Jordan Won’t Be Base For Conspiracy, Hussein Warns Assassination Attempt Called An Insult To All Jordanians

In his first public comments on a botched Israeli assassination attempt, King Hussein sternly warned that he will not allow his country to be used as “a base for conspiracy against anyone.”

Addressing a public rally in the capital, Hussein called last month’s failed assassination of a radical Muslim leader in Amman an insult to all Jordanians.

He told the crowd of about 500 people that he had gotten assurances from Israel that it would respect Jordan’s sovereignty and dignity as well as honor its peace accords with the Palestinians.

The 35-minute speech, Hussein’s first full account of the events, fell short of criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but the monarch used strong language.

“This country was not and will not be a base for a conspiracy against anyone,” he said somberly as Jordanian tribesmen in the audience shouted, “Long live King Hussein.”

Hussein also disclosed that two days before the Israeli agents attacked Khalid Mashaal, a leader of the radical group Hamas, he sent a letter to Netanyahu to “tell him that there is a possibility for a dialogue between Hamas and you to stop … terrorism and violence.”

He also said he was willing to intervene to start that dialogue, but he added, “They say that this letter did not get there on time.” Israeli said Wednesday that it did not receive the offer of a conditional cease-fire from Hamas until after the raid in Amman.

The king revealed details of negotiations with Israel following the assassination attempt on Mashaal Sept. 25 that led to Israel’s release of Hamas founder Sheik Ahmed Yassin.

Hussein said that Netanyahu and two Israeli Cabinet ministers visited Jordan to resolve the crisis four days after the attack on Mashaal, who apparently was poisoned but recovered after Hussein managed to get an antidote from the Israelis.