ISRAELI DEFMIN VISITS CAIRO: MUBARAK DELIVERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 000968

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAL EG IS MEPN
SUBJECT: ISRAELI DEFMIN VISITS CAIRO: MUBARAK DELIVERS
PUBLIC MESSAGE CALLING FOR PATIENCE ON HAMAS


Classified by DCM Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) According to Egyptian Presidential Advisor Soliman
Awad, the visit to Egypt by Israeli Defense Minister Shaul
Mofaz went extremely well. Awad told the DCM shortly after
the conclusion of the February 14 visit that Mofaz's meeting
with President Mubarak had been "very fruitful." The message
Mubarak delivered to Mofaz, Awad said, was that there was no
reason for "pessimism." Mubarak asserted that Egypt would
continue to support Mahmoud Abbas and would continue to
encourage Hamas toward moderation. Mubarak counseled all to
wait until Hamas forms a cabinet before taking positions, and
suggested there was no reason to rush to move on the Hamas
issue. Awad told the DCM that Mofaz had agreed with Mubarak
behind closed doors, but had delivered a strong GOI attack on
Hamas in press comments after the meeting. Awad shared the
Egyptian understanding that Mofaz had to deliver a hard line
message, given upcoming Israeli elections.


2. (U) Mofaz met with President Mubarak for the third time
in the past year during the brief February 14 visit to Cairo,
and was joined by Egyptian Minister of Defense Field Marshal
Hussein Tantawi, and Israeli Ambassador to Egypt Shalom
Cohen. In public comments after the meeting, Mofaz desribed
the meeting as positive and said he and Mubarak discussed
dealing with Hamas, Iranian and Syrian support to Hizballah,
and combatting international terrorism and al Qaida. Mofaz
said Mubarak had told Hamas to accept Israeli conditions for
future dialogue, stating that Mubarak believed the Islamist
group would eventually agree to such acceptance. On Israeli
conditions for dialogue with Hamas, Mofaz is quoted as saying
that Hamas had to end all terrorist activity, gather its
weapons, recognize Israel, and accept all agreements signed
previously between Israel and the Palestinians.


3. (U) On the margins of the Mofaz visit, President Mubarak
gave an interview to Israeli TV Channel One in which he was
quoted in GOE state media requesting the international
community give Hamas a chance, adding that Israel and Hamas
could reach a common ground on peace in the region. Mubarak
said that he saw flexibility in Hamas' positions and that a
permanent and just peace between Israel and the Palestinians
could still be reached. Mubarak added that Israeli Acting
Prime Minister Olmert also understands developments in the
region and was capable of successfully steering the Middle
East peace process. Israeli media report that Mubarak
asserted Egypt would not tell Hamas to abandon its goal of
destroying Israel - "We're not going to tell them to abandon
anything; they'll refuse." The question needs time and
effort from them and from you (Israel),he asserted.


4. (C) Comment. We do not believe Mubarak's public remarks
on Hamas reflect a change in Egyptian policy. Mubarak's
message to Israeli FM Livni, to Mofaz, and to us via EGIS
Chief Soliman is not to panic and make rash decisions before
the government formation process unfolds. We know Egypt is
as close to Israel as at any time in the past decade, that it
strongly supports Abu Mazen in the Presidency, and does not
want to see a radical Islamic government on its doorstep.
End comment.
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