HAMAS AND FATAH OFFICIALS REJECT HOUSE RESOLUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 005669 NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MUSTAFA E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2015 TAGS: PREL KWBG PGOV PINS PTER KPAL IS SUBJECT: HAMAS AND FATAH OFFICIALS REJECT HOUSE RESOLUTION REF: A. JERUSALEM 05650 ¶B. JERUSALEM 5620 Classified By: Acting Principal Officer Chris Stevens, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Fatah and Hamas spokesmen reacted strongly to the U.S. House of Representatives resolution against Hamas participation in the January 25 Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) elections. While most of the official Hamas statements focused on U.S. "interference" and "hypocrisy," Gaza Hamas spokesman Siad Siyam suggested the House resolution showed that Hamas is gaining strength and the USG would eventually choose to engage with the movement. PA officials and Fatah PLC candidates also criticized the resolution, privately telling ConGen officers that such measures could actually backfire and boost the Islamist movement's electoral prospects. END SUMMARY. -------------- Hamas Leaders Critical and Perhaps Thankful for U.S. "Interference" -------------- ¶2. (U) Hamas leaders took to the airwaves on December 17 and 18 to decry a U.S. House of Representatives resolution against Hamas participation in the January 25 PLC elections (ref A). The Hamas-affiliated Palestinian Information Center put out a sharply worded statement on December 17 denouncing the House resolution as "blatant interference" in Palestinian democratic processes, demanding an official PA response, and suggesting the resolution was linked to Hamas's strong showing in the December 15 municipal elections (ref B). ¶3. (U) Hamas leaders pointed to the House resolution as an example of U.S. disingenuousness in promoting democracy in the West Bank and Gaza. Gaza Hamas leader and head of the Hamas candidate national list Isma'il Hanniyah's statement typified the movement's message: "They (the U.S.) want democracy in one place but not in another; or they want democracy but do not want to respect its outcome. This is the double standard characterizing the U.S. Administration's policy toward Arab and Islamic causes." ¶4. (U) While the Hamas leadership publicly criticized the House resolution, there was a strong undertone of recognition that such a highly publicized U.S. rejection of Hamas could boost the movement's performance in the PLC elections. Hanniyah told al-Jazeera television that the House resolution confirmed that Hamas had made the right decision to participate in the PLC elections and the move would only "bolster national unity" and "protect the resistance." -------------- Fatah Leaders Echo Criticism -------------- ¶5. (C) PA and Fatah officials also publicly criticized the House resolution. Presidential Advisor Nabil Abu Rudaynah, speaking to Voice of Palestine Radio, said the resolution "places obstacles in the way of the peace process and its progress." PLO Chief Negotiator and PLC candidate Erekat was quoted by Ma'an New Agency saying the "American or the Israeli position concerning this issue is rejected completely." For his part, PLC Speaker and Fatah national list candidate Rawhi Fattuh put out a press statement saying the House measure would only hurt the Palestinian democratic process and destabilize the security situation. Erekat and other Fatah officials have told ConGen officers that the House resolution could actually backfire, bolstering Hamas's position in the run-up to elections. They emphasized that President Abbas has opened the elections to all political factions and will not exclude Hamas. -------------- Hamas Confident Engagement with U.S. Inevitable -------------- ¶6. (C) Gaza Hamas spokesman and PLC candidate Siad Siyam opined to al-Jazeera in a December 18 interview that the U.S. would initiate talks with Hamas sooner or later, pointing to the U.S. decision to engage with the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and informal meetings that he said have taken place between Hamas officials and former U.S. and EU officials. Siyam said Hamas would be "more open to the outside world" once it becomes part of the Palestinian political system. Stevens