MESSAGE ON HOST COUNTRY MEETINGS WITH HAMAS

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 027174 E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2016 TAGS: PREL SUBJECT: MESSAGE ON HOST COUNTRY MEETINGS WITH HAMAS Classified By: A/S WELCH FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) Department requests that all embassies deliver the following message at the highest appropriate levels. Since its victory in January's Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) elections, Hamas has been reaching out to the Arab world and beyond in an attempt to gain legitimacy and support. In light of Hamas' February 15 meetings in Turkey and anticipated meetings in Indonesia and possibly elsewhere, Department provides the following guidance for Posts whose host country appears intent on meeting with Hamas representatives. Please report substantive responses to the Department and slug for NEA/IPA. ¶2. (U) Begin points for all Posts: -- It is important for the international community to send a unified message regarding our expectations of a new Palestinian government. -- As noted by the Quartet (Russia, EU, US and UN) in its January 30 statement, it is incumbent upon Hamas to renounce violence, recognize the right of Israel to exist, and abide by the Palestinian Authority's (PA) previous agreements and obligations, including the Roadmap. Future assistance to a new PA government will be reviewed against its acceptance of these principles. -- The U.S. and the EU have both designated Hamas as a terrorist organization, and on that basis we would prefer that governments not receive delegations from Hamas. The United States will have no contact with Hamas whatsoever. -- If you decide that you must receive a Hamas delegation, we would strongly request that you use the occasion of such a meeting only to reinforce the conditions laid out in the Quartet statement for acceptance of a Hamas-led Palestinian Authority and that you avoid allowing this contact to evolve into a continuing dialogue. -- We would also urge you not to meet with Hamas at the political level of your government. Hamas should not be given an opportunity to claim legitimacy by virtue of attaining high-level meetings with your officials. -- We expect Hamas to say it cannot meet the Quartet principles. In response, we request that you clearly state the consequences of this approach, including isolation and withdrawal of donor support; denial to Hamas of future meetings with your government; and immediate and public announcement that Hamas refused to accept the Quartet's conditions. -- Having been elected, Hamas now has an obligation to the Palestinian people to fulfill their desire for a peaceful life--a desire that can only be realized in the context of a negotiated two-state solution. Hamas must choose whether it will abandon terrorism and abide by the requirements of the international community in order to better fulfill that obligation, and accept the consequences of its decision. Only if we are united in demanding that it do so can we maximize the chances for peace. ¶3. (U) Minimize considered. RICE