PLO NEGOTIATIONS AFFAIRS DIRECTOR ON POLITICAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001717

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/LOGERFO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2016
TAGS: PREL KPAL KWBG
SUBJECT: PLO NEGOTIATIONS AFFAIRS DIRECTOR ON POLITICAL
SITUATION

REF: JERUSALEM 1644

Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d)

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Summary
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1.(C) In an April 27 meeting with Consul General and Pol
Chief, PLO Negotiations Affairs Director Ma'an Erekat
outlined his thinking about Palestinian domestic politics and
the way ahead for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. Erekat
saw splits within Hamas leadership in Gaza, the West Bank,
and abroad, with those living in the West Bank the most
conciliatory. He thought Fatah had yet to reform itself as a
party and was not yet ready to face Hamas in elections.
Erekat outlined his ideas for resumption of negotiations with
the GOI, saying the most he thought possible at this point is
an "initial dialogue," coupled with building consensus on a
way forward among Palestinians, Israelis, others in the
region, and international actors. He previewed an upcoming
Negotiations Support Unit (NSU) trip to Washington in late
May, and asked for assistance in setting up meetings with
appropriate USG officials prior to the planned trip to
Washington by Israeli PM Olmert. Erekat also asked for
greater clarity regarding the position of U.S. dual nationals
who now find themselves working in Hamas ministries.

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Hamas and Fatah
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2. (C) Erekat, who reports to PLO Chief Negotiator Sa'eb
Erekat and oversees the donor-funded NSU, said he was seeing
a significant difference between the messages coming out of
Hamas in Gaza, the West Bank, and outside the country. He
believed that those in the West Bank, such as PLC speaker
Aziz Dweik and Deputy Prime Minister Nasser Shaer were being
more conciliatory towards non-Hamas actors. Erekat said that
Khalid Meshaal's inflammatory speech in Damascus on April 19
(reftel) was partly in reaction to those in Hamas who are
talking of building bridges to other political movements.
Turning to the proposed Palestinian "national dialogue" set
to occur the week of May 1, Erekat thought the idea was worth
considering, but that he had low expectations how the talks
would turn out.


3. (C) Erekat thought that Fatah had yet to engage in serious
reform efforts following its losses in the January
Palestinian Legislative Council elections. He said that
Fatah was still dominated by the same "roosters" as before,
and observed that President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen)'s
closest associations were still with the "Old Guard." Erekat
expressed some exasperation with the slowness with which Abu
Mazen is standing up his office and on the President's
extensive overseas travel schedule.

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Next Steps for Negotiations
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4. (C) Erekat said the NSU is busy planning possible
strategies for moving forward and is concentrating on three
dimensions: Palestinian domestic support, Israel and other
regional players such as Jordan and Egypt, and international
actors. Erekat was cautious, saying that he did not want to
make any precipitate announcements ("like Abu Mazen's in
Norway discussing an international conference") and wanted to
engage in initial dialogue before moving on to any
negotiations. The NSU is now thinking of a strategy wherein
the Palestinians "pre-cook" an approach before moving forward
publicly.


5. (C) While remaining cautious, Erekat thought it was
important to begin contacts with the Israelis as soon as
possible, and he asked for U.S. assistance. He observed that
Hamas is beginning to talk more openly about accepting the
Arab Summit Initiative, and that he did not want to lose
opportunities because of lack of preparation. Erekat said
that NSU members are planning to visit the U.S. and Canada
the week of May 22, and asked for assistance in setting up
"low-key, low-profile" meetings in Washington to explain
Palestinian thinking prior to the visit of Israeli PM Olmert,
which he understood would occur at the end of the month.

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Dual Nationals in Palestinian Ministries
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6. (C) Erekat raised an issue of increasing concern to dual
U.S.-Palestinian nationals who have worked for long periods
of time in PA ministries that are now headed by Hamas
ministers and asked for guidance regarding how such officials
should act in order to stay within U.S. legal requirements.
Consul General explained the U.S. contact policy and stressed
the need for such officials to demonstrably cut their ties to
Hamas if they wanted to interact with U.S. officials. Post
would welcome guidance from Washington on possible USG legal
issues for Palestinian-Americans working in the PA.


WALLES