KING ABDULLAH MEETS WITH PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 001905

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT PLEASE PASS TO NEA/ARP FOR RJACHIM/SRAMESH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2012
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR IS SA
SUBJECT: KING ABDULLAH MEETS WITH PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT
MAHMOUD ABBAS

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Gfoeller for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).


1. (U) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with King
Abdullah on September 11 to discuss the ongoing Palestinian
crisis. According to the Saudi Press Agency, the King and
President Abbas also discussed ways to reinvigorate the
Middle East Peace Process. Palestinian Ambassador to Saudi
Arabia Jamal Al-Shobaki noted in a statement on September 10
that Abbas would tell King Abdullah that he supports the
Mecca Agreement and believes it still offers a plausible
solution for working through differences with Hamas.
Al-Shobaki caveated this by saying that a return to the Mecca
Agreement is predicated upon Hamas ceding control of the Gaza
Strip. Al-Shobaki also reported that Abbas planned to brief
the King on preparations for the proposed November Peace
Conference.


2. (U) Press reports also indicated that Hamas leader Ismail
Haniyah released a statement on September 10 asking Abbas to
agree to a joint meeting in Saudi Arabia. According to these
reports, Hamas is ready to "return to a dialogue without
conditions." In a statement to the press following his
meeting with King Abdullah, Abbas reiterated his position
that there would not be any dialogue with Hamas until the
situation in Gaza returns to what it was prior to the "coup"
in mid-June 2007. Abbas also told reporters that he
discussed the situation in Gaza with King Abdullah, but did
not provide any details. Abbas said the King acknowledged
the need for conference participants to make "measurable
progress" to prevent it from becoming just another "photo
opportunity." He also said the King agreed that the
conference needs to involve all interested parties, including
Syria and Lebanon.


3. (U) Saudi media coverage of the King's meeting with
President Abbas was pro forma, with little substance;
however, in a press conference on September 12, Foreign
Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal spelled out the SAG's position
on the November Peace Conference as it was discussed during
the meetings between the King and Abbas. Al-Faisal stated
that the conference needs to focus on the fundamental topics
of Jerusalem, borders, and refugees, adding that the
participants should produce a timetable to address these
issues. Otherwise, he said, the conference will be
"worthless." The Foreign Minister also said that Israel
needs to take measurable action to show that it is serious if
it wants the conference to succeed.


4. (C) Public reaction to the King's meeting with Abbas was
muted. One interlocutor, who lives in Riyadh's Palestinian
community, suggested that the primary purpose of Abbas'
meeting with the King was to mend fences with the SAG and
request the King's assistance in pressuring Hamas to cede
control of the Gaza Strip. An editorial printed in the
on-line version of Al-Madina Newspaper on September 12
praised the visit as a "smart move" on behalf of the
Palestinian President. The author claimed that the meeting
served the dual purpose of highlighting the SAG's influential
powers as a regional peace broker, while keeping the King
informed of Abbas' activity and progress in preparation for
the November Peace Conference.


5. (C) COMMENT: The muted coverage of Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas' meeting with King Abdullah is a clear
reflection of the Saudi monarch's continuing displeasure with
the Palestinians' failure to honor the Mecca Accord. As
author of the Arab League's Middle East Peace Initiative,
King Abdullah has staked his personal reputation and the
prestige of the Kingdom on achieving a fair and balanced
resolution to the Arab/Israeli problem. Compounding the
King's clear personal investment in this issue is his
profound sense of bruised personal honor and impatience and
disdain for those who violate their promises and vows.
Despite these sentiments, the King and his government seem to
be moving toward re-engagement with the Palestinian
Authority. The King's willingness to meet with Abbas appears
to be an indicator of such a shift. While the Saudis remain
angry with the Palestinians, they know that leaving Fatah
without any support (political and financial) is simply not
an option -- particularly as Iran seeks more opportunities to
ingratiate itself with Hamas. END COMMENT.
FRAKER