Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JERUSALEM1904
2006-05-12 09:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:  

HAMAS RESPONSE TO QUARTET MEETING

Tags:  KPAL KWBG PREL IS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHJM #1904 1320952
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 120952Z MAY 06
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2065
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY
UNCLAS JERUSALEM 001904 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAL KWBG PREL IS
SUBJECT: HAMAS RESPONSE TO QUARTET MEETING

REF: FBIS GMP20060510541004

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 001904

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAL KWBG PREL IS
SUBJECT: HAMAS RESPONSE TO QUARTET MEETING

REF: FBIS GMP20060510541004


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The PA government and HAMAS leadership put
out varied responses to the Quartet's decision to establish a
mechanism to deliver aid to Palestinians. Prime Minister
(PM) Isma'il Hanniyah complained that the international
community is still placing conditions on the PA. Foreign
Minister (FM) Mahmud al-Zahar described the decisions as a
sign that the "international siege8 against the PA is
beginning to erode. Official HAMAS spokesmen Ghazi al-Hamad
continued his criticism of the Quartet. END SUMMARY.

--------------
PM Hanniyah Still Skeptical
--------------


2. (SBU) PM Isma'il Hanniyah complained to reporters in a May
10 statement that the Quartet decision to deliver assistance
to Palestinians while circumventing the PA had not yet broken
the "siege" against the Palestinian people saying, "The
Quartet is still making conditions that it presents from time
to time in an attempt to push the government to make more
concessions which affect Palestinian rights and also
legitimize the occupation." Separately, Palestinian media
sources reported that Hanniyah telephoned Syrian President
Bashar al-Asad and Yemeni President Ali Abdallah Salih on May
10 to thank them for their support of the Palestinian people
(ref A).

--------------
FM al-Zahar Looking to
Declare a Victory
--------------


3. (SBU) FM Mahmud al-Zahar was unusually upbeat in a May 10
interview with Palestinian reporters. Al-Zahar described the
Quartet decision as the "first sign of a breakthrough8 for
the &European position8 regarding the HAMAS-led PA over US
and Israeli policy. Al-Zahar predicted that the forthcoming
mechanisms for delivering aid to Palestinians would be
&useful8 in ending the &siege against the PA.8 (COMMENT:
FM al-Zahar has previously indicated to reporters that he is
in touch with unspecified European governments and is likely
eager to claim a diplomatic "success." END COMMENT.) During
an interview with al-Jazeera television, HAMAS spokesman Sami
Abu Zuhri struck a similar tone with reporters describing the
Quartet decision as "a breach of the international siege on
the Palestinian people."

--------------
Official Spokesman
Continues Criticism
--------------


4. (SBU) Government spokesmen Ghazi al-Hamad praised efforts
by "some members of the Quartet" to provide assistance to
Palestinians while criticizing the discrepancy between how
the international community deals with the PA and the GOI.
Al-Hamad told reporters: "We are hoping that the Quartet will
become more positive towards the government as the elected
representative of the Palestinian people." However, al-Hamad
criticized the Quartet as "lacking in seriousness" given the
diplomatic body's refusal to address Israeli abuses and added
that he "regrets" the Quartet continued to insist on PA
acceptance of previously signed agreements.

WALLES