ORAL MESSAGE ON NEED TO HALT

S E C R E T ABU DHABI 002860 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP AND NEA/IPA NSC FOR THEROUX E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/08 TAGS: PREL PTER KPAL KWBG TC SUBJECT: ORAL MESSAGE ON NEED TO HALT ASSISTANCE TO HAMAS DELIVERED; UAE DISMAYED BY NEW VIOLENCE REF: A) STATE 157973 B) 02 ABU DHABI 3193 ¶1. (U) Classified by Ambassador Marcelle M. Wahba for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D). ¶2. (S) The Ambassador delivered Ref A demarche on the need for governments to move decisively against entities providing financial support to Hamas in a June 11 meeting with MFA Minstate Hamdan (other topics covered septel). Hamdan expressed appreciation for President Bush's position on the Israeli strike against Hamas leader Abdulaziz Al- Rantissi, noting the UAEG view that Israel seems bound and determined to wreck the roadmap, thus undoing the hard work of President Bush, the Quartet, the Europeans and moderate Arab leaders. He regretted the tit-for-tat violence that has erupted between the Israelis and Palestinians, fearing that this setback would only feed further extremism and increase regional instability. ¶3. (S) UAE Armed Forces Chief of Staff Muhammad bin Zayid Al-Nahyan (MbZ),in a meeting with the Ambassador later the same day, said Israel's targeted assassinations of Hamas leaders created more "martyrs" for the extremist cause. While Hamas is strengthened by these attacks, Abu Mazen and the Palestinians who need our collective support are further marginalized. ¶4. (S) The Ambassador briefed both Emirati leaders on the appointment of Ambassador John Wolf, noting his intention to travel to the region by the end of the week to coordinate implementation of the roadmap. ¶5. (S) Hamdan shared that the Israelis had broken into the Jerusalem-based office of the UAE Red Crescent Authority not long ago. The office was ransacked and a number of files taken. Hamdan has dispatched an emissary to speak with GOI officials about the break-in and convey the UAEG's desire to work together in the future. ¶6. (S) Comment: The Emiratis have little tolerance for those individuals and organizations providing financial support for Hamas. The leadership has demonstrated its commitment to do the utmost possible to end such support coming from private sources in the UAE (Ref B) and we are currently working with the UAEG to investigate the activities of a UAE-based NGO -- Human Appeal International -- which has been linked with providing support for Hamas, among other terrorist organizations (see septel). End Comment. WAHBA