CODEL LEAHY MEETS WITH EREKAT AND TRAVELS TO ABUD

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 001090 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/WATERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2017 TAGS: PREL KWBG IS PGOV PHUM SUBJECT: CODEL LEAHY MEETS WITH EREKAT AND TRAVELS TO ABUD VILLAGE Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) PLO Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat told CODEL Leahy May 30 that there is no hope for the moderate Palestinian leadership unless the GOI agrees to negotiate permanent status issues with PA President Abbas. Erekat called on the USG to encourage the GOI to move towards a permanent status agreement and said 70 percent of the Palestinian and Israeli public support a two state solution. Erekat praised USG support for security reform, and called for expanded USAID assistance. He argued that stability can only be achieved in the Middle East by spreading democracy and human rights, while accusing some regional states, such as Qatar, of playing an unhelpful role in Palestinian issues. ¶2. (U) The delegation also visited the village of Abud on May 30, and met with Father Firas Aridah and Mayor Elias Azar. Following a briefing on the effect the separation barrier has had on the village, the delegation traveled to a nearby roadblock, and observed a nearby settlement and the route of the separation barrier under construction in the area. End Summary. -------------- - Only Permanent Status Negotiations Can Save Us -------------- - ¶3. (C) PLO Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat met with the Consul General and Senators Leahy (D-VT),Cochran (R-MS),Hagel (R-NE) Salazar (D-CO),Cardin (D-MD),and Representative Welch (D-VT) May 30. Erekat said only permanent status negotiations can save the moderate Palestinian leadership, and called on the USG to encourage the GOI to reach an agreement with President Abbas. He said such a agreement is also in the interests of Israel, which has only three ways out of its conflict with the Palestinians: 1) a two state solution; 2) a democratic, but not Jewish, one state solution; 3) and an apartheid state where Israelis rule over Palestinians. Responding to a question from Sen. Leahy about his ability to speak for the Palestinian people, Erekat said a negotiated agreement would change the situation on the Palestinian side. The creation of a Palestinian state would undermine HAMAS, which thrives on despair and ignorance. Praising USG security assistance, Erekat said reformed Palestinian security services would be in a position to fight terrorism following a permanent status agreement, while noting that not even the USG and UK had succeeded in totally eliminating terrorism. -------------- Importance of USAID -------------- ¶4. (C) Asked by Sen. Salazar about what the USG can do to help, Erekat highlighted the importance of USAID assistance. He said the suspension of many USAID projects since 2006 has given HAMAS an opportunity to step in and expand its influence. Erekat highlighted a school in Jiftlik that USAID had planned to build, but which was suspended after the HAMAS victory. He praised the many projects USAID had completed in the West Bank and Gaza over the years, and called for a resumption of USAID funded infrastructure projects. -------------- Democracy and Human Rights -------------- ¶5. (C) Erekat urged continued USG support for democracy and human rights in the Arab world. He said it is wrong to think that the stability of dictatorships is real, and warned that Bin Ladin was the product of theocracy plus dictatorship. He criticized the role of some regional players, especially Iran and Qatar, for interfering in internal Palestinian affairs, and using the Palestinians for their own agendas. -------------- Abud -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Later May 30, the delegation traveled to the village of Abud and met with Father Firas Aridah and Mayor Elias Azar. Azar described the history of GOI land confiscation and the town's legal fight against the separation barrier. He said Muslims and Christians in the village enjoyed excellent relations. Father Firas took the JERUSALEM 00001090 002 OF 002 delegation to see neighboring settlements and the route of the separation barrier under construction. Sen. Leahy noted that he brought the delegation to Abud, at the request of one of his constituents, who is a relative of Mayor Azar. ¶7. CODEL Leahy cleared this cable. WALLES