PALESTINIAN RECONCILIATION AND A NATIONAL UNITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 027330 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2019 TAGS: PREL KWBG KPAL IS EUN SUBJECT: PALESTINIAN RECONCILIATION AND A NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT Classified By: Acting A/S Jeffrey Feltman, Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Posts should draw on the points in paragraph 4 when engaging host governments on Middle East peace and on host country policies toward any new Palestinian Authority (PA) government. The U.S. remains committed to the Quartet principles. End summary. ¶2. (C) Following Palestinian Prime Minister Fayyad's resignation, scheduled to take effect upon the formation of a national unity government or on March 31 (whichever is sooner),and given the ongoing Palestinian national dialogue in Cairo, it is important that the U.S. clearly describe its position on the composition of a new Palestinian Authority government. Many European states' emphasis on a unified PA in the West Bank and Gaza has come at the expense of promoting the Quartet principles--recognition of Israel, renunciation of violence, and acceptance of previous agreements, including the Roadmap. Similarly, rising concern about Iran and efforts to heal inter-Arab divisions before the March 30 Arab League summit in Doha have led many moderate Arab states to push for Palestinian reconciliation at any cost. ¶3. (C) Throughout the Egyptian-sponsored Palestinian reconciliation process, Palestinian President Abbas and Fatah have asserted that a national unity government be committed to the Quartet principles. However, we have reports that Arab states are asking the EU for "flexibility" on Hamas' inclusion in a government. The Egyptian and PA foreign ministers, along with a Jordanian representative, met with the EU troika (Czech FM Schwarzenberg, EU High Representative Solana, and EU External Relations Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner) in Brussels on March 15. Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Soliman, who is coordinating the Palestinian national dialogue, visited Washington the week of March 16. He told us that Egypt will press Hamas to abide by the prior PLO commitments. ¶4. (SBU) The points below can be used by Posts to articulate the U.S. position on a national unity government and to underscore the importance of the Quartet principles: --Advancing toward the two-state solution requires an internationally recognized Palestinian Authority that continues negotiations and gradually assumes the attributes of a responsible Palestinian state living side by side in peace with Israel. --The platform and the membership of such a government must be unambiguously and publicly committed to non-violence, recognition of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the Roadmap. --A national unity government must also build upon the institutional progress that the Palestinian Authority has made in building the capacity of its security forces. The U.S. will not be able to provide security assistance to PA security forces that do not support the Quartet principles. --EUR Posts: We should convey a unified message to our Arab allies on the continued importance of the Palestinian government's commitment to the Quartet principles. ¶5. (SBU) For further information, please contact Payton Knopf in NEA/IPA. CLINTON