Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10DOHA26
2010-01-21 08:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Doha
Cable title:
PALESTINIAN AMBASSADOR GIVES READOUT ON ABBAS-AMIR
how-toVZCZCXRO3768 PP RUEHROV DE RUEHDO #0026 0210847 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 210847Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY DOHA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9643 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
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.
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
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