ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT DEMARCHE: PALESTINIAN RESPONSE

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001180 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2016 TAGS: PREL KPAL KWBG SU IZ SUBJECT: ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT DEMARCHE: PALESTINIAN RESPONSE REF: STATE 45370 Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) In accordance with reftel, Polchief spoke on March 22 with Assistant Foreign Minister for International Organizational Affairs Marwan al-Jilani about the upcoming Arab Summit. Jilani said that while President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) will be attending, it was still unclear whether Jilani or Foreign Minister Nasser al-Kidwa would be in attendance, given the upcoming change of government. Jilani said he and the Minister were scheduled to meet with Abu Mazen later in the evening on March 22 to discuss the Summit and that he expected a decision on attendance at that time. ¶2. (C) Polchief reviewed the issues in reftel, explaining U.S. positions, stressing the opportunity for the Arab League to make positive contributions, and asking for Palestinian support. Jilani had no substantive response - other than appreciation for the points regarding Hamas and the need to abide by international obligations - and promised to brief the Minister and the President on U.S. positions. ¶3. (C) Jilani underscored the necessity of Hamas observing prior agreements, and said he was preparing transition documents for the rumored incoming Hamas Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar about the advantages to Palestinians from strict adherence to international agreements and multilateral resolutions, to include not just the Roadmap and the Arab League but also those of the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Organization of the Islamic Conference. Jilani, as yet, had no feel for Zahar's intentions regarding these agreements, but confirmed other reports that Zahar and Hamas are pushing to attend the Khartoum Summit, perhaps even before a new PA cabinet is sworn in. WALLES