Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08AMMAN3418
2008-12-31 13:41:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Amman
Cable title:
JORDAN ISLAMISTS PROTEST GAZA EVENTS AND ARAB
how-toVZCZCXRO8000 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHAM #3418 3661341 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 311341Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4062 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS AMMAN 003418
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
FOR NEA/ELA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAL KISL JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN ISLAMISTS PROTEST GAZA EVENTS AND ARAB
RESPONSE
UNCLAS AMMAN 003418
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
FOR NEA/ELA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAL KISL JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN ISLAMISTS PROTEST GAZA EVENTS AND ARAB
RESPONSE
1. (SBU) An estimated 2,000 protesters attended a December
30 demonstration organized by the Islamic Action Front (IAF),
the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, half a mile
from the U.S. Embassy on Cairo Street in the upper class
commercial area of Abdoun. Speakers, including Muslim
Brotherhood head Hamam Said and IAF parliamentary bloc leader
Hamzah Mansour, expressed support for Gazans and denounced
the U.S., Israel, Egypt, as well as all Arab leaders. Said
told the crowd the Jordanian government had imposed limits on
Islamists in Jordan, in part of a larger anti-Islamist
conspiracy that had led to events in Gaza. He also called on
Jordan's General Intelligence Department officials to say why
they were restraining Islamist activities and why their
attention wasn't focused on preventing Israeli actions in
Gaza.
2. (SBU) Participants sought refuge from the rain and cold
in tents erected for the event and responded to speakers'
messages in what appeared to be rote refrains. Organizers
solicited contributions from the crowd on behalf of Gaza
victims, with women bringing forward small, symbolic amounts
of gold from their dowries. At the end of the event,
organizers announced they had collected almost JD 12,000
($17,000).
3. (SBU) The head of Jordan's Bar Association, Saleh
Arnouti, noted in his speech that the protest was held a "few
meters away from the espionage and terror hideout at the
American Embassy," according to political and economic
section Locally Employed Staff (LES) attending the event. At
one point, attendees began to rally for a march to the U.S.
Embassy, but they were dissuaded by IAF organizers. There
was a police presence outside the event.
4. (SBU) Comment: The LES observers were struck by the
speakers' inclusion of the King in their denunciation of all
Arab leaders. From their perspective, speakers used the
event not only to protest events in Gaza but also to launch
criticisms against Jordanian policies that limit Islamist
activities.
Beecroft
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
FOR NEA/ELA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAL KISL JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN ISLAMISTS PROTEST GAZA EVENTS AND ARAB
RESPONSE
1. (SBU) An estimated 2,000 protesters attended a December
30 demonstration organized by the Islamic Action Front (IAF),
the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, half a mile
from the U.S. Embassy on Cairo Street in the upper class
commercial area of Abdoun. Speakers, including Muslim
Brotherhood head Hamam Said and IAF parliamentary bloc leader
Hamzah Mansour, expressed support for Gazans and denounced
the U.S., Israel, Egypt, as well as all Arab leaders. Said
told the crowd the Jordanian government had imposed limits on
Islamists in Jordan, in part of a larger anti-Islamist
conspiracy that had led to events in Gaza. He also called on
Jordan's General Intelligence Department officials to say why
they were restraining Islamist activities and why their
attention wasn't focused on preventing Israeli actions in
Gaza.
2. (SBU) Participants sought refuge from the rain and cold
in tents erected for the event and responded to speakers'
messages in what appeared to be rote refrains. Organizers
solicited contributions from the crowd on behalf of Gaza
victims, with women bringing forward small, symbolic amounts
of gold from their dowries. At the end of the event,
organizers announced they had collected almost JD 12,000
($17,000).
3. (SBU) The head of Jordan's Bar Association, Saleh
Arnouti, noted in his speech that the protest was held a "few
meters away from the espionage and terror hideout at the
American Embassy," according to political and economic
section Locally Employed Staff (LES) attending the event. At
one point, attendees began to rally for a march to the U.S.
Embassy, but they were dissuaded by IAF organizers. There
was a police presence outside the event.
4. (SBU) Comment: The LES observers were struck by the
speakers' inclusion of the King in their denunciation of all
Arab leaders. From their perspective, speakers used the
event not only to protest events in Gaza but also to launch
criticisms against Jordanian policies that limit Islamist
activities.
Beecroft