Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06CAIRO7122
2006-12-12 15:51:00
SECRET
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:
THWARTING HAMAS CASH TRANSFERS THROUGH RAFAH
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHEG #7122 3461551 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 121551Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2900 INFO RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 1317 RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 0690 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0155 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
S E C R E T CAIRO 007122
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2016
TAGS: PREL PTER KPAL EFIN IS EG
SUBJECT: THWARTING HAMAS CASH TRANSFERS THROUGH RAFAH
REF: A. CAIRO 6910
B. CAIRO 6936
C. CAIRO 7012
D. STATE 196700
Classified By: Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone for reasons
1.4(b) and (d).
S E C R E T CAIRO 007122
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2016
TAGS: PREL PTER KPAL EFIN IS EG
SUBJECT: THWARTING HAMAS CASH TRANSFERS THROUGH RAFAH
REF: A. CAIRO 6910
B. CAIRO 6936
C. CAIRO 7012
D. STATE 196700
Classified By: Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone for reasons
1.4(b) and (d).
1. (S) Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit told the Ambassador on
December 12 that Egypt "had taken a decision" and is striving
to find a legal mechanism to stop Hamas officials from taking
cash through Egypt into Gaza. Finance Minister Youssef
Boutros Ghali reportedly has "found one bank" in which the
GOE would oblige Gaza travelers to deposit their money for
later transfer, "which we would obstruct." He said Egypt has
already told Haniyeh's delegation that if they arrive in
Egypt with money, they will be blocked from taking it to
Gaza. Aboul Gheit indicated that the Central Bank and
Egyptian General Intelligence Service are also involved in
the Finance Ministry's effort.
2. (S) So far, Minister of Finance Youssef Boutros Ghali
has been unreachable for confirmation. EGIS Chief Soliman,
however, offered little hope that the GOE would impose the
bank deposit requirement on Haniyeh's imminently expected
transit from Khartoum, probably directly by private aircraft
to Arish. Meeting with the Ambassador later the same day,
Interior Minister Adly spoke vehemently against Hamas, as an
offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, and expressed his
eagerness to relieve them of their money if the GOE could
find a legal means to do so -- while otherwise freely
permitting Arab travelers to bring cash into Egypt for
legitimate investments.
RICCIARDONE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2016
TAGS: PREL PTER KPAL EFIN IS EG
SUBJECT: THWARTING HAMAS CASH TRANSFERS THROUGH RAFAH
REF: A. CAIRO 6910
B. CAIRO 6936
C. CAIRO 7012
D. STATE 196700
Classified By: Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone for reasons
1.4(b) and (d).
1. (S) Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit told the Ambassador on
December 12 that Egypt "had taken a decision" and is striving
to find a legal mechanism to stop Hamas officials from taking
cash through Egypt into Gaza. Finance Minister Youssef
Boutros Ghali reportedly has "found one bank" in which the
GOE would oblige Gaza travelers to deposit their money for
later transfer, "which we would obstruct." He said Egypt has
already told Haniyeh's delegation that if they arrive in
Egypt with money, they will be blocked from taking it to
Gaza. Aboul Gheit indicated that the Central Bank and
Egyptian General Intelligence Service are also involved in
the Finance Ministry's effort.
2. (S) So far, Minister of Finance Youssef Boutros Ghali
has been unreachable for confirmation. EGIS Chief Soliman,
however, offered little hope that the GOE would impose the
bank deposit requirement on Haniyeh's imminently expected
transit from Khartoum, probably directly by private aircraft
to Arish. Meeting with the Ambassador later the same day,
Interior Minister Adly spoke vehemently against Hamas, as an
offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, and expressed his
eagerness to relieve them of their money if the GOE could
find a legal means to do so -- while otherwise freely
permitting Arab travelers to bring cash into Egypt for
legitimate investments.
RICCIARDONE