BAHRAIN: REACTION TO HAMAS VICTORY

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000137

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2016
TAGS: PREL KPAL KDEM BA OFFICIALS REGION
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: REACTION TO HAMAS VICTORY

Classified by DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) The press reported January 29 that King Hamad, Prime
Minister Shaikh Khalifa, and Crown Prince Shaikh Salman each
sent telegrams to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and
Hamas Political Bureau Chief Khalid Mashaal praising them on
the success of the parliamentary elections. They also
congratulated Mashaal on Hamas's victory.


2. (C) MFA Assistant Under Secretary for Coordination and
Follow Up Shaikh Abdul Aziz bin Mubarak Al Khalifa told DCM
January 28 that while he could not relate an official GOB
position, he commented personally that it was positive that
the elections took place in a free and fair manner, even if
the results "were not the ones we had hoped for." He
continued, however, that Hamas was already using slightly
different language than before so "we shouldn't judge a book
by its cover." Bahrain continues to promote its themes of a
two-state solution, adhering to the roadmap, renouncing
terrorism, and achieving a just peace for Palestine.


3. (C) Second Deputy Chair of the (elected lower house)
Council of Representatives Shaikh Adel Al Moawada, a leader
of the Salafi Al Asala parliamentary bloc, told Pol/Econ
Chief January 29 that the Palestinian people "chose Islam" in
the elections rather than Hamas as an organization or for its
political platform. This represents a trend in the region:
when people are given a choice between Islam and other
options, they "cannot ignore" the Islamic alternative. Hamas
was likely surprised to be in the position of leading a
government. It would have preferred to be a junior partner
in a coalition government or in the opposition, which would
have been an easier position. He said Hamas would now have
to present a governing program rather than criticize and
oppose.


4. (U) All of the press commentary in local papers thus far
about the elections has come from columnists with
pan-Arabist, even Baathist, sympathies. These writers have
emphasized the surprise nature of Hamas' victory and the
dilemma posed by a Hamas-led government for Israel and the
United States. Sayed Zahra of pro-government daily Akhbar Al
Khaleej writes that Hamas's victory "revealed to the whole
world the falseness and contempt of America" for the will of
the Palestinian people. The Arab nation owes the
Palestinians for the message they sent out: "glory comes
from persistence, resistance, and endurance, no matter how
harsh the colonial attack on us."


5. (U) Hafez Al Shaikh, from the same paper, says that Hamas
will have to "confront the corruption" of America and Israel,
saying both are very hostile to Hamas and Islam. Hamas will
also have to face and clean up corruption that accumulated
over the years, and the gangsters who are ready to ignite a
civil war, both references to Fatah. He concludes that
Hamas's victory presents a "harsh, historic test" for the
group. Abdulla Al Ayoobi, also from Akhbar Al Khaleej,
writes that Hamas will face international pressure to change
its position on its "struggle" and peace initiatives. The
organization will have to transform its perspective from one
of opposition to that of political leadership.

MONROE