Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09JERUSALEM785
2009-05-13 10:50:00
SECRET
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
CODEL WEXLER DISCUSSES PA GOVERNMENT FORMATION
how-toVZCZCXRO3086 PP RUEHROV DE RUEHJM #0785 1331050 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 131050Z MAY 09 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4833 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY
S E C R E T JERUSALEM 000785
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA. NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR. JOINT
STAFF FOR LTGEN SELVA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/13/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV OREP EAID PTER IS KWBG KPAL
SUBJECT: CODEL WEXLER DISCUSSES PA GOVERNMENT FORMATION
WITH PRESIDENT ABBAS AND PM FAYYAD
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
S E C R E T JERUSALEM 000785
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA. NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR. JOINT
STAFF FOR LTGEN SELVA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/13/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV OREP EAID PTER IS KWBG KPAL
SUBJECT: CODEL WEXLER DISCUSSES PA GOVERNMENT FORMATION
WITH PRESIDENT ABBAS AND PM FAYYAD
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (S) Summary. Congressman Wexler discussed PA
government formation and other issues with President Abbas
and Prime Minister Fayyad on May 9. Abbas and Fayyad assured
the Congressman that the new Palestinian government would
abide by Quartet principles, and advised the USG to separate
the issues of Iran and Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations
and encourage the GOI to accept a two-state solution. End
summary.
Abbas: Our Principles Are the Quartet Principles
-------------- --------------
2. (S) In response to questions from Congressman Wexler, PA
President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) explained that the PA's
principles are the same as the Quartet's principles, and said
there is no chance of a unity government including Hamas. He
encouraged the USG to give priority to resolving the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to push the GOI to commit to
ceasing all settlement activity. He said the situation in
Gaza is "deteriorating every moment," though the PA is still
paying salaries to its 77,000 employees in Gaza. He
emphasized the importance of U.S. and other donor assistance
to the PA's financial viability.
Fayyad: Avoid Hamas in Public Discourse
--------------
3. (S) PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad told Congressman
Wexler that it is "out of the question" that a new government
would include a minister who disagreed with Quartet
principles, and advised against USG officials referring to
Hamas in public discourse, saying it gives Hamas credibility
and makes Hamas stronger. Fayyad said Israeli PM Netanyahu's
talk of economic, political, and security tracks lacks
content, and expressed hope that PM Netanyahu's meeting with
President Obama this month would result in GOI acceptance of
a credible two-state solution. On settlements, Fayyad urged
the USG not to "create different kinds of settlements" by
differentiating between settlemests east and west of the
security barrier or between the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
He told Wexler that Palestinian concessions on settlements
at this time would be politically untenable.
WALLES
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA. NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR. JOINT
STAFF FOR LTGEN SELVA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/13/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV OREP EAID PTER IS KWBG KPAL
SUBJECT: CODEL WEXLER DISCUSSES PA GOVERNMENT FORMATION
WITH PRESIDENT ABBAS AND PM FAYYAD
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (S) Summary. Congressman Wexler discussed PA
government formation and other issues with President Abbas
and Prime Minister Fayyad on May 9. Abbas and Fayyad assured
the Congressman that the new Palestinian government would
abide by Quartet principles, and advised the USG to separate
the issues of Iran and Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations
and encourage the GOI to accept a two-state solution. End
summary.
Abbas: Our Principles Are the Quartet Principles
-------------- --------------
2. (S) In response to questions from Congressman Wexler, PA
President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) explained that the PA's
principles are the same as the Quartet's principles, and said
there is no chance of a unity government including Hamas. He
encouraged the USG to give priority to resolving the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to push the GOI to commit to
ceasing all settlement activity. He said the situation in
Gaza is "deteriorating every moment," though the PA is still
paying salaries to its 77,000 employees in Gaza. He
emphasized the importance of U.S. and other donor assistance
to the PA's financial viability.
Fayyad: Avoid Hamas in Public Discourse
--------------
3. (S) PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad told Congressman
Wexler that it is "out of the question" that a new government
would include a minister who disagreed with Quartet
principles, and advised against USG officials referring to
Hamas in public discourse, saying it gives Hamas credibility
and makes Hamas stronger. Fayyad said Israeli PM Netanyahu's
talk of economic, political, and security tracks lacks
content, and expressed hope that PM Netanyahu's meeting with
President Obama this month would result in GOI acceptance of
a credible two-state solution. On settlements, Fayyad urged
the USG not to "create different kinds of settlements" by
differentiating between settlemests east and west of the
security barrier or between the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
He told Wexler that Palestinian concessions on settlements
at this time would be politically untenable.
WALLES