KNESSET RESOLUTION ON "JORDAN OPTION" GENERATES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 001236 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/31/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV IS JO SUBJECT: KNESSET RESOLUTION ON "JORDAN OPTION" GENERATES OUTRAGE IN AMMAN REF: AMMAN 1182 Classified By: Ambassador R. Stephen Beecroft for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Jordanian officials, media, and politicians continue to denounce a resolution currently pending in the Israeli Knesset that would recognize Jordan as the Palestinian state. FM Nasser Judeh convoked the Israeli Ambassador on May 26 to deliver a "harshly worded" message designed for public consumption. Editorial reaction reflects the anger and urgency which many Jordanians feel about the issue. A cross-section of politicians are calling on the government to act. While the denunciations of the Knesset bill are predictable in their tone and content, they point to a growing lack of confidence in Israel's commitment to peace. FM Summons Israeli Ambassador -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The largely symbolic proposal of an Israeli Knesset member that would recognize Jordan as the Palestinian state is generating a vehement yet predictable response in Jordan. On May 26, FM Nasser Judeh summoned the Israeli Ambassador on the orders of Prime Minister Nader Dahabi and delivered a strongly worded demarche about the resolution. Judeh further demanded that Israel offer an explanation of the Knesset's actions. Government spokesman Nabil Al-Sharif also stated that the government was "waiting for a response" from Israel. According to an Israeli radio broadcast, the Israeli Ambassador told Judeh that his government does not control the actions of individual Knesset members, whose views do not necessarily reflect national government policy. Editorial Reaction Harsh -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Editorials have taken on a harsh and strident tone. Prominent Palestinian commentator Oraib Rantawi wrote that "the scent of racism and fascism is rising from the stances, policies, remarks, and draft laws that are surfacing in Israel's political life. Had similar scents arisen in any other country, the world would have been up in arms." The main editorial in opposition daily Al-Dustour added that Jordan "has gotten used to the nonsense that Israeli gangs resort to whenever they are squeezed on the issue of Palestinian rights...forgetting that Jordan is neither frail nor weak." Al-Arab Al-Yawm editor Taher Al-Adwan threatened that "Jordan will be (Israel's) worst nightmare...if Israel tries to touch a single part of this homeland." Al-Ghad columnist Mohammed Abu Rumman characterized the resolution as symbolic of a shift in Israeli political thinking. He said that "Israeli politicians no longer see in Jordan a political safety valve, but rather a solution to the Palestinian problem." ¶4. (SBU) Commentators have criticized the lack of a more forceful and coordinated state response. Opposition daily Al-Ghad characterized the government's reaction as "weak." Adwan wrote that it is "not enough for the Foreign Minister to summon the Israeli Ambassador and hand him a letter of protest." Islamist daily As-Sabeel featured an article calling on the Jordanian government to respond publicly to Israel's "explicit violation of Jordan's sovereignty." Politicians Echo The Outrage -------------- ¶5. (C) Jordanian politicians have also publicly denounced the Knesset resolution. The National Democratic Bloc, a newly-formed group of nominally leftist tribal MPs, called on the government to cut diplomatic ties with Israel. The business-oriented, moderately pro-reform Ikha bloc denounced the Knesset resolution in a press statement, but stopped short of calling for abandonment of diplomatic ties. Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood chair Hammam Sa'id noted that the proposal's appearance on the Knesset's agenda meant that it was "serious and not a joke." He called the resolution "an indication of Zionist insolence" and called for "rejection, jihad, and resistance" in response. Senate president Zaid Al-Refai told Polcouns that "the reaction to this story is getting stronger, not weaker. This does not bode well for what the U.S. Administration is trying to accomplish in the region." Comment -------------- ¶6. (C) While the Jordanian response to the Knesset resolution can easily be painted as an overreaction which fails to take into account the structure of Israeli politics, that response is a reflection of the fears and suspicions of AMMAN 00001236 002 OF 002 many Jordanians about Israel's intentions. Most of the responses to date have been predictable in their tone and content, with calls for an end to diplomatic relations with Israel. Jordanians are hoping for movement on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but the Knesset bill indicates to some that Israeli politicians are not ready. Jordanians and their politicians are genuinely fearful that the glimmer of hope they saw with President Obama's election will be negated by Netanyahu's actions on the ground. Beecroft