Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TELAVIV840
2006-02-28 07:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

EGYPTIANS TELL GOI TO GIVE HAMAS TIME

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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 000840 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2016
TAGS: PREL PTER ECON KPAL KWBG PINR IS GOI EXTERNAL COUNTERTERRORISM
SUBJECT: EGYPTIANS TELL GOI TO GIVE HAMAS TIME

Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 000840

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2016
TAGS: PREL PTER ECON KPAL KWBG PINR IS GOI EXTERNAL COUNTERTERRORISM
SUBJECT: EGYPTIANS TELL GOI TO GIVE HAMAS TIME

Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Ministry of Defense Political Advisor Amos
Gilad told the Ambassador February 21 that Egyptian officials
encouraged Israel to give the Hamas government time and rely
on Cairo to deal with the terrorist group. He believed that
this "change" in Egypt,s position is motivated by Egyptian
fear that the Hamas victory could influence the domestic
situation in Egypt. Meanwhile, Gilad pointed out, the
Egyptians have pulled most of their experts out of Gaza,
ostensibly for three months, while saying they want to train
PA security forces as well as have a role in nominating their
commanders. Gilad said that the GOI will see what happens
over the next few days before making a decision regarding the
status of the crossings. End summary.


2. (C) Ministry of Defense Political Advisor Amos Gilad on
February 21 shared with the Ambassador and USSC head
Lieutenant General Keith Dayton his impressions from meetings
during a recent trip to Egypt. Gilad said the bottom line of
the Egyptian strategy toward Hamas is that everyone should
give the Hamas government time (a year) and Israel should
rely on Egypt to handle Hamas. Gilad viewed this stance,
which represented the consensus of the Egyptian intelligence
community and political leadership, as a "change" from the
GOE,s previous position. He believed this position is
motivated by Egyptian fear that the Hamas victory could
influence the domestic situation in Egypt and encourage
Islamist groups, such as the Muslim Brotherhood. He said
that the Egyptians were surprised by the Hamas win, and had
expected the party to win only 40 seats. Gilad said that the
Secretary,s visit to Egypt would be very important and would

SIPDIS
have an impact on Egyptian views.



3. (C) Gilad pointed out, however, that while GOE officials
advocate giving Hamas time, Egypt has pulled most of its
experts out of Gaza and is not discussing assistance. In
addition, Gilad said, the Egyptians want PA President Mahmud
Abbas to control the security services, and they want to
train these security personnel, as well as have a role in
nominating commanders. The Egyptians do not want PA national
security forces stationed along their border, he said. Gilad
offered that it would be better if Egypt deployed 5,000 of
its troops along the border.


4. (C) Gilad said that Hamas wants to take over the
important ministries in the PA. He said the new minister of
internal security will surely be a member of Hamas, which
will encourage Rashid Abu Shabak to resign or stay
independent. He believed that Hamas will try to dismantle the
Fatah-dominated PA security services gradually. The
Ambassador concurred that the security forces should be used
to fight against terror. Their being controlled by a
terrorist group would make this impossible.

--------------
Crossings
--------------


5. (C) The Ambassador said the U.S. wants the crossings to
function. He said that as much as possible should be done to
strengthen the current crossings regime and the security
protocol before Hamas forms the government. He noted that
the U.S. is seeking a letter from the PA acknowledging the
security protocol. The Ambassador applauded the ongoing GOI
effort to upgrade security and infrastructure at the
crossings and said the U.S. is moving forward on issues
regarding the scanners for the crossings. He said that
Israel and the U.S. will need to consult closely before the
GOI decides to designate the crossings as international
border crossings, because such a move would have legal and
policy implications. Lieutenant General Dayton said it is
important to have a PA agency in charge of the crossings that
is separate from Hamas.


6. (C) Gilad said that the Israeli Government will see what
happens over the next few days and then make a decision.
Brig. General (res.) Baruch Spiegel, who also attended the
meeting, said that 1,209 cargo loads had crossed at Karni on
February 20, with 800 of those entering Israel. He said
1,070 loads had crossed on February 19. Spiegel noted that
the high volume of traffic had been processed without a
scanner, and acknowledged that an unspecified portion of the
individual loads consisted of empty shipping containers.


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JONES