VZCZCXRO9749
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHAM #0498/01 0541014
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 231014Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4533
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE

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