Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05JERUSALEM5669
2005-12-20 17:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
HAMAS AND FATAH OFFICIALS REJECT HOUSE RESOLUTION
how-toO 201728Z DEC 05 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9226 INFO AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY
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).
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
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