Jordan and Egypt may expel Israeli envoys

Haaretz ^ | 4/1/2002 | Daniel Sobelman

[l33t]

Jordan and Egypt issued stern warnings to Israel yesterday, and demanded that Israel Defense Forces troops withdraw from Ramallah and not harm Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat. In consultations held by Jordanian and Egyptian officials yesterday, the two countries considered ordering Israel's ambassadors in Cairo and Amman to return to Jerusalem, a diplomatic source said.

The source stated that Jordan and Egypt are "considering this possibility" of telling Israel's diplomats to leave their countries, and that a decision on this matter depends upon developments in the territories. The Egyptians and Jordanians would carry out such a step in unison, the source added.

But another diplomatic source speculated that should affairs worsen in the territories, and should Jordan's public become increasingly angry, the Hashemite kingdom might order Israel's ambassador to leave before Egypt does the same. This source explained that the internal situation in Jordan is more complicated than Egypt's domestic circumstances, partly because Palestinians represent a majority of Jordan's population.

Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said yesterday in Cairo that Israel has apparently ignored the messages which he delivered to it via Israeli ambassador Gideon Ben Ami.

Israel's ambassador to Jordan, David Dadon, was called yesterday to meet with Jordan's Foreign Minister, Marwan Muasher. According to well-placed sources, Muasher made it clear that Jordan will not risk its internal stability on behalf of Israel. Muasher warned that Arafat is liable to be harmed, intentionally or not, by any Israeli soldier who fires bullets around the Ramallah compound.

Muasher announced he informed Dadon that "there will be more steps taken [against Israel] should the Israeli government not agree to an immediate withdrawal." The statement added that the foreign minister expressed his government's "deep anger" about Israel's recent "irresponsible" steps.

Israeli officials yesterday characterized Muasher as being "hysterical" during the meeting with Dadon. Jordan's foreign minister, they added, declared that he doesn't trust Israel's promise that it won't harm Arafat.

[whadizit]

Now you're talkin'!!

[whadizit]

I am so tired of networks, CNN, MSNBC getting every journalist they can find on TV to find out what US should do! How has GW been able to run this country without them, I wonder. They all sound like they know exactly what should be done. BARF!!

[Redleg Duke]

That move is just gonna make it harder for the Jordanians and Egyptians to surrender this time.

[StriperSniper]

If Mohammed just loses the rag, he might make a decent shortstop.

The Afghans beat the Brits today in cricket.

[cmsgop]

I See Dead Arab's............

[l33t]

CNN, MSNBC getting every journalist they can find on TV to find out what US should do!

What the media is actually saying is why Bush is not restraining Israel and lifting the siege around General Arafat's office.

[rmlew]

Hey Jordan.
Forget negotiating the West Bank of the Jordan River. Screw with Israel again, and the East Bank will be in question.

[Defender2]

Yeah, you're very right there!!!! In 1945 The Fleet Came To Stay!!!! It Fought, It Lived, And It Stayed!!!! In this Scenario, it ought to be played like this: We want to eliminate a terrorist madman, Sadam Hussein. The Arab States proclaim, "An attack on an arab state is an attack on all arab states." If that is the case, then we need to state: Terror will not be tolerated period! If one more terror attack is directed against the U.S. or Israel, Baghdad becomes a smoking crevice in the ground!!!! any other terrorist attacks by terrorist entities or states will share the same fate!!!!

[Brusensky]

BBC - Binladen Broadcast Corporation

[Defender2]

#29 Very good!!!! In my instance, BBC = Bill Bullies Communism!!!!:-)

[l33t]

BBC = British Bolsheviks & Communists

[gaspar]

Egypt won't allow Palestinians to live in Egypt. Jordan threw the Palestinians (Black September) out a long time ago. Both nations are led by whiners -- and no crap about the wonderful King Hussein and his moronic progeny.

[tomahawk]

Guess what Egypt and Jordan, Israel is defending itself against terrorists. If you don't like that, what are you going to do about it?

[Inkie]

Egypt and Jordan? What hypocrisy! Isn't it Jordan that expelled masses of Palestinians from their country, killing hundreds of thousands of them? Israel's harshness pales in comparison. How many Palestinians are comfortably settled in Egypt? This is beyond the pale.

[glock rocks]

the saudi's won't do anything blatant, but they will continue to terrorize.
the syrians expect russia to be oh so upset if they get vaporized...but things change.

my question is - what will the US do if Israel is required to
take care of the saudis? hmmm? uh-oh, poopy pants warning...

[Yaelle]

I would rather drive an electric golf cart than kiss Arafat's ugly butt/face (interchangeable) ANY MORE.

[Defender2]

So very true!!!! What's happening now is the true enemies are coming out of the closet!!!! These are countries that at least once already vowed to the destruction of Israel!!!! Israel be on guard from attack from outside as well as with within!!!!

[Hila]

We all remember how the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob dealt with Egypt some time ago. It seems they did not learn or have fogotten that Israel is still God's children. Should be interesting to witness what happens to Jordan and Egypt now.

[El Gato]

Why don't you hush up Egypt. Every time you attack Israel you lose land.

Not quite true, in '73 they got back the Sinai, including some oil. Of course that was only because of great power intervention, Israel recovered from the early setbacks when Egypt and Syria attacked, and were regaining territory, when the Soviets threatened to intervene directly, the US went to a higher DefCon (2 or 3 depending on location and forces involved, SAC and Navy SLBMs went to 2 IIRC) and "encouraged" a ceasefire, which always seems to happen whenever the Israelies are making progress after being attacked. Israeli forces had crossed the Suez Canal and thus isolated the Egyptian 3rd Army, forces in the north were on the road to Damascus. Early on though, it was a VERY close run affair for the Israelies.

[Alas Babylon!]

Oh yes, I remember that time well. We ALMOST had the big one then. In my young, addled democratic brain at the time, I thought it was just Nixon attempting a coup in the throes of Watergate. How wrong I was. BTW, it took the communist massacres in Vietnam and Cambodia in 1975 to make me see the light and rebuke the socialist-democrats. The next year I was a Reagan Republican. I joined the Air Force in 1976. Never looked back!