C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000133

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D COPY //////// (PREL TAG AS PRIMARY)

SIPDIS

EUR/EU TO ERIC FICHTE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2017
TAGS: PREL KISL KPAL KWBG IS XX EZ
SUBJECT: CZECHS CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT HAMAS/FATAH
ANNOUNCEMENT, BUT REMAIN FIRM ON QUARTET PRINCIPLES

REF: STATE 16453

Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Mike Dodman
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) Poloff met with the Czech MFA Director of the Middle
East and Africa Department Josef Rychtar on February 9 to
discuss the announcement that Fatah and Hamas have agreed to
form a new Palestinian government. Rychtar agreed the
announcement seems to be a positive step, but noted press
reports did not state whether the new government will accept
the Quartet Principles. He said the Czech Republic will not
recognize any Palestinian government that does not expressly
accept the Quartet Principles.


2. (C) Comment. Rychtar had a meeting with the Palestinian
Ambassador Mohamed Salaymeh scheduled after the meeting with
Poloff. Poloff met the Ambassador in the lobby and asked what
he thought of the news. The Ambassador expressed hopefulness,
and seemed to believe the new government would recognize
Israel. End comment.
GRABER