INITIAL PALESTINIAN REACTION TO AGREEMENT ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000272

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WATERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2017
TAGS: PREL KWBG PGOV KPAL IS PTER
SUBJECT: INITIAL PALESTINIAN REACTION TO AGREEMENT ON
NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT

REF: SECSTATE 16453

Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary. Palestinian political contacts all
characterized the February 8 national unity government (NUG)
agreement as positive, but expressed mixed views on whether
Hamas will abide by its agreements and if the NUG will end
Palestinian infighting. A Gaza-based PLO Executive Committee
member said PA President Mahmud Abbas (Abu Mazen) must be
vigilant with Hamas as the NUG is implemented. An
independent PLC member from Gaza said she welcomes the NUG
but expects some Fatah-Hamas fighting will continue, as both
groups are more interested in power than effective
governance. An independent Jerusalem PLC member urged
international acceptance of the NUG, which he said will help
end violence and advance peace efforts. He feared that
rejection of the NUG will perpetuate a dysfunctional,
two-headed government similar to the situation under former
president Yasser Arafat. A Fatah PLC member from Bethlehem
said a NUG will allow Fatah time and stability to rebuild,
while preventing civil war. He said PM Ismayil Haniyah is a
moderate who will not interfere with Abbas' political program
or negotiations with Israel. End Summary.


Gaza PLO ExComm Member:
Guarded Optimism on NUG
--------------


2. (C) PLO ExComm member Riyad al-Khudari (Independent) told
Poloff that the Mecca agreement is a good start for ending
interfactional violence and Palestinian suffering, but he
said the ExComm will warn Abbas to be vigilant to ensure that
Hamas strictly abides by the agreement. He said Abbas told
the ExComm he had agreed to meet Hamas leaders in Mecca to
show: a) he is committed to a peaceful solution and an end to
Palestinian suffering; and b) if talks had failed or if Hamas
violates the NUG agreement, he had exhausted all options
before calling for elections. Al-Khudari said he knows
Interior Minister candidate Hamudah Jarwan, and that Jarwan
describes himself as a solid Fatah member.


Gaza PLC Member:
Situation Still in Play
--------------


3. (C) Gaza PLC member Rawiya al-Shawa (Independent) told
Poloff that NUG formation would be positive but is not final
despite the Mecca agreement, as conflicts continue between
Fatah and Hamas. She said she doubts the U.S. will accept
the NUG, but noted that the new NUG could be superior to the
pre-2006 Fatah-controlled governments, which she said were
corrupt and monopolized power. The agreement should allow
the PLC to meet again with real substantive debate, she said.
She said her main priorities for a NUG are to pay government
salaries and standardize crossings at Rafah and elsewhere,
since poverty and GoI restrictions contribute to extremist
sympathies in Gaza.


Jerusalem/West Bank PLC:
Positive on NUG
--------------


4. (C) Jerusalem PLC member Bernard Sabella (Independent)
told POLOFF that the international community should support
the NUG, which he believes will help end violence and advance
peace efforts with Israel. Rejection of the NUG because PM
Haniyah remains in the Cabinet will perpetuate a
dysfunctional, two-headed government similar to the 2003-4
situation when the USG dealt with the PM but boycotted former
president Yasser Arafat, he said. He said Haniyah is an
intelligent and moderate leader who will support Abbas and
not interfere in negotiations with Israel or foreign affairs,
but it is wishful thinking to believe Palestinians can move
ahead on peace if Hamas is entirely sidelined. He said Hamas
is moving closer to the overall Palestinian consensus on a
two-state solution and should have the opportunity to live up
to its agreement.


5. (C) Bethlehem PLC member Fuad Kukali (Fatah) said the NUG
is a positive attempt to end the past year's suffering and
violence. He said the NUG will give Fatah time and stability
to rebuild, and prevent Gaza and the West Bank from
descending into a "Lebanese-style civil war." He said
Haniyah, unlike current Foreign Minister Mahmud al-Zahar, is
not an extremist and will not interfere with negotiations

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with Israel or with Abbas' overall political vision.
WALLES