SWEDEN ON RELATIONS WITH HAMAS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STOCKHOLM 000234

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER SW IS
SUBJECT: SWEDEN ON RELATIONS WITH HAMAS

REF: STATE 27174

Classified By: Polcouns Casey Christensen, reason 1.4 (b) and (d).

Summary
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1. (c) MFA Director for the Near East and North Africa Peter
Tejler told us 2/22 that while Sweden hewed to the common
line of the Quartet and the EU on the message to and contacts
with Hamas, there was need for a strategy that went beyond
"high-pitched" public diplomacy. Sweden's Palestinian
assistance is channeled through the PLO, not the PA, thereby
avoiding the issue of future Hamas dominance of the PA.
Tejler said the GoS is concerned about funding for the
Palestinians and would like to know U.S. views on Israel's
withholding of tax payment transfers. End Summary.

Holding the Line on Contacts with Hamas
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2. (c) Polcouns made 2/22 reftel demarche on meeting with
Hamas to MFA Director for the Near East and North Africa
Peter Tejler. Tejler said that Sweden, the EU, and the
Quartet were all laying down the same conditions. Tejler
said Sweden's policy was to have no official contacts with
Hamas. No political-level meetings were foreseen, nor, he
added, would there be meetings with Hamas at his level. The
GoS had no plans for official visits to Israel and the
Palestinian areas until after the Israeli elections.


3. (c) The GoS did not speak directly with Hamas. While
this policy was not under review, it was clear, Tejler said,
that we need to understand better the factions in Hamas.
Hamas was both a terrorist organization and a political
party. He added that as it assumes power, we will need to
assess how it is developing, and the positions it takes.
Tejler said that when he was in Israel in December 2005, he
had spoken with Israeli analysts who had recognized there
were a number of strains within Hamas, and it was not yet
clear how they would sort out as it assumed power. Tejler
said the Israelis themselves had contacts with Hamas.

Getting the Message Across
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4. (c) Tejler said that in the context of the official and
high-pitched rhetoric that is currently being used on all
sides, Hamas would not be able change what it is saying. He
did not foresee a repeal of the 1988 Hamas platform. At the
same time, he said, we should keep in mind other instances of
transitions from terrorist to political organizations,
including the beginnings of the PLO and groups involved in
the founding of Israel. In order to provide opportunities
for that kind of transition, Tejler said there needed to be
more than just public diplomacy. Interlocutors to whom more
could be communicated than a few bullet points would be
needed. Tejler said there was a discussion within the EU on
the conditions for dealing with Hamas and how to go about
getting an answer from them. It should not be expected,
Tejler said, that the answer would be a public one.


5. (c) One of the factors to be taken into account in
connection with a Hamas-led government, Tejler said, is what
kind of mandate Hamas received in the election. It did not
receive a mandate to "throw Israel into the sea."


6. (c) Tejler said Sweden had seen no evidence of terrorist
incidents sponsored by Hamas since the Palestinian elections,
and little during the autumn period running up to the
elections. In terms of terrorist violence, the current
problem might be, he added, more with the al-Aqsa Brigade and
Islamic Jihad. These other sources of violence could, in
turn, present a problem for Hamas in its governmental role.

Sweden's Assistance Channeled Through the PLO
--------------

7. (c) Tejler confirmed press reports that Sweden was
increasing Palestinian assistance. The five-million Euros of
Palestinian assistance recently reported was a "technical
roll-over" of an existing program. Tejler underscored that
Sweden provides no assistance to the Palestinian Authority.
All of Sweden's assistance goes to the PLO; even its
assistance to civil society is provided within this
framework. Tejler said President Abbas had recently stressed
his role as head of the PLO. For its part, Hamas is on the
Terrorist list, its assets are frozen, and Sweden makes no
contributions to it. At the same time, Tejler noted that
Sweden had been providing, even before the recent elections,
assistance to two communities that have Hamas-led
governments.

A Message to Israel
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8. (c) Sweden also believed that the international
community's requirements of the Israeli government should be
made very clear. As an occupying power, Israel had a
responsibility to provide support to the Palestinians.
Israel's failure to make tax transfer payments to the
Palestinians went against the terms of the Oslo Agreement.
Tejler said Sweden would like to know the U.S. views on
Israel's withholding of the tax payment transfers. Sweden
was concerned that it "would need to cough up more funds for
the Palestinians if the Israelis do not." In addition,
Sweden was concerned that Israel could also not allow
transfer of equipment by third parties, including equipment
destined for the EU police-training program for the
Palestinians.

Comment -- and Action Request
--------------

9. (c) Tejler was keen to note that we are on the same sheet
of music. At the same time, Sweden has a major commitment to
the Palestinians, and tends to take a hard line with Israel.
In the past, Foreign Minister Freivalds has frequently chided
Israel publicly, including over the issue of withholding
transfers of funds to the Palestinians. Tejler has noted
that she has so far refrained from doing this again -- but
Sweden is concerned about how the Palestinians will be
funded, and are keen to have our views on the withholding of
tax transfer payments.

Drafted by POL:CChristensen
NOBLE