PALESTINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ZAHAR MAKES BRIEF

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 003139

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EFIN MEPN KPAL EG IS
SUBJECT: PALESTINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ZAHAR MAKES BRIEF
STOP IN CAIRO, MEETS ARAB LEAGUE SECRETARY GENERAL


Classified by ECPO Counselor John Desrocher for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).


1. (C) En route to East Asia for another regional
fund-raising tour and participation in an Arab-China
ministerial gathering in Beijing, Palestinian Authority (PA)
Foreign Minister Mahmud al Zahar visited Cairo May 24 where
he met Arab League Secretary General Amre Moussa. MFA
Palestinian Affairs Director Randa Labib confirmed to poloff
May 25 that Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit did
not meet with Zahar during the visit. She was unable to
confirm whether Zahar had any additional meetings in Cairo.
Zahar, she said, was in town to press Moussa for release of
Arab donations to the Palestinians that are being held by the
League, pending discussions over a new international funding
mechanism. (Note: Labib said the League was currently
holding approximately USD 133 million dollars donated
recently by Arab governments to the PA in fulfillment of
earlier commitments. She said that Qatar recently paid into
the Arab League's fund 40 million Euros, Saudi Arabia paid
USD 15 million, Yemen paid USD 1.6 million, Oman paid USD 6.6
million, Algeria paid USD 34 million, and Syria 4.5 million
Euros. End note.)


2. (C) Arab League Spokesman Alaa Rushy told poloff May 25
that the meeting between Zahar and Moussa had been an
opportunity to review the state of play on governance issues
in the occupied territories, progress on a funding mechanism
for providing international aid to the Palestinians, and the
prospects of progress on the peace process with Israel.
Rushdy said the meeting did "not produce anything new" -
Zahar pressed the Arab League to release donated funds to the
PA, while Moussa pressed Zahar to accept the Beirut peace
initiative as a basis for next steps in the peace process.


3. (U) Following their meeting, Moussa and Zahar held a
joint press conference in which Zahar responded to Egyptian
Interior Ministry accusations of the previous day asserting
Palestinian involvement in the recent triple bombing in the
Sinai resort of Dahab. Zahar denied any involvement in the
Dahab bombings by Hamas or the Palestinian Islamic Jihad
(PIJ). According to the Egyptian MOI's statement, several
Egyptians involved in the attacks reportedly met with
extremists in Gaza and received money and explosives training.
RICCIARDONE