MFA UNDERSECRETARY DESCRIBES VISIT OF HAMAS LEADER

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001057

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2016
TAGS: PREL PTER IS KU
SUBJECT: MFA UNDERSECRETARY DESCRIBES VISIT OF HAMAS LEADER


Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (C) Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Khaled
Al-Jarallah provided the Ambassador with a brief read-out of
the March 24-26 visit to Kuwait of the Hamas delegation led
by Khalid Mishaal. Al-Jarallah reported that nothing really
important came out of the meetings with the Amir, Prime
Minister Shaykh Nasser Mohammed Al-Sabah, and Speaker of the
Parliament Jassem Al-Khorafi. The GOK emphasized that Hamas
needs to "deal with the needs of the international
community," and respect UN resolutions and Arab initiatives
(read: the CP Aballah proposal at the Beirut Summit)
regarding the peace process. Jarallah claimed the GOK
leaders were very clear in telling Mishaal that for the sake
of the Palestinian people, Hamas needed to be realistic,
otherwise Hamas would be isolated.


2. (C) Jarallah said the GOK did not commit to any new
financial support at this time, deferring to decisions to be
taken at the Arab League (AL) summit in Khartoum, but also
telling Hamas that Kuwait would wait and watch what they were
going to do.


3. (C) According to Jarallah, Hamas had asked for the
meetings four weeks ago, but the GOK delayed the visit until
after the formation of the new PA Government. The GOK asked
Mishaal to limit his activities and not to visit any
diwaniyas. His activities were limited to a few official
meetings, a media event at the airport, and a dinner hosted
by Abdullah Ali Al-Mutawa. The GOK did not give approval for
an event that was to have been hosted by Mubarak Al-Duweileh,
an Islamist former member of Parliament.


4. (C) Al-Jarallah reported that Mishaal was not as
categorical about familiar Hamas positions in his private
meetings as he was in his public comments to the press at the
airport. The GOK detected some flexibility (NFI).
Commenting on possible outcomes of the Khartoum summit,
Al-Jarallah said it was not sure whether there would be new
commitments.


5. (U) During an airport press conference prior to his
departure, Mishaal asked Arab countries to provide $170
million per month to the PA for salaries and other expenses,
almost three times what the AL pledged in 2005 at the Algeria
summit and complained that Hamas was being excluded from the
Khartoum summit. He said Hamas would "take into
consideration" comments by the Amir on the need for
Palestinian unity and to "deal realistically" with the
challenges before it, but restated demands for Israeli
recognition of "Palestinian rights."

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For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s

Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
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LEBARON