HAMAS STAKES OUT TOUGH LINE ON NATIONAL UNITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 003651


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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL KWBG KPAL
SUBJECT: HAMAS STAKES OUT TOUGH LINE ON NATIONAL UNITY
GOVERNMENT

REF: JERUSALEM 03624

Classified By: A/Principal Officer Tom Duffy, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Hamas representatives have staked out a
tough position on the creation of a new national unity
government (NUG) in public statements following the August 16
agreement between PA President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) and
Prime Minister Isma'il Hanniyah to begin negotiations on such
a government. The Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC)
Secretary General insisted that the PLC would not hold a
confidence vote on a new government until arrested Hamas PLC
members and cabinet ministers were released. Other Hamas
sources have placed conditions on the creation of a
government that, if fulfilled, would ensure the new
government failed to meet Quartet requirements. END SUMMARY.

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NO VOTE UNTIL DETAINED OFFICIALS FREED
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2. (C) Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) Secretary
General Mahmoud al-Ramahi publicly clarified Hamas's position
on the creation of a national unity government following
talks between Prime Minister Isma'il Hanniyah and President
Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) on August 16 (reftel). Al-Ramahi
announced that the PLC will not hold a confidence vote for
any new government prior to the release of imprisoned Hamas
ministers and PLC members. Al-Ramahi pointed out that this
PLC position does not contradict Hanniyah and Abu Mazen's
agreement that negotiations on a new NUG would take place
simultaneously with efforts to release the imprisoned Hamas
officials because, in his view, consultations and an actual
change in the current cabinet are two distinct issues.

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CONDITIONS FOR A NEW CABINET
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3. (U) In further clarification of the agreement announced
August 16, Hamas sources have told the media that there are
several conditions for the formation of a NUG. These include
a Hamas official as the head of the cabinet, assigning
portfolios in proportion to PLC seats (where Hamas has a
significant majority),and a political program based upon the
Prisoner's Document.

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COMMENT
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4. (C) The current Hamas position tracks with the initial
offers Hamas made after the January 2006 PLC elections to
create a NUG, and Hamas sources have reportedly expressed the
hope that the creation of a NUG would help lift the
international sanctions currently imposed upon the
Palestinian Authority. The conditions they have insisted
upon for the creation of the government, however, mitigate
against that goal. A national unity government created under
these conditions would fail to meet the Quartet requirements.


DUFFY