NETHERLANDS/PLO: NO CONTACT WITH HAMAS-LED

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