HAMAS GOVERNMENT TALKS ONGOING IN CAIRO

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000561 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MUSTAFA E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV KWBG PBTS IS KPAL KDEM EG SUBJECT: HAMAS GOVERNMENT TALKS ONGOING IN CAIRO Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). This cable was cleared by Embassy Cairo. ¶1. (C) Senior Hamas officials, representing the political leadership in Gaza and Damascus, February 6 commenced talks in Cairo on the formation of the next Palestinian cabinet. The Damascus delegation included Hamas political bureau chief Khaled Mish'al, deputy chief Musa Abu Marzouk, and bureau members Sami Khater, Imad al-Alami, Muhammad Nazzal, Izzat al-Resheq, and Muhammad Nasir. Hamas leaders and PLC-elect members Dr. Mahmud al-Zahar, Isma'il Hanniyah, and Said Siyam led the Gaza delegation. On February 6, the Hamas leadership met with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Soliman and other Egyptian officials. According to ConGen Palestinian contacts following the negotiations from the West Bank, the Hamas delegation may meet with Egyptian President Mubarak if the talks are deemed successful. ¶2. (C) According to same Palestinian contacts, the Hamas delegation agreed that the movement would invite other Palestinian factions, including Fatah and independents to join the future cabinet. They added that the Hamas leadership was amenable to assigning negotiations with Israel to the PLO, as discussed between PA President Abbas and Gaza Hamas leader al-Zahar in Gaza on February 4. Talks between Hamas and Egyptian Government officials are to continue for several days. ¶3. (SBU) Deputy political bureau chief Abu Marzouk was quoted in Palestinian media reports as saying that Hamas would abide by past agreements reached between Palestinian (i.e., the PLO) and Israeli officials, adding that Hamas would accept the creation of a Palestinian state on territory occupied by Israel in 1967. Abu Marzouk did not indicate whether this would entail a formal recognition of Israel. Other unnamed Hamas officials reportedly stated that the movement would seek to establish a "hudna" (temporary truce) with Israel provided that Israel ended military activity, such as targeted killings, and released Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. WALLES