Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JERUSALEM2274
2006-06-06 16:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
ABBAS DELAYS ISSUANCE OF REFERENDUM DECREE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0028 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHJM #2274 1571619 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 061619Z JUN 06 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2570 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002274
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KWBG KPAL KDEM IS
SUBJECT: ABBAS DELAYS ISSUANCE OF REFERENDUM DECREE
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002274
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KWBG KPAL KDEM IS
SUBJECT: ABBAS DELAYS ISSUANCE OF REFERENDUM DECREE
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary. Following June 6 consultations between
President Abbas (Abu Mazen) and the PLO Executive Committee
(PLO-EC) in Ramallah, spokesmen for the president announced
that he intends to delay for several days issuing a decree on
holding a national referendum. The delay reportedly stems
from regional Arab pressure to allow for additional time to
reach consensus with Hamas on the prisoners' initiative. The
PLO-EC supported Abu Mazen's decision and entrusted him with
determining the legal and technical aspects of the
referendum. PLO-EC contacts expressed little confidence that
Hamas and Abu Mazen will bridge their differences in the
coming days. End summary.
Abu Mazen Delays Presidential
Decree for Several Days
--------------
2. (C) After a June 6 meeting with members of the PLO-EC,
Abu Mazen decided to delay issuing a decree to hold a
national referendum for several days. PLO-EC member Yasser
Abed Rabbo told the press that the extension is intended to
give Hamas more time to re-consider its position and that Abu
Mazen will use the time to prepare the legal and technical
framework for holding a referendum. (Note: PLC member Salam
Fayyad, who attended the June 6 meeting, told the Consul
General that Abu Mazen intends to use the time to make
arrangements for holding the referendum and not for
additional talks with Hamas. Fayyad thought that Abed
Rabbo's statements to the press were intended to show that
Abu Mazen had not closed the door for Hamas to accept the
prisoners' document. End note.)
Abu Mazen Cites Regional
Arab Pressure for Delay
--------------
3. (C) Abu Mazen adviser Ahmad 'Abd al-Rahman told ConGen
POL FSN Specialist that Abu Mazen informed the PLO-EC in a
meeting June 6 that several Arab regional leaders had pressed
him to allow for more time for discussions with Hamas. Abu
Mazen, he said, told the PLO-EC that he does not intend to
negotiate with Hamas, but only to give the movement one last
chance to re-consider its position. 'Abd al-Rahman expressed
pessimism that an agreement can be reached with Hamas.
Hamas Unlikely to Bend
--------------
4. (C) PLO-EC member and FIDA secretary general Saleh
Ra'fat told ConGen POL FSN that he doubts Hamas will
compromise its position on recognition of Israel and that the
coming days will pass without an agreement. Such an outcome
will also put Hamas in a difficult position because it will
face a referendum, he commented. PLO-EC member Emile
Jarjou'i told ConGen Poloff that while the PLO-EC accepts the
principle of holding a referendum, it would leave the timing
to Abu Mazen.
WALLES
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KWBG KPAL KDEM IS
SUBJECT: ABBAS DELAYS ISSUANCE OF REFERENDUM DECREE
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary. Following June 6 consultations between
President Abbas (Abu Mazen) and the PLO Executive Committee
(PLO-EC) in Ramallah, spokesmen for the president announced
that he intends to delay for several days issuing a decree on
holding a national referendum. The delay reportedly stems
from regional Arab pressure to allow for additional time to
reach consensus with Hamas on the prisoners' initiative. The
PLO-EC supported Abu Mazen's decision and entrusted him with
determining the legal and technical aspects of the
referendum. PLO-EC contacts expressed little confidence that
Hamas and Abu Mazen will bridge their differences in the
coming days. End summary.
Abu Mazen Delays Presidential
Decree for Several Days
--------------
2. (C) After a June 6 meeting with members of the PLO-EC,
Abu Mazen decided to delay issuing a decree to hold a
national referendum for several days. PLO-EC member Yasser
Abed Rabbo told the press that the extension is intended to
give Hamas more time to re-consider its position and that Abu
Mazen will use the time to prepare the legal and technical
framework for holding a referendum. (Note: PLC member Salam
Fayyad, who attended the June 6 meeting, told the Consul
General that Abu Mazen intends to use the time to make
arrangements for holding the referendum and not for
additional talks with Hamas. Fayyad thought that Abed
Rabbo's statements to the press were intended to show that
Abu Mazen had not closed the door for Hamas to accept the
prisoners' document. End note.)
Abu Mazen Cites Regional
Arab Pressure for Delay
--------------
3. (C) Abu Mazen adviser Ahmad 'Abd al-Rahman told ConGen
POL FSN Specialist that Abu Mazen informed the PLO-EC in a
meeting June 6 that several Arab regional leaders had pressed
him to allow for more time for discussions with Hamas. Abu
Mazen, he said, told the PLO-EC that he does not intend to
negotiate with Hamas, but only to give the movement one last
chance to re-consider its position. 'Abd al-Rahman expressed
pessimism that an agreement can be reached with Hamas.
Hamas Unlikely to Bend
--------------
4. (C) PLO-EC member and FIDA secretary general Saleh
Ra'fat told ConGen POL FSN that he doubts Hamas will
compromise its position on recognition of Israel and that the
coming days will pass without an agreement. Such an outcome
will also put Hamas in a difficult position because it will
face a referendum, he commented. PLO-EC member Emile
Jarjou'i told ConGen Poloff that while the PLO-EC accepts the
principle of holding a referendum, it would leave the timing
to Abu Mazen.
WALLES