Jordan Move Denounced

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32220, 12 February 1970, Page 13

Jordan Move Denounced

fA Z P A -Reuter—Copyright) BEIRUT. Feb. 11. Rival Palestinian commando groups todayclosed ranks in an unprecedented display of unity to meet a challenge to their freedom of action by King Hussein of Jordan.

The 35-year-old King yester-i; day issued an internal security decree which was denounced within hours by a hastily-r formed alliance of 10 guerrilla groups as an Americanbacked attempt to crush the Palestine revolution. The King's decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting in Amman only one day after I his return from Cairo summit talks with President Nasser and other leaders of Arab States in the front line against Israel The meeting decided to ban the unauthorised carrying and use of arms or storage of explosives in the capital or other populated areas Unlicensed Publications Unlicensed publications and unlicensed vehicles were also banned. A fortnight was given! for compliance with the or- 1 ders. which hit directly at the activities behind the front line with Israel of the vari-’ ous commando organisations. Although Jordan’s Information Minister (Mr Salah Abu! Zeid) said that the decreel was not aimed at any specific group, the commandos in-! terpfeted the measure as be-' ing designed to end their movement so that a peaceful settlement could be negotiated with Israel. A statement broadcast over the Cairo-based radio of the Fatah guerrilla group said that the new internal security measures in Jordan were aimed at paving the way for a peaceful settlement of the Palestine problem—something the commandos are resolutelyopposed to. Observers said that the broadcast made clear that a showdown had finally come between the Jordanian King and the various guerrilla groups w-ho since the 1967 June war have virtually built up a state within a state in Jordan. Civil War Accusation The radio called on the Jordanian Army and people to support the Palestine revolution and said that the authorities in Amman were trying to drag Jordan into civil war It warned that the rovalist Government would be respon sible for any bloodshed and pledged ’hat the commando movement would fight on The major ouest>on today was whether the King s action was intended to bring

commando activities under Jordanian control for the sake of more co-ordinated and efficient action against Israel or whether he means to suppress- them altogether in order to seek a peaceful settlement with Israel. He hinted at the first alternative in his broadcast last month after his return from the abortive Arab summit at Rabat—a speech which alarmed the Palestine resistance leaders enough to have them meet in an emergency all-night conclave in Amman and put their forces on a state of alert Nasser's Attitude If the King is committed to the second alternative, then it was inconceivable, the observers said, that he would have decided on this action without the tacit support of President Nasser. Only if he had advance knowledge of President Nasser's approval of his actions would it be feasible for the King to suppress the com mandos—heroes of Arab pub jlic opinion—for the sake of a political settlement with Israel. the observers said. The commandos revealed their anxiety about what was (decided at the Cairo meeting Iby calling on the confrontation States to clarify their attitudes towards the Jordan ,ian measures.

r There has been no hint so! > far of Egypt's attitude to-! - wards the Jordanian action I r But observers noted that I - Egypt's chief United Nations! -(delegate told reporters in • New York on Monday that | the United States plan for a - peace settlement between is ! t rael and Egypt might form a' i basis for negotiation. t In conjunction with King! i Hussein’s action, this state ! -ment raised the tantalising! '(Possibility that the President! .’.and the King, whose countries! i!have.borne the brunt of 20] ! I years' of open undeclared con , iflict with Israel, had agreed in \ Cairo on a bold initiative to make peace and not war with lithe Zionist State. * Commandos’ Prestige II At a time when the presistige of the commando movef ment. pledged to reject any peaceful settlement, is at its ( height and Egypt is suffering - a daily series of hammer sjblows from the Israeli Air] ( Force, it would be a policy! that required great courage—l a quality in which neither ('President nor King is lack ! 'ing The key factor tn what■ I: could be a turbulent week in; s! Amman will be the loyalty ofi <!the Jordanian army, and es-1 •specially of its core of crack' r ■ Bedouin troops, who owe ai ' special allegiance to the Ha-' ! shemite Royal family. I