C O N F I D E N T I A L DOHA 000145
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2019
TAGS: PREL, KPAL, KWBG, QA
SUBJECT: QATAR PROPOSES HAMAS-FATAH RECONCILIATION IN ABBAS
MEETING - PALESTINIAN AMBASSADOR TO QATAR
Classified By: Ambassador Joseph E. LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b and d).
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(C) KEY POINTS
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-- During the recent visit of Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas to Doha, his first in more than two years, Qatar's
leadership urged the formation of a Hamas-Fatah national
unity government, according to Palestinian Ambassador Munir
Abdulla Ghannam, who met with Ambassador February 25.
-- According to Ghannam, the GOQ also urged a Hamas-Fatah
reconciliation during the recent visit of Hamas leader
Mahmoud al-Zahar.
-- Ghannam noted that many members of Hamas would reject any
working relationship with Fatah, given that many in Hamas
view the concession of any Muslim land as an affront to Islam.
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(C) COMMENTS
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-- Regardless of the Palestinian ambassador's comments,
Qatar's reported support for a unity government and
Hamas-Fatah reconciliation should not be considered a
harbinger of any diminution in Qatar's support for Hamas.
End Key Points and Comments.
1. (C) In a February 25 meeting with Ambassador, Palestinian
Ambassador Munir Abdullah Ghannam said that during a recent
trip to Doha by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the GOQ
urged the formation of a national unity government in
Palestine which would include Hamas members. According to
Ghannam, it criticized Hamas for entering the government and
then working to undermine its goals, and said that the
members of any future government, including Hamas, must
accept the goals of the peace process.
2. (C) The Abbas visit, his first in more than two years,
came soon after a similiar visit by Hamas co-founder Mahmoud
al-Zahar. Ghannam was told informally by GOQ officials that
they advised al-Zahar to seek reconciliation, first with
Egypt with a view toward opening the Gaza border, and then
with Fatah. Qatari officials also told al-Zahar that Hamas
would receive no direct financial support for the
reconstruction of Gaza.
3. (C) Ghannam observed that it would be very difficult for
Hamas to work with Fatah, given that the latter recognizes
Israel's right to exist. It was possible, he said, to lure
away some Hamas members who use religion to advance their
quest for political power. Those who view the concession of
"even a square inch" of the former Palestine to Israel as an
affront to Islam, would be loathe to join in a government of
national unity dedicated to the peace process.
4. (C) The goal of the PA, according to Ghannam, is to
rebuild Gaza. As long as the efforts of the international
community are effective, he said, it is not important how the
reconstruction aid is delivered. He praised the recent
efforts by GCC memebrs to forge a common approach to Gaza aid
in advance of the March 2 conference in Sharm al Sheikh. He
warned that no aid should go directly to Hamas, however,
stating that the money would not be used for reconstruction.
He also pointed out that direct aid would send the signal
that the international community was softening its position
on Hamas.
LeBaron