PALESTINIAN AMBASSADOR GIVES READOUT ON ABBAS-AMIR

C O N F I D E N T I A L DOHA 000026 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2020 TAGS: PREL KPAL WBG EG IS QA SUBJECT: PALESTINIAN AMBASSADOR GIVES READOUT ON ABBAS-AMIR MEETING Classified By: Ambassador Joseph E. LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b and d). -------------- (C) KEY POINTS -------------- -- At a January 14 meeting with Ambassador, Palestinian Ambassador Ghanim gave details of the January 5 meeting between Palestinian President Abbas and the Amir of Qatar. -- According to Ghanim, the Amir noted Hamas' fears that the outcome of elections could be influenced by Israeli troops and Palestinian forces trained by General Dayton and loyal to Abbas. Abbas offered to allow Hamas to choose whoever it wished to monitor the polling, and he would help them. -- Ghanim said that Abbas expressed his willingness to talk with Israeli PM Netanyahu, if Israel agrees to stop all settlement activity, to include Jerusalem, and states clearly that it will work toward a withdrawal from Palestinian lands. The withdrawal must be based upon pre-1967 lines, with the slight modifications as mentioned at Camp David 2 and during the Taba discussions. End Key Points. ¶1. (C) At a January 14 meeting with Ambassador, Palestinian Ambassador Mounir Abdullah Ghanim recounted the conversation that took place between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Amir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani during Abbas's January 5 visit to Doha. The conversation focused on elections in the Palestinian territories and reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah. ¶2. (C) According to Ghanim, who was present at the meeting, the Amir said that Hamas is opposed to holding elections because it fears that Israeli forces on the West Bank and Palestinian security forces trained by General Dayton that are loyal to Fatah would influence the outcome. Abbas replied "Let anyone Hamas wants to monitor the elections come. help them." The Amir responded by asking "What happens if Hamas wins and the world refuses to deal with its leaders?" Abbas replied that the world is composed of sovereign states and each would choose its own policy toward a possible Hamas-led government. ¶3. (C) The Amir then turned his attention to Abbas's recent visit to Cairo, where he met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Ghanim said. The Amir noted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had visited Cairo a few day before Abbas, and asked Abbas whether he and Mubarak had discussed the Netanyahu visit. Mubarak informed Abbas that Netanyahu had asked him for help in getting a resumption of the peace process. ¶4. (C) Ghanim said that the Amir then asked Abbas directly: Are you ready to talk with Netanyahu? Abbas replied "Yes, we are ready to go back to the table, just as we informed Special Envoy Mitchell: If Israel agrees to stop all settlement activity, including those settlements in Jerusalem, and states clearly its willingness to work toward a withdrawal from Palestinian lands. The withdrawal must be based upon pre-1967 lines, with the slight modifications as mentioned at Camp David 2 and during the Taba discussions." Abbas said the Israelis could take all the guarantees they liked, and he would work to get the Arab states to agree. ¶5. (C) Ambassador asked Ghanim whether he thought there were any differences of opinion between the Amir and PM Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani on Middle East peace issues. The Palestinian Ambassador said that on the issues of reconciliationand the resumption of talks, their position was "exactly the same." ¶6. (C) Ghanim said that Abbas had proposed to the Amir that Qatar assist in the construction of a desalination plantin Gaza and that the Amir agreed. Ghanim gave the impression that the U.S. encouragement of the project would behelpful. ¶7. (C) Ambassador asked Ghanim whether he believed the Amir supports Hamas against Fatah. Ghanim replied he did not believe this to be the case, adding that the Amir wishes Fatah would adopt a position more favorable to Hamas with regard to reconciliation. He stated that the Amir always defended the position of Hamas, though the Amir would deny this. LeBaron