Failed Mossad assasination attempt thwarts attempts to hold the Mena conference
Regional, Analysis, 10/13/1997

While the Qatari government is sending invitations to the Arab heads of state and kings to attend the Middle East-North Africa Conference due to be held in Doha end of November, the US administration--which exerts great efforts to urge its friends in the region to attend--was surprised by the Mossad's failed attempt to assassinate the head of the political office of Hamas in Jordan.

This attempt cut the right hand which supported holding the conference and tried to make it a success: Jordan. Israeli-Jordanian relations, which all the Arabs envied, are headed for a deadlock after Jordan decided to expel all the agents of the Mossad who are working in the Israeli embassy in Amman for their involvement in the attempt.

The Jordanian forces beefed up their presence in the area surrounding the Israeli embassy and prevented anybody from approaching it without an identity check. The Jordanian police arrested a Jordanian citizen for throwing a burning bottle of gas near the Israeli embassy.

Meanwhile Israel strengthened its security measures in anticipation of an eruption of suicide attacks in retaliation of the failed attempt on Khaled Mishal's life.

Qatar is the biggest loser due to the recent tensions between Jordan and Israel. Qatar has done its best to make the conference succeed, as it is not a regional conference but an international one, which is not ruled by the resolutions of the Arab summits and the Arab Foreign Ministers' meeting.

Qatar sent an invitation to the Arab League to attend the conference, but the latter has not given its answer yet as it declared it is too early to make a decision. The Arab League also stated that the decision depends on the progress achieved in the peace process.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry received a message from US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright urging Egypt to participate in the conference, both on the government and the private sector levels.

But the failed attempt to assassinate Mishal seems to have thwarted all hopes of holding the conference. Qatar plans to increase the security presence during the conference as it fears terrorist attacks against the Israeli delegation headed by the Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy.

Previous Stories:
  Palestinian official denies rift with Qatar on Mena   (10/11/1997)
  Jordan Kicks Mossad out and Yatom to take fall for Netanyahu   (10/10/1997)
  Hussein confirms: I sent a Hamas offer to Netanyahu   (10/9/1997)

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