Jordan Times
Monday, March 16, 1998
Jordan protests to Israel over Sharon’s statement
By Tareq Ayyoub
AMMAN — The government on Sunday summoned Israeli ambassador
in Amman, Oded Eran, to protest a statement made by a senior
Israeli minister, declaring Israel will assassinate the head of
the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) Khaled Misha’al,
Jordan Television said Sunday.
It said acting minister of foreign affairs, Talal Sata’an
Hassan, made the protest on behalf of the government over the
statement made by Israeli Infrastructure Minister Ariel Sharon
that Tel Aviv is still determined to kill Hamas leader Khaled
Misha’al, who the Israeli Mossad attempted to assassinate in
September.
“Jordan rejects any assault on the life of any citizen
whether its was carried out inside or outside the Kingdom and
considers [what Mr. Sharon said] a threat to its security and a
violation of international law,” JTV quoted the minister as
telling the Israeli ambassador.
Mr. Sharon told Israel’s Channel Two television Saturday
that Israel had informed Jordan that it intended “to finish
off the job” of assassinating Mr. Misha’al, but not on
Jordanian soil.
Acting Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour described Mr. Sharon’s
statements as “bad and suspicious” and contradicting
declared Israeli government policy.
“Khaled Misha’al is a Jordanian citizen protected by
the Jordanian law and the leadership of Jordan and we will never
accept such threats to his life,” said Dr. Ensour.
“These statements do not tally with statements made by the
Israeli government that it was willing to regain understanding
with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,” he added.
“We denounce these statements. The Ministry of Foreign
Affairs will take the appropriate action,” the acting prime
minister said.
Meanwhile, Hamas warned Israel that it will retaliate if the
Jewish state carried out its threat.
“The Zionists’ attempts to whitewash the image of its
secret security service [the Mossad] will not pass
unpunished,” said a one-page statement issued by Hamas.
“The time when their crimes were carried out without
punishment has vanished.”
Two Israeli Mossad agents were arrested following a foiled attack
against Mr. Misha’al in Amman on Sept. 23.
They injected a poisonous chemical into his left ear.
Mr. Misha’al was rescued after His Majesty King Hussein
forced Israel to provide the antidote.
The government said it would only resume security cooperation
with Israel under the 1994 peace treaty after Mossad chief Danny
Yatom was removed.
Israel was also forced to release Hamas spiritual leader Ahmad
Yassin and several other Jordanian and Palestinian prisoners in
exchange for the two agents.
Mr. Yatom submitted his resignation last month following a series
of failed Mossad operations in Europe against Iran and Hizbollah.
“The declaration of Sharon, a man with a long terrorist
history, is an open confession of the desire of the Zionist
entity to continue its terrorist acts against civilians,”
said the Hamas statement.
“Hamas, which has taught the enemy [Israel] unforgettable
lessons, knows how to protect its leaders and how to turn the
sacrifices of its members into a fire that will swallow the
occupier,” it added.
“The statement of this terrorist and Zionist monster is a
flagrant challenge to Arab governments.”
Hamas also urged the Palestine National Authority (PNA) to take a
“practical and clear stand” vis-a-vis Mr. Sharon.
Lower House Deputy Mohammad Azaideh also slammed Mr.
Sharon’s statement, describing it an example of “the
Jewish mentality.”
“This mentality wants to tell the whole world that they are
able to hit anybody at any time. This policy of arrogance and
deceit should come to an end,” he told the Jordan Times.
“These statements are aimed at showing the people that
Jordan is weak and unable to preserve its security,” he
said.
“Jordan will not allow anybody to harm its security and
knows very well how to protect the people and guests living on
its soil,” Mr. Azaideh asserted.
In Tel Aviv Israeli Cabinet Secretary Dani Naveh declined to
comment directly on whether his government had taken any decision
to liquidate Mr. Misha’al.
“I know one thing, the government has a policy which the
prime minister is leading without compromise to fight terror, to
fight the terrorist organisations and to fight the heads of the
terrorist organisation,” Mr. Naveh told Reuters.
“This war will continue in every place and every time,”
he added.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Amr Musa described Mr.
Sharon’s threats as “state terrorism.”
“With this threat, we have reached a very serious stage
which shows the imbalance in the orientation of Israeli policy
and which leads to state terrorism,” Mr. Musa said.