KING DENIES FEAR OF ALTERNATIVE PALESTINIAN HOME

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 000498

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED

STATE FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/PPD, IIP/GNEA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC PREL KPAL KPAO KMDR JO
SUBJECT: KING DENIES FEAR OF ALTERNATIVE PALESTINIAN HOME


1. (U) SUMMARY: During a February 16 meeting with community
leaders, King Abdullah defiantly asserted that "Jordan is not a
substitute homeland for Palestinians." This and related remarks
denying any fear of the so-called Jordanian option received
front-page attention in all major newspapers and extensive treatment
in op-ed pages. Commentary noted the King's emphasis on having
confidence in Jordan's future and the need to stay focused on
economic reforms . END SUMMARY.


2. (U) In a meeting on February 16 with tribal and political
officials from Jordan's twelve governorates, King Abdullah stressed
Jordan's "ability to protect its interests," defiantly asserting
that "Jordan is not a substitute homeland for Palestinians." [Note:
The "Jordan Option" has been long considered an alternative solution
by some to the commonly accepted two-state solution, i.e. the
establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside the
state of Israel. The Jordan Option proposes re-incorporating the
West Bank into Jordanian territory, and is contrary to the Kingdom's
policy of supporting Palestinian political sovereignty, following
the late King Hussein's renouncement of any claim to West Bank
territory in 1988. End Note.] King Abdullah's remarks generated
extensive, front-page coverage in all major newspapers the following
day. Banner headlines summarized the King's main messages,
particularly that he "has no fears of conspiracies," that "Jordan
can protect its interests," and that he is "optimistic about the
future of our country." News content consisted strictly of the
story t issued by the official Jordan News Agency.


3. (U) In rejecting discussion of the so-called Jordanian option
(reportedly attributed to "extremists in Israel and their supporters
in the U.S."),King Abdullah stated that Jordan's only role in the
Palestinian Territories was "a supporting one to help the brethren
in their efforts to establish their independent state on their
national soil." He reportedly described the two-state solution as
"the only way to achieve security and stability in the region." In
expressing his confidence in the kingdom's future, the King said,
"It is the Jewish state rather than the Hashemite state that is
under pressure to end the conflict," noting the rising percentage of
Israel's Arab citizens. He also expressed his hope for progress in
efforts to achieve peace under the new U.S. administration,
referring to the "initial signs of the administration's interest in
finding a solution to the conflict and achieving peace in the
region."


4. (SBU) COMMENT: King Abdullah's remarks revealed deep unease over
the prospects for Arab-Israeli engagement and a durable peace.
Claims of confidence notwithstanding, discussion of the Jordanian
option is at the top of the agenda for many of post's media and
civil society interlocutors, and it dominated the Ambassador's first
on-the-record interview with local news outlets. END COMMENT


5. (U) Editorial Commentary

-- "We Are Going in the Right Direction and Jordan Can Protect Its
Interests"

The front-page editorial of the February 17 edition of the leading,
government-owned Arabic daily Al-Rai reiterated King Abdullah's
remarks at length, stating that his meeting with community leaders
was the first in a series that "seek to discuss ways to face
internal and external challenges.... We have no fear of plots
because we are confident about Jordan's strength and capabilities.
What we are asked to do is to adopt a firm stand toward the doubts
that some people are trying to spread within our Jordanian
society."[Note: There has been speculation among some Jordanian
politicians, civil society leaders, and local media circles that
there are external forces re-introducing the Jordan Option as a
solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. End Note]

-- "The Leader Doesn't Lie to His Followers"

Chief editor Nabil Sharif, named as the new Information Minister in
a February 22 cabinet re-shuffle, in the February 17 edition of the
government-aligned, pro-Palestinian Arabic daily Ad-Dustour
commented that the King's words "were marked by confidence,
openness, and transparency.... Jordan is not a weak entity that is
frightened by real or imagined fears.... It is time to end all
these distorted fabrications."

-- "How Does Jordan Become Weak?"

Columnist and political analyst Mohammad Abu Rumman in the February
18 edition of the independent Arabic daily Al-Ghad observes, "The
King has spoken on this issue repeatedly and it is a non-negotiable
red line not to be crossed, as it constitutes a threat to domestic
civil peace and Jordanian national security.... When the King hints
at the importance of team work to strengthen and solidify the
Jordanian position in the face of all pressures, he is placing the
community before its responsibility in confronting the internal and

AMMAN 00000498 002 OF 002


external challenges, because all political agendas will then fall if
the national agenda is clear, specific and directed."

-- "The Monday Meeting"

Columnist Sameeh Al-Ma'itah in the February 18 edition of Al-Ghad
reiterates, "The main message that the King wanted to convey to
Jordanians is that they should have faith in themselves and in their
country and that any form of conspiracy or ideas put forth about the
Jordan option or the alternative homeland have no path to success."

-- "King's Remarks: Messages to the Inside and the Outside"

Managing editor Fahed Khitan in the February 18 edition of the
independent, opposition Arabic daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm remarks,
"Clearly the King does not depend on a positive attitude by Israel
to salvage the peace process, and with the exception of hopes pinned
on efforts by U.S. President Barack Obama to launch serious peace
negotiations, the ceiling of Jordanian expectations is very low."
Khitan also notes the King's call to "turn to the inside and work on
economic and political modernization programs."

-- "His Majesty the King Reassures Us"

Columnist Jihad Al-Momani in the February 19 edition of Al-Rai
concludes, "As the King said, Jordan is not suffering from pressures
like Israel is. Our stands are clear, our will is strong, and our
determination is steadfast in rejecting all that might harm our
sovereignty, our future and our national choice of standing by the
brethren in Palestine until they obtain their rights through the
establishment of their independent state, which is the homeland of
all Palestinians, just as Jordan is the homeland of all
Jordanians."

-- "Stop Selling Fear to Us"

Columnist Abdel Hameed Al-Majali in the February 19 edition of
Al-Rai echoes, "There is no fear for Jordan over others'
conspiracies. It is more than capable of facing up to them. But
our enemies are the ones who continue to sell us fear in the midst
of our own society, intentionally or not. This fear and skepticism
must stop because it is the profession of those who want the
homeland and the people to live in constant fear and doubt about
their present and their future."

BEECROFT