PRC/HAMAS: EMBASSY CAUTIONS PRC ON REPORTS HAMAS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 006347 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2016 TAGS: PREL PTER KPAL IS CH SUBJECT: PRC/HAMAS: EMBASSY CAUTIONS PRC ON REPORTS HAMAS OFFICIAL INVITED TO CHINA REF: OSC GMP20060404541007 Classified By: Political External Unit Chief Edgard Kagan. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (C) The DCM expressed U.S. concern about media reports (reftel) that the PRC invited Palestinian Government Foreign Minister Mahmoud Al-Zahhar to visit China (ref) to MFA Acting Director General for North American Affairs Xie Feng on April ¶5. Noting that such an invitation could call into question PRC commitments on opposing terrorism, the DCM asked for clarification and cautioned against such a visit. Xie said he could not confirm the report. ¶2. (C) Poloff made similar points to MFA North American Department Deputy Director for U.S. Affairs Ren Faqiang later on April 5. Ren also said he could not confirm the reports but stated that the PRC recognized the need to clarify its position and understood the U.S. position. Poloff subsequently spoke with a Mr. Zou from the West Asia and North Africa Department's Israel and Palestine Division, who said that he could not confirm the report. Responding to Poloff's expression of concern by saying that he had seen a report of the DCM's conversation with Xie Feng, Zou (who refused to further identify himself) said that the United States should not place too much credence on a press report because "the media are sometimes wrong." Pushed on the possibility that official news agency Xinhua had also carried the report, Zou repeated the same line and suggested calling back during regular work hours on April 6 for further clarification. ¶3. (C) Israeli Embassy DCM Eyal Propper told Poloff April 5 that the Israeli MFA had called the Israeli Ambassador in Tel Aviv to protest reports that PRC Representative in Ramallah Yang Weiguo had met April 4 with Al-Mazzar and had invited him to visit China in May. Propper said that the PRC Ambassador said that he could not confirm the reports. Israeli Ambassador in Beijing Yehuda Haim was instructed to protest to FM Li, according to Propper, who noted that Li is out of the country and that the Israelis were trying for VFM Lu Guozeng, who supervises Middle East issues. He later told us that the Israelis did not get a meeting on April 5 but that they had heard that the PRC will announce April 6 at the MFA's regular press conference tat Al-Mazzar will ot visit China. Propper nted that even if true, the Israelis will still protest the fact that Yang Weiguo met with Al-Mazzar, as this was the first official meeting between a HAMAS official and a representative from a non-Arab country since HAMAS took office. Stressing that Yang Weiguo carries the rank of Ambassador within the PRC MFA, Propper claimed that press reports (including Xinhua) quoted Al-Mazzar as telling his PRC guests that he hopes to one day see a map of the region that does not include Israel. RANDT