PLO ENVOYS RETURN EMPTY-HANDED FROM DAMASCUS

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 003005

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2016
TAGS: KPAL KWBG PREL ASEC IS
SUBJECT: PLO ENVOYS RETURN EMPTY-HANDED FROM DAMASCUS

Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Two PLO envoys traveled to Damascus on July
9 in order to deal with the crisis that began with the
kidnapping of IDF Corporal Gilad Shalit on June 25. The
envoys met with Syrian Vice President Farouq al-Sharaa',
Syrian Ba'ath officials, the Democratic Front for the
Liberation of Palestine, and the Deputy Hamas Political
Chief, but not with Khaled Mishal. They failed to secure
agreement with HAMAS regarding release of the soldier. END
SUMMARY.

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BACKGROUND
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2. (C) According to PA Presidential Advisor Abu Hisham,
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) sent two
envoys to Damascus July 9 in an effort to mediate with Syrian
officials and the Hamas-based political leadership to win the
release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. The two
envoys were Taysir Khaled, member of the PLO Executive
Committee and most senior Democratic Front for the Liberation
of Palestine (DFLP) representative of the Hawatmeh group in
the West Bank and Gaza, and Abdullah Hourani, a former Ba'ath
party official with close ties to the Syrian regime. During
their visit, the envoys reportedly promoted an Egyptian
proposal calling for the "immediate release" of the captured
Israeli soldier in exchange for a "promise" to release
Palestinians at a later date.

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ENVOYS MEET WITH SYRIAN VICE PRESIDENT,
HAMAS AND OTHER OFFICIALS, BUT NOT MISHAL
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3. (SBU) According to media reports, Deputy HAMAS Political
Bureau Chief Mousa Abu Marzouk met with the two envoys the
evening of July 11. According to the media, he discussed
with them ways to end the crisis in Gaza, but stressed that
HAMAS' position is to release the soldier only in exchange
for Palestinian prisoners. Abu Marzouk told the media the
two envoys did not meet with Khaled Mishal (Note: Mishal
reportedly refused to meet with them. End note).


4. (C) After their meeting with Abu Marzouk, the two envoys
met with Nayef Hawatmeh, leader of the Democratic Front for
the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP),Syrian Ba'ath party
officials and Ahmad Jibril, leader of the Popular Front for
the Liberation of Palestine- General Command (PFLP GC).


5. (C) The envoys met with Syrian Vice President Farouq
al-Sharaa' the evening of July 12. Contacts told ConGen
Political Specialist that the meeting failed to reach an
understanding on ways to end the crisis of the kidnapped
Israeli soldier. Al-Sharaa reportedly told the two envoys
that Syria will not mediate or pressure Hamas on the matter.


6. (C) The envoys departed Damascus the evening of July 14.
On July 16, President Abbas told reporters that the two
envoys failed to reach any agreement with HAMAS leaders on
the issue of the kidnapped Israeli soldiers and ways to
resolve the standoff.

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FATAH OFFICIALS DOWNPLAY EXPECTATIONS
OF DAMASCUS MEETINGS
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7. (C) From the start, Fatah officials downplayed the
chances of success for this mission. PA Presidential Advisor
Ahmad Abdelrahman told ConGen Political Specialist on July 11
that the envoys left for Damascus without a specific
proposal, that the envoys have no influence on Hamas'
leadership, and that their ties to the Syrian regime are not
strong enough to change the Syrian regime's strategic support
for Hamas.


8. (C) Fatah leader Hussein al-Sheikh told ConGen POL FSN
Specialist on July 11 that even PA President Mahmoud Abbas
(Abu Mazen) had very little hope that the envoys would
succeed. According to al-Sheikh, before his July 11
departure to Jordan, Abu Mazen told him he sent the two
envoys in response to pressure from Abdullah Hourani -- one
of the two envoys.

WALLES