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