PALESTINIAN ASSISTANCE DEMARCHE REQUEST: USG VIEWS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 002276

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2016
TAGS: KPAL EAID PREL AE
SUBJECT: PALESTINIAN ASSISTANCE DEMARCHE REQUEST: USG VIEWS
FOLLOWING MAY 24 BRUSSELS EXPERTS MEETING

REF: SECSTATE 86455

Classified By: DCM Martin Quinn, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) On June 3 DCM delivered demarche points on Palestinian
Assistance to MFA America Desk Director Ambassador Ali Al
Zarouni and took advantage of the occasion to present the
full scope of U.S. humanitarian aid to the Palestinians
($245M, 57% increase, $10M in emergency medical assistance,
$1.7B since 1993). Al Zarouni indicated that he was glad to
hear this and was especially grateful to receive a copy of
the information in Arabic as published in op-ed format in UAE
semi-official Arabic daily Al Ittihad on May 31.


2. (C) DCM again outlined the three principles of peace
(nonviolence, recognition, acceptance of previous agreements)
that Hamas must accept before foreign assistance would again
be forthcoming. Al Zarouni acknowledged the problem, but
said that all Emiratis are worried about the Palestinians and
are afraid that their continued privation and suffering will
encourage and strengthen extremist groups that are "even
worse than Hamas," mentioning as an example Islamic Jihad.
SISON