U.S. ASSISTANCE; HAMAS MEETINGS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000947

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2016
TAGS: PREL KPAL AE
SUBJECT: U.S. ASSISTANCE; HAMAS MEETINGS

REF: STATE 37552

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


1. (C) On March 11 DCM delivered reftel points on the
review of U.S. assistance and our request that UAE not meet
with Hamas to MFA Asst U/S Tariq Al Haidan who immediately
said that Hamas has not approached the UAE about a visit and
the UAE has not invited Hamas.


2. (C) Al Haidan pointed out that Hamas leader Khalid
Mishal was visiting Riyadh that day and noted in passing that
he had met Mishal during his period as UAE ambassador in
Damascus. Al Haidan stated that the UAE would pressure Hamas
to forswear violence and recognize Israel's right to exist as
well as to honor previous agreements. He argued, however,
for a 6 month to 1 year period of continued international
assistance to the Palestinians so that Hamas could "be given
a chance" to change its ways now that it was in power. He
offered a strategy by which "the UAE and other Arab friends"
would pressure Hamas while the U.S. would urge the Israeli
side not to do anything to provoke matters.


3. (C) DCM noted the USG was completing its review of
humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians in the coming
week and expected that it would include a sizeable package of
humanitarian aid. Al Haidan was pleased to hear this,
invoking the familiar UAE mantra that the Emirates preferred
to "projectize" its aid rather than write a check.


4. (C) Al Haidan theorized that Hamas would, at least for a
time, focus on internal governance issues in the Palestinian
Authority, leaving President Abbas to manage external
political relationships. He said the UAE really wanted to
help Abu Mazen to fortify his position. DCM urged
coordination with the international donor community about
providing assistance.
SISON