IN-HOUSE VIEWS ON POTENTIAL HAMAS TARGETS

S E C R E T DOHA 001748 STATE FOR NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2013 TAGS: EFIN PTER ECON ETTC QA SUBJECT: IN-HOUSE VIEWS ON POTENTIAL HAMAS TARGETS REF: A. KABUL 1810 ¶B. STATE 194837 ¶C. STATE 193410 ¶D. DOHA 2536 Classified By: AMBASSADOR MAUREEN QUINN FOR REASONS 1.5 (b) AND (d) ¶1. (S) SUMMARY. The organizations named in ref B, Qatar Charitable Society (QCS),Sheikh Eid bin Mohammed Charitable Society and the Qatari Joint Committee for Relief, are three of the four charitable entities in Qatar (the fourth is the Qatar Red Crescent Society). The GOQ is committed to combating terrorist financing and has demonstrated a strong willingness to cooperate with USG efforts. Absent concrete information specifically linking these organizations to terrorist activity, post has not engaged the GOQ regarding them. To designate these organizations now, individually or as a group, without apparent cause or justification, would send a strong negative signal to the GOQ and the Qatari public about the bilateral relationship. END SUMMARY. QATAR CHARITABLE SOCIETY ¶2. (S) The "United Way" of Qatar, Qatar Charitable Society is the largest charitable organization in Qatar and conducts the majority of charitable activities and fundraising in the country. QCS took decisive measures in late 2002 to prevent misuse of funds or other resources for illegal purposes (detailed ref D). These steps included a new focus on domestic charitable activities and reorganization of management. The GOQ has tightened every aspect of charitable oversight without USG prodding. Designating QCS at this time would suggest that these efforts were not sufficient or effective. Qatar Charitable Society has kept an office open in the Palestinian territories given the plight of the Palestinian people. This office might have some contacts with Hamas. If Washington agencies have specific information in that regard, we would want to share it with the GOQ for investigations and any appropriate action. ¶3. (S) Additionally, in late 2002 a new QCS Chairman, Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman al Thani, was named. In addition to his position with QCS, Sheikh Abdulaziz also serves as the Chairperson of the Royal Family Council, which has the constitutional mandate of investing the nation's ruler. Designating QCS could be interpreted as a slur against Sheikh Abdulaziz and the ruling al Thani family as a whole. Sheikh Abdulaziz works closely with the Organization of Islamic Conference Fund for Afghanistan, established in Doha in 2001. He is also involved with Microsoft and supported their opening an office in the Qatar Science and Technology Park this spring. QATARI JOINT COMMITTEE FOR RELIEF ¶4. (S) Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman also serves as the Chairperson of this committee. To the best of post's knowledge, this is not an operating charitable organization as much as a relief entity that targets specific needs. Usually the organization is addressed as the Qatari Joint Relief Committee for Afghanistan, Qatari Joint Relief Committee for Iraq, etc. GOQ officials have previously reported that the Joint Committee is a quasi-government entity and donations may be both public and private. ¶5. (S) In the past two years, the Joint Committee has been very active in Afghanistan and has recently focused on Iraq. The Joint Committee for both was announced publicly along with information on how Qatari citizens and others could make donations for the specific needs in these countries. Fundraising telethons are generally used to solicit initial donations. Ref A outlines Sheikh Abdulaziz's recent visit to Afghanistan to discuss application of Qatari Joint Relief Committee for Afghanistan projects, as well as private and GOQ donations, with the Afghan and U.S. officials. SHEIKH EID BIN MOHAMMAD CHARITABLE SOCIETY ¶6. (S) This, the smallest charity in Qatar, is not well known to the Embassy due to its small size. GOQ officials have previously reported that the organization does little international charitable work. Sheikh Eid bin Mohammad al Thani is a royal family member. If Washington agencies have significant concerns about this group, post would like to have the opportunity to engage key GOQ decision-makers on the organization's activities in order to gather more useful details. The organization has at least two offices in Doha. One office is about a half mile from the Embassy and the second is around the corner from the Ambassador's residence. Post has not visited either facility to date. Post might also be able to develop more information by pursuing some contacts with this group. ¶7. (S) COMMENT. Qatar remains a committed and active partner in the international war on terrorism and efforts to combat terrorist financing. As reported previously, the GOQ has repeatedly taken independent steps to control local charitable organizations and strengthen oversight over foreign donations. These steps have shown tangible and immediate results. Post strongly argues against designating these three organizations. They are either doing the right thing or we have not shared information beforehand with the GOQ that allows it to take pre-emptive action. Post believes engaging the GOQ directly and privately regarding our concerns for these three organizations' connections to Hamas is the best way to achieve desired results. QUINN