MFA RESPONSE ON URGING PA PRESIDENT ABBAS TO SEIZE

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 007104

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER KPAL IS FR
SUBJECT: MFA RESPONSE ON URGING PA PRESIDENT ABBAS TO SEIZE
OPPORTUNITY OF GAZA DISENGAGEMENT

REF: STATE 189905

Classified By: Deputy Political Counselor Bruce Turner, reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).


1. (C) We discussed reftel points encouraging the GoF to
urge PA President Abbas to seize the opportunity on Gaza
disengagement with Herve Besancenot, MFA DAS-equivalent for
Levant/Israeli-Palestinian issues, and Christophe Guilhou,
Cabinet Advisor to FM Douste-Blazy on Middle East issues, on
October 17. (Note: President Abbas is in Paris October
17-18, and met with President Chirac October 17; an October
18 meeting with FM Douste-Blazy was canceled due to
scheduling problems on the French side. End note.)
Besancenot confirmed that the GoF had and would continue to
urge Abbas to seize the opportunity offered by Gaza
withdrawal and implement key reforms.


2. (C) On the question of the role of armed groups, however,
Besancenot, offered a differing interpretation of the
consensus reached at the September 20 Quartet ministerial.
According to Besancenot, the key word in the SYG Annan's
September 20 statement was "ultimately" -- i.e., the Quartet
had agreed that there was an incompatibility between armed
group/militia activities and democratic institutions, but the
Palestinians were still in a state of political transition
and did not yet have a full democracy. Accordingly, the GoF
position (and that of the EU, he implied) would be to support
Abbas as he sought to politically integrate Hamas, which
could ultimately lead to Hamas' disarmament and renunciation
of violence. In the GoF view, Hamas participation in January
legislative elections would put Abbas in a better position
post-elections to push Hamas toward renunciation of violence
and acceptance of negotiations with Israel -- opposition to
which had been Hamas' earlier basis for boycotting PA
elections. Besancenot added that PM Sharon's public warning
that he would prevent Hamas participation in January PA
elections had been highly counter-productive, a view which he
said was shared by other EU members.


3. (C) In a separate discussion with us, Cabinet Middle East
advisor Guilhou echoed Besancenot's points and described the
French approach on the issue of Hamas participation in
Palestinian elections as similar to the GoF approach on
Hizballah. In other words, the GoF views a gradual political
integration as the key to eventual disarmament of violent
terrorist groups, and wants to keep such groups inside rather
than outside political processes.

Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
STAPLETON