(C) GOI OFFICIALS ARE TALKING TO HAMAS MAYORS

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 004402


E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2015
TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL ECON IS
SUBJECT: (C) GOI OFFICIALS ARE TALKING TO HAMAS MAYORS

Classified By: Ambassador Daniel C. Kurtzer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Israeli Defense Force officers are
communicating with Hamas mayors in the Palestinian
territories on routine matters, although it is unclear
whether these contacts are direct or through other
Palestinian intermediaries. Post has asked the Ministry of
Justice whether the GOI has any laws or regulations governing
contact with Hamas; MOJ has forwarded that request to MFA.
End Summary.

--------------
Dealing With Realities on the Ground
--------------


2. (C) Amos Gilad (protect),head of the Political-Military
Bureau in the Ministry of Defense, told Econcouns in late
June that field commanders under the Coordinator for
Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) are dealing
with Hamas mayors on a regular basis. He could not provide
details of the mechanism for communication, stating that
regardless of the official policy, "work has to get done and
is getting done."


3. (C) In a more recent meeting MOD advisors, Baruch Spiegel
(protect) and Netzach Mashiach (protect) told Econcouns that
IDF field staff are reporting that many of the
Hamas-affiliated mayors are doing a good job. The officials
commented that Hamas officials are "not coming to work with
guns" and are taking their responsibilities seriously.


4. (C) Lt Col. Daniel Beaudoin of COGAT (protect) told acting
Econcouns July 6 that while COGAT is aware of which mayors
are Hamas or "close to Hamas," COGAT continues to work with
those mayors on routine matters. According to Beaudoin,
COGAT field staff treat all mayors as technocrats and deal
with them on COGAT's issues, regardless of political
affiliation.


5. (C) Yair Hirschfeld of the Economic Cooperation
Foundation, who deals regularly with a range of Palestinians,
told acting Econcouns July 6 that the GOI does not/not have
any specific legal prohibitions on contact between Israeli
citizens and Hamas.


6. (C) In a recent conversation, Major General "Haki" Harel,
IDF Chief of Planning Branch, told DAO that the IDF and COGAT
do not directly interface with Hamas officials, particularly
those recently elected to local city councils in the West
Bank and Gaza. He said when issues require coordination with
local Hamas controlled councils the IDF and the COGAT
indirectly coordinate through other (non-Hamas) Palestinian
contacts. (Note: This appears to be the "official" internal
IDF policy; the other reports above indicate that direct
contact is taking place. End note). Another contact, a
former COGAT advisor on Arab Affairs said that, at times, the
IDF will ask that a Palestinian Authority official be present
to provide "cover" during meetings with Hamas officials.


7. (C) Post has asked the Ministry of Justice whether the GOI
has any laws or regulations prohibiting contact with Hamas.
MOJ has passed the inquiry to the MFA for response.

********************************************* ********************
Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv

You can also access this site through the State Department's
Classified SIPRNET website.
********************************************* ********************


KURTZER