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