COUNTDOWN TO FATAH 6TH PARTY CONGRESS

S E C R E T STATE 071829 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/08/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAL PTER IS SUBJECT: COUNTDOWN TO FATAH 6TH PARTY CONGRESS Classified By: NEA DAS DAVID HALE FOR REASON 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (SBU) This is an action request for all addressees. Please see paragraph 4. ¶2. (S) Washington and Consulate General Jerusalem held a secure video teleconference (SVTC) July 8, 2009, to discuss Fatah reform efforts in the lead up to the Fatah 6th Party Congress, currently scheduled to take place August 4, 2009, in Bethlehem. ¶3. (S) Following are our conclusions: -- The U.S. strongly supports Fatah's efforts to reform, particularly through the holding of the 6th Party Congress in Bethlehem next month. -- The U.S. does not endorse any particular candidate or group of candidates, but rather the democratic ideals represented by the Congress and the open election of a new Fatah leadership that can revive the movement and reestablish its legitimacy among the Palestinian public. -- The U.S. should urge that the process for electing Fatah officials at the conference be free, fair, and transparent. The transparency of the process will have a direct bearing on the perceived legitimacy of the outcome. -- Hamas should not be allowed to play the role of spoiler in the weeks leading up to the Congress, either by inflammatory language or by preventing Fatah delegates from leaving the Gaza Strip. -- While the emergence of a democratically elected leadership is of paramount importance, it is also important that Fatah develop a pro-peace and rule of law political program. The U.S. should expend efforts to ensure a program that supports a two-state solution based on peace and co-existence with Israel and does not endorse armed resistance. -- The U.S. should support the Congress within the context of its overall support for democracy. With only a month before the Congress, consideration should be given to whether public or private engagement would be most productive. We do not want the legitimacy of the process called into question but also want to be as facilitative and encouraging as possible. -- Logistical arrangements are a critical challenge. U.S. efforts should include engaging with Israel and Arab neighbors to ensure that delegates have access to the Congress. We should press Fatah to provide a list of delegates' names to the Government of Israel with an appropriate amount of lead time. -- Once the Congress has taken place, SVTC participants should meet again to consider what forms of programmatic assistance the U.S. should provide to help Fatah function as a more effective political party. ¶4. (S) In order to ensure a consistent approach over the next few weeks, the Department has the following instructions: For Jerusalem: Please provide by July 15 front channel recommendations on public and private messages the USG should deliver to Fatah in the lead up to the Congress, both in the field and in Washington. Additionally, please press Fatah officials to expeditiously provide the list of Fatah delegates traveling from abroad that will need access to the West Bank. For Beirut: Urge the Government of Lebanon to facilitate the travel of Fatah delegates from Lebanon to Jordan in order to allow them to participate in the Congress. Please send a front channel report by July 20. For Cairo and Damascus: Urge host government officials to press Hamas to allow the exit of all Fatah delegates residing in Gaza. Additionally, encourage host governments to facilitate the travel of Fatah delegates residing in their countries. Please send a front channel report by July 20. For Amman: Urge host government to facilitate the travel of Fatah delegates across the King Hussein Bridge and into the West Bank. Additionally, solicit Government of Jordan insights into Fatah's planning and internal Fatah dynamics. Please send a front channel report by July 20. For Tel Aviv: Solicit Israeli commitment to facilitate the movement of Fatah delegates to Bethlehem. Please send a front channel report by July 20. For Riyadh: Please seek host government's perspectives on the upcoming Congress. Please send a front channel report by July 20. CLINTON