Mohammad Abu
Rumman described to POLOFF on September 29 preparations for a
meeting between the King and MB figures, which he said were
marked by internal discussions over which members of the
leadership would attend. He also affirmed the expectation
within the MB leadership that they will regain control of the
Islamic Center Association, but characterized the possibility
as, "not so close, but not so far."

Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman
Beecroft