CODEL SPECTER MEETS WITH PALESTINIAN POLITICAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 005064

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR
WILLIAMS/SHAMPAINE/STEINGER; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WATERS;
TREASURY FOR SZUBIN/LOEFFLER/NUGENT/HIRSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/29/2016
TAGS: ECON EFIN PGOV KWBG IS
SUBJECT: CODEL SPECTER MEETS WITH PALESTINIAN POLITICAL
LEADERS

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


1. (C) Summary. During their December 28 meetings with
Senator Specter, PLC members Salam Fayyad, Hanan Ashrawi and
Sa,eb Erekat emphasized (1) the reconstruction of PA
security forces, (2) reform within Fatah, and (3) renewed
efforts in a rapid, viable negotiating process. Erekat
praised PA President Mahmoud Abbas, (Abu Mazen) December 23
meeting with Israeli PM Olmert as testimony to Abu Mazen,s
leadership and vision, describing it as a "giant step" toward
renewed negotiations for a permanent status agreement. End
summary.

Salam Fayyad
--------------


2. (C) PLC member Salam Fayyad emphasized to Senator Specter
the vital need to rebuild PA security forces (PASF). He said
rebuilding the PASF is the key goal now, regardless of
whether Abu Mazen pursues early elections, and said the
current plan will significantly reduce the size of the
security forces, but ensure that they are better trained and
equipped and more professional.


3. (C) Fayyad said the election of Hamas poses an internal,
political problem for the PA, quite apart from the
restrictions the international community has imposed. He
said there is a fundamental contradiction between Hamas,
which rejects previous PLO commitments, and with President
Abbas who is also the head of the PLO. Saying, "we're in a
bind," Fayyad proposed that the way out is a political
program on the basis of the platform on which Abu Mazen was
elected and the foundation on which the PA was established in
1994 (i.e. based on Israeli-Palestinian agreements). On
early elections, Fayyad said Hamas is losing ground. Having
run on a platform of change and reform, Hamas has
disappointed the electorate. However, Fayyad said Fatah is
not gaining the ground lost by Hamas. He said a Fatah loss
in early elections cannot be ruled out.

Hanan Ashrawi
--------------


4. (C) PLC Third Way member Hanan Ashrawi told Senator
Specter that the Israeli government is using Hamas as an
excuse to avoid negotiations toward a permanent status
agreement - "just as they had done with Arafat." She
stressed the current need for a "rapid and viable" political
process with U.S. support.


5. (C) Ashrawi stated that Fatah had not learned from its
mistakes and infighting continues to hamper its ability to
attract voters, saying Fatah is "no longer able to capture
the imagination of the people." She said that Hamas is more
confident than ever of its hold on power and that its members
receive money and support from Iran and some Arab countries.
She opined that the international boycott against the
Hamas-led government has strengthened Hamas, position in
power and led to the collapse of PA institutions.


6. (C) Senator Specter asked Ashrawi about Syria's ability
to contribute to an Israeli-Palestinian permanent status
agreement. She replied by stating that Syria holds the
"Hamas and Hizballah cards," but its real interest is its
control of Lebanon. She said that Iran now "owns the
Palestinian cause," and will use it to expand political
influence and encourage direct engagement with Iran.

Sa,eb Erekat
--------------


7. (C) PLO Chief Negotiator Sa,eb Erekat described the
December 23 Abu Mazen-Israeli PM Olmert meeting as a "giant
step" toward renewing negotiations on a permanent status
agreement. He emphasized the leadership Abu Mazen
demonstrated in meeting with Olmert at a height of
hostilities, saying that for Abu Mazen "to exchange kisses on
the cheek with Olmert during the current mess is true
leadership!" He added that the many "U.S. allies" among Abu
Mazen's advisors had advised against the meeting. He
reiterated the necessity for Fatah to reform itself and
create an alternative to Hamas for the Palestinian public.
He said that the reconstruction of the PA security forces
needs to happen to bring the rule of law to the territories.
Erekat said that Abu Mazen must call early elections,

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regardless of Hamas, objections, in order to end the current
crisis.


8. (C) In response to the Senator's questions about the
state of Syrian and Iranian influence in the territories,
Erekat spoke of the rise of "Persian nationalism" in Iran,
saying that the "Iran-Syria-Hizballah-Hamas relationship" is
causing chaos throughout the region and staining the
reputation of Islam throughout the world.


9. (U) CODEL Specter did not have the opportunity to clear
on this cable.

WALLES