MOROCCO: GOM STRONGLY BACKING FATAH, BUT PUBLIC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RABAT 001062

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER MO XF
SUBJECT: MOROCCO: GOM STRONGLY BACKING FATAH, BUT PUBLIC
MAY BE LEANING TOWARD HAMAS

REF: RABAT 974

Classified by DCM Wayne Bush for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: King Mohammed VI wrote to Palestinian
President Abbas on June 15 to express the GOM's support. The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the letter to us as
"the highest expression of support for Abu Mazen we can
provide." Despite the Moroccan government's firm support for
Abbas and Fatah, there are indications that the Moroccan
street is more sympathetic to Hamas, with posters of Hamas
leaders and "martyrs" appearing on university campuses and
pro-Hamas talk heard among cab drivers and market vendors.
The newspaper affiliated with the Islamist Justice and
Development Party (PJD) is also openly siding with Hamas and
slamming Fatah "treason." End summary.


2. (SBU) In the aftermath of the internecine fighting on the
Gaza Strip and Abu Mazen's dissolution of the Palestinian
government, King Mohammed VI wrote to the embattled
Palestinian President on June 15 to express support. "I
should like to tell you how much the Kingdom of Morocco
sympathizes with your afflicted people who are legitimately
yearning for the restoration of security and stability under
the rule of law and state institutions," the King wrote.
"...It is necessary to ensure that the higher national
interests of the Palestinian people prevail..to enable the
steadfast Palestinian people to establish, under your wise
leadership, an independent state, with noble Jerusalem as its
capital, in compliance with international legality, the Arab
Peace Initiative, and arrangements reached by the parties
concerned."


3. (C) The King's letter was "the highest expression of
support for Abu Mazen we can provide," Hassan Hami, Director
of Arab League and Islamic Affairs at the Foreign Ministry
told us on June 25. Hami also pointed out the letter's
(implicit) reaffirmation of Morocco's consistent support for
the Roadmap and (explicit) reaffirmation of the Arab Peace
Initiative and a two-state solution. He added that despite
the chaotic developments in Gaza, Morocco would keep open its
tiny diplomatic post there (currently occupied by one
diplomat acting as Charge d'Affaires),though he allowed that
the post could conceivably move to Ramallah should the PA
request it.


4. (C) Despite the GOM's public support for Abu Mazen, there
are indications that the Moroccan street is more sympathetic
to Hamas (though we are not aware of any reliable polling
data to support this impression). Posters of Hamas "martyrs"
Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Abdelaziz Rantisi, as well as
recently-dismissed Prime Minister Haniyah, have been spotted
on university campuses. POL FSN's recent conversations with
several taxi drivers and vendors at a Sunday market in the
working class district of Temara, on the southern fringes of
Rabat, yielded references to Abu Mazen as a "traitor" who
"always sides with the Zionists" and Hamas as "heroes" who
will "fight Israel and win, because God is on their side."


5. (SBU) These sentiments have also been clearly reflected in
Al-Tajdid, the Islamist/Arabic daily affiliated with
Morocco's Justice and Development Party (PJD),which is
poised to significantly expand its presence in parliament in
this September's legislative elections.
Al-Tajdid's coverage of the Hamas-Fatah split, and references
to Fatah's leadership, have been consistently shrill. The
paper's June 17 edition was typical, with an above-the-fold
photo showing Fatah security chief Mohammed Dahlan in
conversation with Ehud Olmert. The photo caption read
"Dahlan and Olmert - Enemies of the Palestinian people."
Another recent cover photo depicted Olmert's visit to the
Oval Office, with Abu Mazen's picture inserted between
President Bush and his Israeli guest.


6. (C) Comment: We expect the GOM will adhere to Morocco's
constructive and moderate approach to the Arab-Israeli
conlict, typified most recently by its statements of support
for Abu Mazen and its reception of an Israeli diplomatic
delegation in late May (reftel). At the same time, the GOM
will be careful not to position itself ahead of the Arab
League consensus, and will no doubt keep a wary eye on
domestic public opinion, where hard line attitudes have
prevailed, particularly since last summer's Lebanon war. End
comment.


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RABAT 00001062 002 OF 002


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