Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09JERUSALEM1244
2009-07-20 14:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
RESUMPTION OF FATAH-HAMAS TALKS DELAYED BY
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHJM #1244 2011416 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 201416Z JUL 09 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5489 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 5234 RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 8207 RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001244
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR; JOINT
STAFF FOR LTGEN SELVA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER KPAL KWBG EG SY
SUBJECT: RESUMPTION OF FATAH-HAMAS TALKS DELAYED BY
PRISONER AND PARTY CONGRESS ISSUES
REF: JERUSALEM 1183
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001244
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR; JOINT
STAFF FOR LTGEN SELVA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER KPAL KWBG EG SY
SUBJECT: RESUMPTION OF FATAH-HAMAS TALKS DELAYED BY
PRISONER AND PARTY CONGRESS ISSUES
REF: JERUSALEM 1183
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) The resumption of Fatah-Hamas reconciliation talks
in Cairo has been postponed one month to August 25. This
followed a stalemate in lower-level dialogue meant to pave
the way for progress. Talks at the subcommittee level
foundered on the issue of prisoners, with neither Hamas nor
Fatah showing flexibility. Egyptian officials will visit
Ramallah and Damascus in the coming days to consult with the
two factions' leadership. End Summary.
2. (C) On August 19, Egyptian officials mediating the
ongoing Fatah-Hamas reconciliation dialogue in Cairo
postponed resumption of official talks to August 25. The
postponement reflected a lack of progress in recent
working-level subcommittee meetings, as well as -- Fatah
officials speculate -- Egyptian concurrence with Palestinian
Authority (PA) President Abu Mazen's request that factional
dialogue be suspended until the conclusion of Fatah's Sixth
Party Congress, which is scheduled to take place in Bethlehem
on August 4.
3. (C) According to Fatah officials Azzam al Ahmad and
Majed Faraj, the Fatah-Hamas subcommittee tasked with
breaking the stalemate before July 25 foundered on the issue
of prisoner releases. Hamas delegates pressed for the
release of approximately 850 Hamas prisoners detained by the
PA in the West Bank; Fatah representatives responded that the
issue of prisoner releases could be resolved only after all
other disputed issues, including the Hamas coup of 2007, had
been addressed. According to Fatah representatives, Hamas
made it clear that the Fatah delegates it holds in Gaza would
not be released to attend the Fatah Congress without a larger
deal on prisoner issues. Fatah officials accused Hamas of
blackmail.
4. (C) According to Fatah attendees, Hamas officials
present at the latest round of lower-level talks resisted
Egyptian pressure to provide written positions on the issues
at hand. When asked by the Egyptians to permit imprisoned
Fatah delegates to travel to the West Bank for the Party
Congress, Hamas official Izzat al Risheq replied that the
Hamas delegation had come to Cairo for consultations, and was
not authorized to make decisions.
5. (C) In the face of this impasse, the subcommittee
dissolved July 19, and the resumption of formal talks was
postponed to August 25. Egyptian officials will reportedly
visit Fatah and Hamas leadership in Ramallah and Damascus in
the interim.
WALLES
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR; JOINT
STAFF FOR LTGEN SELVA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER KPAL KWBG EG SY
SUBJECT: RESUMPTION OF FATAH-HAMAS TALKS DELAYED BY
PRISONER AND PARTY CONGRESS ISSUES
REF: JERUSALEM 1183
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) The resumption of Fatah-Hamas reconciliation talks
in Cairo has been postponed one month to August 25. This
followed a stalemate in lower-level dialogue meant to pave
the way for progress. Talks at the subcommittee level
foundered on the issue of prisoners, with neither Hamas nor
Fatah showing flexibility. Egyptian officials will visit
Ramallah and Damascus in the coming days to consult with the
two factions' leadership. End Summary.
2. (C) On August 19, Egyptian officials mediating the
ongoing Fatah-Hamas reconciliation dialogue in Cairo
postponed resumption of official talks to August 25. The
postponement reflected a lack of progress in recent
working-level subcommittee meetings, as well as -- Fatah
officials speculate -- Egyptian concurrence with Palestinian
Authority (PA) President Abu Mazen's request that factional
dialogue be suspended until the conclusion of Fatah's Sixth
Party Congress, which is scheduled to take place in Bethlehem
on August 4.
3. (C) According to Fatah officials Azzam al Ahmad and
Majed Faraj, the Fatah-Hamas subcommittee tasked with
breaking the stalemate before July 25 foundered on the issue
of prisoner releases. Hamas delegates pressed for the
release of approximately 850 Hamas prisoners detained by the
PA in the West Bank; Fatah representatives responded that the
issue of prisoner releases could be resolved only after all
other disputed issues, including the Hamas coup of 2007, had
been addressed. According to Fatah representatives, Hamas
made it clear that the Fatah delegates it holds in Gaza would
not be released to attend the Fatah Congress without a larger
deal on prisoner issues. Fatah officials accused Hamas of
blackmail.
4. (C) According to Fatah attendees, Hamas officials
present at the latest round of lower-level talks resisted
Egyptian pressure to provide written positions on the issues
at hand. When asked by the Egyptians to permit imprisoned
Fatah delegates to travel to the West Bank for the Party
Congress, Hamas official Izzat al Risheq replied that the
Hamas delegation had come to Cairo for consultations, and was
not authorized to make decisions.
5. (C) In the face of this impasse, the subcommittee
dissolved July 19, and the resumption of formal talks was
postponed to August 25. Egyptian officials will reportedly
visit Fatah and Hamas leadership in Ramallah and Damascus in
the interim.
WALLES