Home
| Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06JERUSALEM723 | 2006-02-17 11:22:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Consulate Jerusalem |
Cable title:
JERUSALEM MEDIA REACTION (2/17): HAMAS IN A NEW
how-toO 171122Z FEB 06 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0446 WHITE HOUSE WASHDC WHITE HOUSE NSC SECDEF WASHDC DIA WASHDC CIA WASHDC DA WASHINGTON DC//DAS-ZD/DACS-ZK// CSAF WASHINGTON DC//POLAD// CMC WASHINGTON DC CNO WASHINGTON DC//POLAD// INFO ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE AMEMBASSY TUNIS AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY PARIS AMEMBASSY NICOSIA AMEMBASSY ROME USMISSION USUN NEW YORK |
UNCLAS JERUSALEM 000723 |
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1. Columnist Samih Shbeib commented in independent Al-Ayyam under the headline, "Following the Formation of the [Palestinian] Legislative [Council]" (2/17): "Israel and the United States do not view Hamas as a political party capable of standing up to recent Middle East developments, and according to the American vision, which is more serious, the threat posed by Hamas's ascendance lies in its ability to form part of an extremely dangerous axis [consisting] of Iran, Iraqi Shi'ites, Syria, Hizbullah in Lebanon, and Hamas in Palestine. This axis in particular, according to Israeli and American views, quickly formed following Hamas's electoral victory. Perhaps the most obvious sign of this recent development, is Moscow's invitation to Hamas, the Iranian position on uranium enrichment, Damascus's invitation to [Shi'ite leader] Imam Sadr, and the unprecedented events in Lebanon, which might all lead to bloody clashes. The U.S.-supported Israeli position toward Hamas...demonstrates Israel's exceptional obstinacy with regard to the Palestinian situation in general." 2. Lawyer Ibrahim Sha'ban opined in independent Al-Quds under the headline, "No Peace Partner on the Israeli Side" (2/17): "Israeli greed has expanded to include even more Palestinian land on the pretense that there is no Palestinian partner. Now, it [Israel] will begin a new phase of coercion, especially since it is not required to do anything, whereas Hamas is. [As a matter of fact,] Israel is obliged to do many things, including the recognition of the Palestinian right to self determination, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and the implementation of the Fourth Geneva Convention." 3. Palestinian writer and researcher Ibrahim Abul Heija wrote in the pro-Hamas weekly Al-Risala under the headline, "Abu Mazen [PA President Abbas] and the Harvest of a One Year Term" (2/16): "To understand the American relationship with Abbas during his term, we recall the warm [American] bond with the honest peace care-taker Abbas following the discharging of the `maneuvering and deceptive Arafat,' as the United States described him. According to Bush, Abbas is the man who owns his people's will and is the source of inspiration for its leaders. From another more formal perspective, we noticed during Abbas's term that financial support was mostly directed to the development of the Palestinian security structure, which pours into Israel's goal to strike the Palestinian resistance, and partly to fix the infrastructure that the Israeli occupation has destroyed. From a political standpoint, however, we sense a contradiction...when the United States adopts the Roadmap and eventually surrenders to the Bush-Sharon deal -- which basically buried the Roadmap, except for some parts whereby Palestinians have to provide protection for Israeli security.... For his part, Bush has obviously disregarded the right of return of Palestinian refugees, supports the wall and the existence of major Israeli settlement blocs, and does not advocate for a return to 1947 borders. In return, Abbas did not get more than a few million dollars from the United States, and his visits to Washington remained formal. Moreover, he was denied verbal or official promises by the U.S. administration as clarification to those given to Sharon." WALLES |