PALESTINIAN ELECTIONS: FORMAL EGYPTIAN REACTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 000441 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER KPAL EG IS SUBJECT: PALESTINIAN ELECTIONS: FORMAL EGYPTIAN REACTION DELAYED UNTIL MORE CONCLUSIVE RESULTS RELEASED Classified by ECPO Minister Counselor Michael Corbin for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) The Egyptian Government is watching with intense concern as initial reports indicate a Parliamentary majority for the Palestinian Islamic group Hamas along with the possibility that the Islamic militant group could form the next Palestinian government. Embassy sources among Egyptian Government ministries indicate that the GOE will await a more formal pronouncement from the Palestinian Election Commission (PEC) as well as their private discussions with its diplomats in Ramallah before making any formal public statement on the election. Ezzedine Shoukry-Fisher, peace process advisor on the Foreign Minister's staff told us that the Minister would likely make a statement or answer media questions about the elections by the end of the day January 26. Shoukry-Fisher speculated that the Egyptian Presidency would also comment publicly on the election after "some indication from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas" or via Egyptian diplomats in Ramallah on the composition of a new government, once final election results are known. In the interim, the GOE will remain silent, he said. ¶2. (SBU) Egyptian media are reporting factually on voter turnout, limited violence during the elections, and interim polling results based largely upon Bir Zeit University's initial exit-poll findings. At the time of this drafting, media reports have begun to report the intended resignation of the Palestinian Cabinet, and the possibility that Hamas may form the next Palestinian government. Up to now, Egyptian media sources have reported Fatah as the preliminary victor in the Parliamentary elections, with Hamas a close second. RICCIARDONE