HAMAS DELEGATION ENDS CAIRO TALKS, CONTINUES

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 000765 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAL PTER EG IS MEPN SUBJECT: HAMAS DELEGATION ENDS CAIRO TALKS, CONTINUES REGIONAL TOUR Classified by ECPO Counselor John Desrocher for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) A delegation of senior Hamas political figures wrapped up several days of talks in Cairo February 8, including a full day of internal deliberations February 6 among internal and external leaders of the Islamic organization. Press reports assert that part of the team departed for Gaza while others are to visit Qatar, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, and other countries in the region to press for financial and political support. While in Cairo, the group was hosted by Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Soliman. They also met separately with Egyptian Presidential Advisor Dr. Osama al-Baz and Arab League Secretary General Amre Moussa. There are reports that President Mubarak was to meet the group, although we are still awaiting confirmation that the meeting occurred. ¶2. (SBU) Hamas Political Bureau head Khaled Misha'al made several harsh public statements during this visit, including that Hamas would not be "squeezed into a corner" over its non-recognition of Israel, and that Hamas "had not abandoned resistance." Misha'al denied that Egyptian officials or Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had set conditions for Hamas before it formed a Palestinian Government. Nor did Egyptian officials raise the subject of a long-term truce (or, "hudna"),he said, adding that Hamas will combine "resistance" with politics. Another senior Hamas Political Bureau member, Mohamed Nazzal, told Egyptian state paper "Al Gumhuriya" that Hamas leaders had agreed in Cairo to form a coalition government to include "all Palestinian factions and key figures." Participation in a unity government, Khaled Misha'al said, had not been formally rejected by Fatah. On structuring a government of national unity, Hamas figure Moussa Abu Marzouq stated that GOE officials had promised to focus on implementation of the March, 2005 "Cairo Understandings." Most important of these understandings, he said, was the effort to restructure the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) in order to include Hamas. The PLO, including Hamas, would manage any future negotiations with Israel, as was done by ARAFAT with the Oslo Accords. ¶3. (SBU) The Hamas group also met February 7 with Arab League Secretary General Amre Moussa and Egyptian Presidential Advisor Dr. Osama al Baz. In press availabilities following those meetings, Khaled Misha'al noted that the Hamas group had sought increased Arab League financial support to the Palestinian people, along with continued support of the Palestinian political process. Moussa, for his part, committed to assisting the Palestinians and called for Hamas to adopt the Arab Peace Initiative, launched during the Arab League Summit in Beirut in 2002. Al Baz told the press that Egypt was exerting its utmost to help the Palestinians "restore their legitimate rights," and cautioned the international community not to put conditions on Hamas. On the contrary, he stated, "the international community should pressure Israel to recognize the Palestinians' rights." ¶4. (C) Comment. The harsh public rhetoric of Misha'al stands in sharp contrast to what we expect were complex and nuanced talks with the GOE on next steps forward regarding government formation and a hudna with Israel, among other things. We will seek to learn details of the discussions from GOE and Arab League contacts in the days ahead. End comment. RICCIARDONE