Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
98KUWAIT8116
1998-12-02 14:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
KUWAITI GOVT FUNDING HAMAS: "NOT ONE PENNY"
how-toO 021443Z DEC 98 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1316 INFO AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY AMCONSUL JERUSALEM PRIORITY GCC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY PARIS
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 008116
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/08
TAGS: PREL KU IS PA
SUBJECT: KUWAITI GOVT FUNDING HAMAS: "NOT ONE PENNY"
(U) CLASSIFIED BY THE AMBASSADOR. REASON 1.5. D.
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 008116
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/08
TAGS: PREL KU IS PA
SUBJECT: KUWAITI GOVT FUNDING HAMAS: "NOT ONE PENNY"
(U) CLASSIFIED BY THE AMBASSADOR. REASON 1.5. D.
1. (C) DURING A CALL BY CONGRESSMAN ROHRABACHER ON FONMIN
SABAH TODAY, THE CONGRESSMAN TOLD SHAYKH SABAH THAT CHAIRMAN ARAFAT
HAD TOLD A SENIOR CONGRESSMAN YESTERDAY IN WASHINGTON THAT THE
KUWAITI GOVERNMENT WAS PROVIDING FUNDING FOR HAMAS.
2. (C) SHAYKH SABAH RESPONDED WITH SOME EMOTION, UNDERLINING THAT HE
COULD ASSURE US THAT "NOT ONE PENNY" OF KUWAITI GOVERNMENT FUNDS HAD
GONE TO HAMAS. HE ADDED, HOWEVER, THAT HE COULD PROVIDE NO SUCH
ASSURANCE OF KUWAITI PRIVATE SUPPORT FOR HAMAS, WHICH COULD NOT REALLY
BE CONTROLLED BY THE GOK. HE NOTED THAT KUWAITIS PROVIDED FUNDING NOT
SO MUCH OUT OF SYMPATHY FOR HAMAS AS OUT OF HATRED FOR ARAFAT FOR HIS
STAND DURING THE GULF WAR.
3. (C) COMMENT: AS WE REPORTED DURING SHAYKH YASSIN'S VISIT
HERE EARLIER THIS YEAR, CONSIDERABLE KUWAITI PRIVATE FUND RAISING
FOR HAMAS DOES OCCUR, BUT WE ALSO HAVE NO EVIDENCE OF OFFICIAL
FUNDS GOING TO HIM. (IT IS WORTH NOTING ALSO, HOWEVER, THAT SHAYKH
SABAH IS NO FRIEND OF HAMAS AND TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO BLOCK
YASSIN'S VISIT.)
LAROCCO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/08
TAGS: PREL KU IS PA
SUBJECT: KUWAITI GOVT FUNDING HAMAS: "NOT ONE PENNY"
(U) CLASSIFIED BY THE AMBASSADOR. REASON 1.5. D.
1. (C) DURING A CALL BY CONGRESSMAN ROHRABACHER ON FONMIN
SABAH TODAY, THE CONGRESSMAN TOLD SHAYKH SABAH THAT CHAIRMAN ARAFAT
HAD TOLD A SENIOR CONGRESSMAN YESTERDAY IN WASHINGTON THAT THE
KUWAITI GOVERNMENT WAS PROVIDING FUNDING FOR HAMAS.
2. (C) SHAYKH SABAH RESPONDED WITH SOME EMOTION, UNDERLINING THAT HE
COULD ASSURE US THAT "NOT ONE PENNY" OF KUWAITI GOVERNMENT FUNDS HAD
GONE TO HAMAS. HE ADDED, HOWEVER, THAT HE COULD PROVIDE NO SUCH
ASSURANCE OF KUWAITI PRIVATE SUPPORT FOR HAMAS, WHICH COULD NOT REALLY
BE CONTROLLED BY THE GOK. HE NOTED THAT KUWAITIS PROVIDED FUNDING NOT
SO MUCH OUT OF SYMPATHY FOR HAMAS AS OUT OF HATRED FOR ARAFAT FOR HIS
STAND DURING THE GULF WAR.
3. (C) COMMENT: AS WE REPORTED DURING SHAYKH YASSIN'S VISIT
HERE EARLIER THIS YEAR, CONSIDERABLE KUWAITI PRIVATE FUND RAISING
FOR HAMAS DOES OCCUR, BUT WE ALSO HAVE NO EVIDENCE OF OFFICIAL
FUNDS GOING TO HIM. (IT IS WORTH NOTING ALSO, HOWEVER, THAT SHAYKH
SABAH IS NO FRIEND OF HAMAS AND TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO BLOCK
YASSIN'S VISIT.)
LAROCCO