RESPONSE: JORDANIAN PM ASKS FOR PROPOSAL TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 002517

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2019
TAGS: PREF PHUM KPAL JO
SUBJECT: RESPONSE: JORDANIAN PM ASKS FOR PROPOSAL TO
ASSIST IN RESETTLEMENT OF WALID PALESTINIANS

REF: AMMAN 73

Classified By: A/AS Kelly Ryan for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

1.(C) The Department read with great interest reftel
regarding the GOJ's interest in facilitating the resettling
of Palestinians from Al-Walid as expressed by PM Nader
Al-Dhabi. We welcome the Prime Minister's interest in
helping to find a durable solution for this vulnerable
refugee population and both he and the GOJ are to be
commended for their willingness to take concrete steps toward
ameliorating the suffering of this besieged group of
individuals.

2.(C) At this time PRM is investigating two distinct
possibilities for processing the Palestinian caseload from
Al-Walid. The first would involve processing in Jordan,
either in Amman or a more remote location closer to the
Jordan-Iraq border. As you are aware, we have robust
processing capabilities in Jordan and have been working
closely with UNHCR to identify possible locations outside of
Amman, including the de-commissioned camp at Ruwayshid. The
Regional Admissions Refugee Coordinator, Regional DHS Field
Officer, OPE Amman Director, and a representative from UNHCR
Jordan plan to travel to Ruwayshid next week to evaluate the
likelihood of it being able to serve as a staging, transit,
and/or processing point for this group.

3.(C) The second option that we are investigating would
involve processing the group in Iraq, at a location at or
near Al-Walid. We are pursuing this alternative with full
vigor and the Refugee Coordinators in Baghdad have been in
contact with the MNF-I whose cooperation would be required
to make this option feasible. But we realize that the Iraq
option is immensely more complicated than any other and would
take many months to bring to fruition even with the full
cooperation of UNHCR, GOI, MNF-I, and DHS/USCIS. Further,
given the real security and logistical challenges of
operating in such a remote part of the country, it is
doubtful that in-country processing could occur at the speed
preferred by all parties in light of the conditions at the
camp.

4.(C) When we develop a plan for resettling this group via
Jordan, we will do everything possible to satisfy the needs
and alleviate the concerns of the GOJ in allowing this group
of Palestinians into its territory. Though we recognize the
GOJs desire to have the process completed on a single trip to
Jordan, this is highly unlikely given the security, medical,
and other checks required for refugee admission to the U.S.
We could commit to try to undertake an accelerated processing
schedule.

5.(C) We echo Post's desire to take advantage of this
opportunity presented by the GOJ. In order to do so we will
require the Embassy's cooperation in investigating, and
ultimately implementing, a plan that will lead to the
expeditious processing of this group in a way that is not
only acceptable to the GOJ but also in compliance with the
procedures required under the U.S. Refugee Admissions
Program. We will coordinate a preliminary plan for your
review and comment with subsequent presentation to the GOJ
shortly after the completion of next week's mission to
Ruwayshid. If deemed prudent, we encourage the Embassy to
notify the GOJ of our progress on developing a plan.
RICE