MFA READOUT OF PALESTINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000724 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2016 TAGS: PREL KPAL BA REGION CTR OFFICIALS SUBJECT: MFA READOUT OF PALESTINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER'S APRIL 24 VISIT TO BAHRAIN REF: A. MANAMA 0711 ¶B. MANAMA 0675 Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) In a meeting covering several subjects (septels),the Ambassador April 26 asked MFA Assistant Under Secretary for Coordination and Follow Up Shaikh Abdul Aziz bin Mubarak Al Khalifa for a readout of Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Al Zahar's April 24 visit to Bahrain. Shaikh Abdul Aziz said every aspect of the visit was intentionally low-profile (as reported Ref A). Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa did not greet Al Zahar at the airport, and there was no television coverage. During their meeting Shaikh Khalid made two main points. He urged Al Zahar to support Saudi King Abdullah's peace initiative that was endorsed at the 2002 Arab League Summit in Beirut, and he said Hamas must condemn terrorism and any terrorist acts. Shaikh Khalid said the Palestinians were "missing an opportunity" if they did not take these steps. ¶2. (C) Shaikh Abdul Aziz said that Al Zahar refused to endorse the Arab peace initiative because doing so would imply recognition of Israel, "a rogue state that is an occupier." He also refused to condemn terrorism. Shaikh Khalid told him that Bahrain condemns terror in all forms, whether it is carried out by Israelis or Palestinians, and Hamas should do likewise. Al Zahar said Hamas and Bahrain have a difference of opinion over terrorism. Shaikh Khalid told Al Zahar that he would hear a similar message from the other GCC countries, not just from Bahrain. Shaikh Abdul Aziz noted that UAE Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan had also visited Bahrain April 24, and he and Shaikh Khalid had agreed on this approach to Al Zahar and pledged to deliver a consistent message. MONROE