VZCZCXRO6047
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHAM #1979 2441306
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 011306Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0090
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5846
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 001979 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2019 
TAGS: PREL KPAL UNGA JO
SUBJECT: UNRWA AT 60 EVENT:  JORDAN DEBATING SUPPORT FOR 
ISRAELI SPEAKING ROLE 
 
REF: STATE 90251 
 
Classified By: Ambassador R. Stephen Beecroft 
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1.  (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to Samer Naber, 
Deputy Director of the Foreign Minister's Private Office, on 
August 31.  Naber said that no final decision had yet been 
made about Jordan's stance on the UNRWA at 60 event, but 
indicated that interagency discussions on the issue had been 
heated.  Naber welcomed our points on the issue, saying that 
they would help to focus the MFA's discussions with other 
interested parties in the Jordanian government. 
 
¶2.  (C) Naber said that Jordanian security agencies have 
become concerned that UNRWA's budget woes will have a direct 
impact on Jordan's internal security posture.  The General 
Intelligence Directorate (GID) recently sent an internal memo 
to the Foreign Ministry voicing alarm at the closure of 
schools, strikes by UNRWA employees, and increasing 
unemployment in the Palestinian refugee camps which UNRWA 
administers.  In this context, Naber indicated that Jordan is 
not looking to draw negative attention to UNRWA's mission and 
funding at this time.  Jordan would prefer a non-political 
event that focuses on the humanitarian achievements of UNRWA 
and the need to support the organization politically and 
monetarily. 
 
¶3.  (C) Naber said that Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh and 
Queen Rania will represent Jordan at the UNRWA at 60 event, 
although the Queen's attendance is still being closely held. 
 
¶4.  (C) Comment:  Jordan's stance on Israeli participation in 
the UNRWA at 60 event is part of a complicated web that 
includes moves towards a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian 
conflict, domestic unease over the role of Palestinians, and 
the Mughrabi Gate issue (septel).  It is unclear at this 
point whether the hawkish voices of the political elite who 
want to send a tough message to Israel will prevail over 
those who favor a low-key approach.  It is clear, however, 
that the UNRWA at 60 debate is being seen as part of a larger 
political debate rather than as an isolated decision which 
can be decided on its own merits.  Embassy Amman will 
continue to follow up and report on this issue as events 
warrant.  End Comment. 
Beecroft