GOK OFFICIALS AND ACADEMICS CONCERNED ABOUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000286 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARPI E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2016 TAGS: PREL KPAL IS KU SUBJECT: GOK OFFICIALS AND ACADEMICS CONCERNED ABOUT REGIONAL IMPACT OF HAMAS ELECTION VICTORY Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) During a January 28 meeting, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Khaled Al-Jarallah told the Ambassador the GOK was "very worried" about the "very critical" regional impact of Hamas' election victory, particularly the possibility that Hamas would deepen RELATIONS with Hezbollah, Iran, and/or "some parties in Iraq." In response to Al-Jarallah's comment that, on the positive side, "at least we won't have to pay them (Hamas) anything," the Ambassador emphasized the importance of not abandoning the Palestinians completely and noted the need to continue supporting NGOs working in the Palestinian territories. The Ambassador noted that, while Hamas' victory had a strong psychological impact and could bolster Islamic opposition parties elsewhere in the region, Hamas might be encouraged to moderate its policies once in office, and would need to make fundamental changes to its policies in order for the U.S. to consider any dealings with it. ¶2. (C) Prominent Kuwaiti academics, business leaders, and political consultants, in a January 28 luncheon with the Ambassador, expressed mixed views on the Hamas victory, highlighting for the most part the unwelcome surprise represented by the size of the Hamas electoral gains. Former GCC SYG Ambassador Abdullah Bishara opined that Hamas would have difficulties when faced with the hard realities of governing given, among other things, the Palestinian Authority's budget problems. Faisal Al-Mutawa, a prominent businessman, countered that Hamas gets most of its funding from private sources in Saudi Arabia so it would not lose all sources of its funding. Moudhi Al-Homoud, Rector of the Arab Open University, posited that Hamas would have to moderate its policies to get international support. Rola Dashti, President of the Kuwait Economic Society, countered Al-Homoud's view, stating that Hamas would lose its support base if it compromised the program that got it to power. She noted that perhaps a third party, composed of moderate Hamas members and reformist Fatah members might emerge in the long run. Bishara lamented that just a week ago he was publicly touting the fact that moderation was gaining momentum versus ideologies, such as Ba'athism and Islamism in the mold of Hamas, which he felt were "on the run." ********************************************* Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website ********************************************* LeBaron