Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06THEHAGUE701
2006-03-31 15:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:  

NETHERLANDS/PLO: NO CONTACT WITH HAMAS-LED

Tags:  PREL KPAL KWBG GZ IS OPDC NL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8987
OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHTC #0701 0901528
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 311528Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5269
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 2845
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM PRIORITY 0810
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 4090
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 0142
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000701 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2016
TAGS: PREL KPAL KWBG GZ IS OPDC NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/PLO: NO CONTACT WITH HAMAS-LED
GOVERNMENT

Classified By: A/DCM ANDREW SCHOFER FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000701

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2016
TAGS: PREL KPAL KWBG GZ IS OPDC NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/PLO: NO CONTACT WITH HAMAS-LED
GOVERNMENT

Classified By: A/DCM ANDREW SCHOFER FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Dutch Foreign Minister Bot publicly
reiterated on March 30 that the Dutch government will have no
contacts with the Hamas-led Palestinian government until it
recognizes Israel and renounces violence. Bot reportedly
hopes such comments will help push the EU as a whole into
taking a more active public stand along the same lines. END
SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) Speaking to reporters on March 30 during a state
visit to Argentina, Dutch Foreign Minister Bot stated that
the Dutch would have no diplomatic contact with the Hamas-led
Palestinian government until it recognizes Israel, renounces
violence, and agrees to implement previously negotiated
agreements. Bot allowed that contacts with President Abbas
would continue, but stressed there would be no dealings with
the Hamas Prime Minister or other Hamas officials until the
above conditions are met.


3. (C) During a follow-up conversation with POLCOUNS on March
31, Beelaerts van Bloekland, Acting Head of the Dutch MFA's
Department of North African and Middle Eastern Affairs,
stressed that Bot's statement reflected long-standing Dutch
policy against dealing with Hamas. Bot's remarks, however,
made clear that the inauguration of the Hamas cabinet would
not change this policy.


4. (C) In practical terms, van Bloekland said that the GONL
was still considering how to interact with Abbas while
excluding Hamas-led institutions. He said that instructions
had been sent to the Dutch mission in Ramallah to cease
contact with Palestinian authorities until the GONL had
developed clear guidelines. Similarly, van Bloekland said he
was not yet sure how GONL relations with the Palestinian
mission in The Hague would be affected by the inauguration of
the new cabinet. He implied much would depend on determining
whether specific individuals and institutions reported
directly to Abbas or to Hamas.


5. (C) COMMENT: Following the Palestinian elections, Bot was
one of the first EU Foreign Ministers to call clearly for
Hamas to renounce violence and recognize Israel, and to state
that the EU should not deal with a Hamas-led government until
it did so. According to van Bloekland, the Dutch are
frustrated that other EU members have not been as forceful in
pushing this line, and are hoping -- through statements like
Bot's in Argentina -- to push the EU as a whole into taking a
stronger public stand. END COMMENT.
ARNALL