MESSAGE TO GULF DONORS ON ASSISTANCE TO THE PA;

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 001610 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2016 TAGS: EAID EFIN KWBG PGOV AE SUBJECT: MESSAGE TO GULF DONORS ON ASSISTANCE TO THE PA; HAMAS COMMENTS ON TEL AVIV SUICIDE ATTACK REF: A. STATE 56299 ¶B. STATE 61640 Classified By: DCM Martin R. Quinn, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On April 19 DCM delivered ref A points on Gulf Donors with information on the new U.S. Palestinian Assistance Package to MFA U/S Abdullah Rashid Al-Noaimi, who was curious to know how our response to Qatar following its recent $50M donation to the PA had gone over. On April 22 DCM delivered same points with demarche on Hamas comments regarding Tel Aviv suicide attack to MFA European, American and Oceanic Affairs Director Ambassador Ali Al Zarouni. DCM focused on U.S. 57% plus up of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people along with the absolute necessity for Hamas to accept the three principles of renouncing violence, recognizing Israel and accepting previous agreements before other funding could be restored. ¶2. (C) Al Zarouni said the UAE deplored the violence of suicide attacks, noting that Hamas had called on President Abbas to apologize for denouncing the attack. However, he observed that Hamas had the organizational discipline and popular support which the previous Palestinian government lacked. These qualities, he opined, may eventually allow Hamas to strike a credible peace deal with the Israelis who likewise had a history of needing tough, hardline leaders like Begin, Rabin and Sharon to make progress toward peace. Al Zarouni lamented that what is missing in so much of the Middle East is "wise leadership." Observing that the majority of Palestinians and Israelis feel threatened but still desire peace, he expressed the hope that the U.S., the Europeans and countries in the region would help both sides and "pressure them" to end the conflict. SISON