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DE RUEHAM #4144/01 1591110
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O 081110Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1110
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0337
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 1256
RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUMICEA/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS AMMAN 004144 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARN, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, INR/NESA, R/MR, 
I/GNEA, B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN 
USAID/ANE/MEA 
LONDON FOR TSOU 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
 
TAGS: KMDR JO
 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON HAMAS, ANTI-TERROR 
LEGISLATION, OIL PRICES 
 
             Editorial Commentary on Hamas 
 
-- "Hamas must choose: the prisoners' document or the 
referendum" 
 
Daily columnist Jamil Nimri writes on the back-page of 
centrist, independent, Arabic daily Al-Ghad (06/07): 
"For what purpose is Hamas trying to buy time?  Does 
it have any exits in the horizon?  The upcoming 
project is the Israeli unilateral solution, namely 
Olmert's plan to withdraw from half of the West Bank. 
We fear that this is what Hamas wants without actually 
saying it..  But Hamas must not misread the situation. 
Israel never withdraws in return for nothing, and the 
price for the withdrawal is an international 
acknowledgement of the unilaterally imposed border. 
What is the Hamas government going to do then?  It 
cannot even shoot a single bullet at Israel - as it 
does now - because that will expose it and its people 
to a crushing reaction..  What Hamas is doing now is 
allowing the unilateral solution to pass.  This 
constitutes great danger not just for the Palestinians 
but also for Jordan." 
 
-- "Jordanian messages to Olmert and Haniyeh" 
 
Columnist Fahd Kheetan writes in the inside page of 
independent, mass-appeal Arabic daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm 
(06/07:  "The currently adopted Jordanian policy vis-- 
vis the Palestinians is not useful at all for both 
parties.  Arming Abbas' forces, to the other party, 
only suggests a hostile Jordanian position and bias. 
Direct contact with the Palestinian government will 
enable Jordan to explain the dangers that the policy 
of the Hamas government poses to Jordan and the 
region.  Direct meetings represent an opportunity to 
make them understand that adopting a hardline stand 
with the international community will only give Israel 
an additional and a legitimate justification to 
implement the withdrawal plan, and this harms Jordan 
as much as it harms the Palestinian people." 
 
  Editorial Commentary on Jordan's Anti-Terrorism Law 
 
-- "Terrorism and legislations" 
 
Columnist Ibrahim Gharaibeh writes on the op-ed page 
of centrist, independent Arabic daily Al-Ghad (06/08): 
"Have the legislations currently in effect been the 
cause for the success of terrorist operations?  Is 
there a relationship between terrorist incidents and 
judicial loopholes through which terrorists could 
escape?  And as such, is there a need or justification 
for intensifying laws and expanding the reasons for 
arrests and observation?  Most of the terrorist 
operations that occurred in Jordan have failed (from 
the technical viewpoint) and only a very limited 
number of operations actually succeeded..  There was 
no legislative related issue that had helped the 
terrorists escape or accomplish their operation.. 
There is consensus of course on the need to combat 
terrorism and put a stop to it.  But is that 
achievable through intensifying laws and regulations? 
Even when we succeed in stopping instigation in favor 
of terrorism and hatred, would we succeed in stopping 
this beyond our border and in the media networks and 
space which are outside the framework of state 
sovereignty, laws and material and technical capacity? 
Terrorism is not a Jordanian problem and does not have 
to do with Jordanian citizens and Jordanian policies 
and stands.  It is a world issue that requires world 
handling..  One way or the other, legislations, 
however intense they are, will not solve the problem 
because they are, in majority if not entirely, related 
to the United States of America and Israel..  As for 
terrorism that is related to local and internal 
policies and stands, it is not difficult to control 
and fight it within the context of legislations and 
available resources, which are in fact more than 
sufficient to confront terrorism and crime.  Simply 
 
put, fighting terrorism may be linked to justice and 
equality first and foremost, then to the National Aid 
Fund, The Development and Employment Fund, housing 
projects, municipalities development, local governance 
and education reform." 
 
-- "Debate needed 
 
The centrist, elite English daily Jordan Times (06/07) 
editorializes:  "Since September 11, most western 
democracies have adopted anti-terror legislation 
largely restrictive of basic freedoms.  If well- 
established democracies, if the very temples of 
personal, civil and political rights, have reneged on 
the principles of the inviolability of the human 
person, freedom of assembly, right to privacy and 
presumption of innocence, and have de facto legalized 
incommunicado detentions and other undemocratic 
practices, then why should less advanced and much more 
fragile countries, with political systems that are 
only close - or not even close- to real democracies, 
not do the same?  Less democracy exacerbates, and does 
not curb, terror.  Renouncing the democratic march 
means giving in to the terrorists and helping them 
achieve exactly what they want..  The time for a 
serious and constructive campaign against the draft is 
now.  Time for dialogue is now.  The government should 
not shut the door and the opposition should lower its 
propagandistic tone.  And all, opposition and 
government, should keep in mind King Abdullah's vision 
when he urged the introduction of an anti-terror bill 
late last year.  He specifically asked for a law that 
would allow Jordan to be, at the same time, 'an oasis 
of security and stability and a haven for freedom 
where human rights are respected.'  He clearly does 
not want any to be achieved at the expense of the 
other.  Neither do the people." 
 
   Editorial Commentary on Oil Prices/Nuclear Energy 
 
-- "A nuclear energy plant in Jordan" 
 
Columnist Basem Twaisi writes on the op-ed page of 
centrist, independent Arabic daily Al-Ghad (06/08) 
urges Jordan to consider nuclear power as an 
alternative and a solution to energy problems in the 
country.  He says:  "Sooner or later, we will arrive 
at the conviction that one of the basic alternatives 
to the chronic energy problem in Jordan is the same 
solution that many other world countries have arrived 
at . namely to resort to peaceful nuclear energy.. 
The national alternative to the energy crisis lies in 
the basket of local energy sources, based on 
constructing a nuclear energy plant to meet Jordan's 
needs of electricity and energy for some production 
sectors.  From others' experiences, Jordan will be 
able to save 40 to 50% of its energy needs.  We can 
easily develop our scientific capacity, because 
Jordan's political values and friendships with nuclear 
producing world countries will provide the necessary 
support in terms of legitimacy, the right to import 
this technology and even financing..  The nuclear 
energy option for Jordan is a pivotal and decisive 
option.  If we do not start it now, future generations 
may accuse us of shortsightedness and lack of 
resourcefulness." 
HALE