PLC APPROVES HAMAS-LED CABINET, GOVERNMENT PLATFORM

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001262 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MUSTAFA, ABU DHABI PASS TO A/S WELCH E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV KWBG KPAL KDEM IS SUBJECT: PLC APPROVES HAMAS-LED CABINET, GOVERNMENT PLATFORM REF: A. JERUSALEM 001175 ¶B. FBIS GMP20060327541002 Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary. Following two-days of debate, the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) March 28 approved the Hamas government platform and 24-member Palestinian cabinet. The vote was 71 in favor, 36 against, with two abstentions. Fatah and Third Way PLC members led the opposition to the government platform, charging that the platform was vague and contradicted the terms outlined by Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmud Abbas. The cabinet is expected to be sworn in by President Abbas on March 29. End summary. PLC Approves Cabinet -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The PLC March 28 approved the Hamas-led cabinet and government platform by a vote of 71 in favor, 36 against, and two abstentions. Support for the government platform and cabinet derived from the 66-member Hamas bloc, with support from the four PLC independents, and one PFLP representative. Fatah and Third Way voted against the government platform and cabinet. PLC member Mustafa Barghouthi (Independent Palestine) was one of two abstentions in the PLC vote. ¶3. (SBU) With the PLC's approval of the new government, the following ministers will make up the next PA cabinet. (Note: The list corresponds to those individuals identified in ref A, with the exception of Tourism Minister Joudah Murqos, a Christian who replaced Tannus Abu Eitah after he declined that position following intense pressure from Fatah. End note.): -- Isma'il Haniyyah: Prime Minister and Minister of Youth and Sports -- Naser Eddin al-Sha'er: Deputy PM and Minister of Education and Higher Education -- Omar 'Abd al-Raziq: Minister of Finance -- Mahmud al-Zahar: Minister of Foreign Affairs -- Sa'id Siyam: Minister of Interior and National Security -- Ahmad al-Khalidi: Minister of Justice -- Attallah Abu al-Sabeh: Minister of Culture -- Yusif Rizqah: Minister of Information -- Basem Na'im: Minister of Health -- Samir Abu Eisheh: Minister of Planning -- Issa al-Jabari: Minister of Local Government -- Ala-Eddin al-Araj: Minister of National Economy -- 'Abd al-Rahman Zaydan: Minister of Housing and Public Works -- Ziad Thatha: Minister of Transport -- Jamal al-Khudari: Minister of Telecommunications and Technology -- Nayef Rajub: Minister of Waqf and Religious Affairs -- Muhammad Ramadan al-Agha: Minister of Agriculture -- Joudah Murqos: Minister of Tourism and Antiquities -- Muhammad al-Barghouthi: Minister of Labor -- Fakhri Turkman: Minister of Social Affairs -- Wasfi Qabaha: Minister of Prisoners and Liberated Affairs -- Maryam Saleh: Minister of Women Affairs -- Dr. Atef Odwan: Minister of State responsible for refugee affairs -- Khalid Abu Arafeh: Minister of State responsible for Jerusalem affairs -- Muhammad Awad: Secretary of the Cabinet Fatah Decries Hamas Platform -------------- ¶4. (C) Fatah PLC members charged that the Hamas government platform -- presented to the PLC on March 27 by PM-designate Isma'il Haniyyah -- was deliberately vague and lacked a real vision for Palestinians. Fatah bloc opposition leader Azzam al-Ahmad called on Hamas to act in harmony with PA President Abbas' guidelines. Fatah legislators also criticized the government platform for not recognizing the primacy of the PLO. Fatah PLC member Dr. Bernard Sabella (Jerusalem) told ConGen Poloff March 28 that he voted against the government due to the lack of "open and frank language" in the government platform. Sabella noted that PM-designate Haniyyah had countered that criticism during the PLC session by charging that it should not be Hamas' responsibility to use explicit language in its platform while Israel has not done the same. ¶5. (C) During the debate, PLC member Salam Fayyad (Third Way) criticized the government platform for failing to provide responses to Israel's unilateral approach and for lacking concrete proposals. The PFLP, while supporting the government, indicated that it chose not to participate in the government due to the failure to recognize the PLO. Al-Badil (DFLP, Palestinian People's Party) representatives indicated that they would consider more cooperation with the government if it showed consideration on this point. Sabella: Government Platform Good Start -------------- ¶6. (C) Sabella told ConGen Poloff that, while he voted with his Fatah colleagues against the government platorm, in his view the two-day debate involved frak and open-minded exchanges of ideas. Sabella sid that he thought that the Hamas platform allowe for opportunities to open channels with Israel nd the international community. It was positive that Hamas had left the door open to such discussins and Hamas should be given the opportunity to overn without interference. Sabella expressed cocern that Israel would react negatively to the PLC's approval of the government by mounting a campaign against the Hamas-led cabinet. Haniyyah Outlines Government Platform -------------- ¶7. (SBU) In his March 27 speech before the PLC, Haniyyah identified several challenges facing the next government, namely: occupation; security chaos in Palestinian areas; difficult economic conditions; administrative and financial corruption; and developing relations with regional and international actors. (Note: See March 27 FBIS translation (ref B) of entire speech. End note.) Haniyyah confirmed that the new government would be committed to the following: -- Right of resistance: Reaffirmation of the right of Palestinians to confront Israeli occupation and to struggle for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with full sovereignty in Jerusalem as its capital. He rejected Israel's disengagement plan, which Haniyyah said aimed to transform Palestinian areas into cantons and undermine the creation of a viable Palestinian state. Haniyyah underscored the right of return and compensation for Palestinian refugees. -- PLO agreements: Dealing with the agreements that were signed by the PLO and the PA "with a high degree of responsibility and in a manner that serves the interests and constant rights of our people." -- Internal security: Improving the performance of the security services. -- Reform and government transparency: Administrative and financial reform in conjunction with the PLC passing laws that reinforce reform and fight corruption. Haniyyah gave priority to reforming the PA financial system. -- Transparency in the distribution of funds: Haniyyah indicated that all funds provided to the PA would be directed as allocated and spent only on projects for which they were adopted. Haniyyah said the government would establish mechanisms and provide guarantees to donor countries that will ensure that the money is spent accordingly. -- Seeking strong international relations: While criticizing the USG for threats to halt assistance to Palestinians, Haniyyah said the new government would work on establishing ties with various countries and international organizations. He expressed a desire to establish relations with the European Union, but called on the EU to take an active role in exerting pressure on the GOI to end the occupation. -- Haniyyah called on the Quartet to accept the democratic choice made by the Palestinians and to cease threatening sanctions. He indicated that the government was prepared for dialogue with the Quartet. WALLES