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.

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