PRODI AIDE SAYS NEW GOVERNMENT WILL FOLLOW EU

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001207 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2016 TAGS: PREL PINR KPAL PTER PGOV XF IT SUBJECT: PRODI AIDE SAYS NEW GOVERNMENT WILL FOLLOW EU POLICY ON HAMAS REF: STATE 63196 Classified By: Charge Anna M. Borg for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. Acting DCM told a senior Prodi advisor April 21 that the Center Left leader's phone conversation with the PA prime minister two days before had generated surprise and consternation in Washington, in view of US and EU policy against contact with senior Hamas officials. Prodi aide Ricardo Levi responded that it had been a short congratulatory call, and Prodi had used it to press the Hamas leader on the three conditions set by the international community. A/DCM said the message delivered during the conversation was not the problem, the problem was the message Prodi sent to Hamas by accepting the call. Levi emphatically assured us that an incoming center-left government would strictly adhere to EU policy on Hamas. End summary. ¶2. (C) Acting DCM met April 21 with Ricardo Levi, a senior advisor to Center Left coalition leader Romano Prodi. A/DCM noted Italian press had focused that day on Department of State comments about looking forward to working with a future Prodi government. In candor, however, the focus in official Washington the day before had been quite different: on Prodi's call with Hamas leader Haniyah. In light of US and EU policy to refrain from high-level contacts with Hamas, the call had generated not only surprise but consternation. ¶3. (C) Levi responded that it had been an incoming cell phone call. The PM of the Palestinian Authority called to congratulate Prodi. It was a short call. Prodi used it to express the standard EU formula and three conditions for Hamas. Ten minutes later Israeli PM Olmert called to congratulate Prodi, who briefed Olmert on his call from Haniyah. Levi also recalled that the Center Left leader had received Israeli Foreign Miniser Tsipi Livni 15 days before, and discussed with her extensively the conditions for dialogue with Hamas. ¶4. (C) A/DCM said the message delivered during the conversation was not the problem, the problem was the message delivered to Hamas by accepting the call. This had been a gift to Hamas. The Voice of Palestine was trumpeting it. The best way Hamas and Haniyah could protect and advance the interests of the Palestinian people was by accepting the conditions of the international community. We need Europe's help on this. We need Prodi's help on this. Levi said emphatically that a Prodi government would strictly follow the EU line on Hamas. A/DCM said that was good, because the EU position was good. It would be important to stay in touch on it. He noted that his last post had been consul general in Jerusalem and this was an isuue he knew fairly well. What was said and done on it -- as with Iraq and Iran -- could have an important effect on official views in Washington. ¶5. (C) Comment: Levi strove to put the best face possible on the Haniyah call, but was left in no doubt that it had caused a ruckus. Levi himself is probably quite sincere in promising future orthodoxy on dealings with Hamas. But given the views of some far left members of Prodi's Center Left coalition, we will watch this space carefully and reinforce the message in future contacts. End Comment. BORG