Significantly, Israel has not denied reports of the deal. The king has turned this very awkward situation into a positive thing, like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat,'' says a senior Western diplomat. Hussein, he adds, will ask for much more significant concessions from Mr. Netanyahu when handling the fate of the Mossad agents. It might look like the king has scored, but it is small compared to what could have come from the biggest scandal since the peace with Israel was signed,'' says one well-connected Jordanian. Diplomats are baffled about why Israel would risk undermining its sole close Arab ally though the operation, if successful, would have been fingerprint-free.
Diplomats confirm that the two have declined Canadian representation, but have Canadian accents.
This assassination attempt creates trouble for the king, which is why he has followed Meshal's case so closely,'' says Mr. Nazzal. Diplomatic and Jordanian sources say that this device has now been inspected by American officials. Hussein ordered that the Hamas leader be treated in Jordan's top military hospital, and sent his own American doctor, already here on a visit. The Washington Post reported that the king asked President Clinton to intervene to help obtain the antidote. One source says the Israelis called Amman first and admitted guilt, to delay publicity.