Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ALGIERS396
2008-04-07 13:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Algiers
Cable title:
HAMAS OFFICIAL ASKS BOUTEFLIKA'S HELP IN RESOLVING
how-toVZCZCXYZ0009 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHAS #0396 0981300 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 071300Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY ALGIERS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5588 INFO RUEHXX/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 000396
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2018
TAGS: PREL PTER AG
SUBJECT: HAMAS OFFICIAL ASKS BOUTEFLIKA'S HELP IN RESOLVING
INTERNAL PALESTINIAN STRUGGLE
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROBERT S. FORD. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 000396
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2018
TAGS: PREL PTER AG
SUBJECT: HAMAS OFFICIAL ASKS BOUTEFLIKA'S HELP IN RESOLVING
INTERNAL PALESTINIAN STRUGGLE
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROBERT S. FORD. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (SBU) The Algerian Arabic-language newspaper Ennahar
reported April 5 that a representative from the Palestinian
Hamas movement in Lebanon, Usama Hamdan, said during an April
4 press conference at the Hamas office in Algiers that he had
asked the Algerian authorities to mediate between Hamas and
Fatah to resolve the Palestinian internal struggle. Hamdan
claimed that he had received a positive response from the
Algerian officials he had met during his course of a visit to
Algiers early this month. Hamdan added that Hamas hoped
Algeria would regain the "leading role" it had played in the
past.
2. (C) Comment: The Algerian government made no official
statement about Hamdan's visit, or the role they might play
in resolving the Hamas-Fatah dispute. Hamdan reportedly met
last week with Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem,
known for his Arab-Islamist sympathies. The Algerian public
is emotionally attached to the Palestinian issue. If
President Bouteflika were able to mediate successfully among
the Palestinians, it would boost his popularity at home as he
ponders a possible third presidential term. We leave it to
our colleagues in Middle East posts to judge whether Algeria
has the capacity to play a mediator role.
FORD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2018
TAGS: PREL PTER AG
SUBJECT: HAMAS OFFICIAL ASKS BOUTEFLIKA'S HELP IN RESOLVING
INTERNAL PALESTINIAN STRUGGLE
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROBERT S. FORD. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (SBU) The Algerian Arabic-language newspaper Ennahar
reported April 5 that a representative from the Palestinian
Hamas movement in Lebanon, Usama Hamdan, said during an April
4 press conference at the Hamas office in Algiers that he had
asked the Algerian authorities to mediate between Hamas and
Fatah to resolve the Palestinian internal struggle. Hamdan
claimed that he had received a positive response from the
Algerian officials he had met during his course of a visit to
Algiers early this month. Hamdan added that Hamas hoped
Algeria would regain the "leading role" it had played in the
past.
2. (C) Comment: The Algerian government made no official
statement about Hamdan's visit, or the role they might play
in resolving the Hamas-Fatah dispute. Hamdan reportedly met
last week with Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem,
known for his Arab-Islamist sympathies. The Algerian public
is emotionally attached to the Palestinian issue. If
President Bouteflika were able to mediate successfully among
the Palestinians, it would boost his popularity at home as he
ponders a possible third presidential term. We leave it to
our colleagues in Middle East posts to judge whether Algeria
has the capacity to play a mediator role.
FORD