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UNCLAS TOKYO 002692 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL KPAL JA
SUBJECT: PALESTINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER BLAMES U.S., ISRAEL 
FOR GAZA VIOLENCE 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  Palestinian Foreign Minister Ziad Abu-Amr, 
speaking June 13 at a press conference in Tokyo, blamed U.S. 
and Israeli policy for the violence now taking place in Gaza, 
asserting that the failure to deal with the Palestinian 
government has inevitably led to the current situation.  Even 
if it can be said the U.S was "right" not to deal with the 
Hamas-led government, Abu-Amr said he can not understand why 
the U.S. and Israel are still rejecting the unity government 
in which Hamas has largely given up power and which has put 
forth a program that substantively complies with the 
Quartet's conditions for recognition.  He also said that 
meetings between President Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert 
are going nowhere due to Israel's refusal to give Abbas 
anything, even on "minor" quality of life issues.  Abu-Amr 
critized the Israeli government for withholding tax revenues 
due to the Palestinians and said he is hopeful the new 
"Single Treasury Account" process - which he termed an 
American-imposed unnecessary detour - will lead to increased 
international funding for Palestinian institutions.  When 
questioned about the failure of Palestinians to halt rocket 
attacks on Israel, he said he was opposed to such attacks but 
also asserted conditions caused by others have made it 
impossible for any authority to control what goes on in Gaza. 
 END SUMMARY. 
 
------------------------------ 
VIOLENCE IN GAZA "NO SURPRISE" 
------------------------------ 
 
¶2. (SBU) Palestinian Foreign Minister Ziad Abu-Amr, visiting 
Tokyo June 13, told an "on the record" gathering of 
reporters, businessmen, and diplomats attended by Embassy 
Tokyo political officer that the violence taking place in 
Gaza is "not a surprise to anyone" given the conditions in 
the territory caused by the failure of the United States and 
Israel to deal with the Palestinian Authority.  "If you 
create the same conditions as are present in Gaza anywhere 
else you can count on an eruption of violence," he asserted. 
Abu-Amr said what looks from the outside like a 
power-struggle is really the result of underlying economic 
and political conditions caused by the "siege" imposed on the 
Palestinians by policies driven by the United States and 
Israel.  "If you put two brothers in a cage, then deprive 
them of the necessities of life, then of course they will 
turn on each other and fight." 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
U.S. WRONG NOT TO DEAL WITH PALESTINIAN GOVERNMENT 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶3. (SBU)  Abu-Amr stated that the approach the U.S. and 
Israel have taken to the Palestinians since the election that 
brought Hamas to power was wrong.  The Palestinians, he said, 
were asked to hold a democratic election and did so, 
successfully.  He recognizes that foreign powers are free to 
reject the results and choose not to deal with an elected 
government, but in this case the result has caused great harm 
to the overall peace process.  He continued that even if for 
the sake of argument one was to agree it was right not to 
deal with the Hamas government, he can not understand the 
failure of the U.S. and Israel to recognize the recently 
formed National Unity Government. 
 
¶4. (SBU) First, under the new government, Hamas agreed to 
give up the power it had won and share it with other factions 
and independents, giving up 24 cabinet seats in exchange for 
nine.  Hamas agreed to give the Deputy Prime Ministership to 
their rival, Fatah, and also to give the three most important 
cabinet seats - Foreign Affairs, Finance, Interior - to 
independents.  Fifteen other ministries were given to 
non-Hamas parties. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Second, the program put forward by the unity 
government meets all the Quartet conditions, Abu-Amr 
asserted.  He told the gathering the new program recognizes 
the right of Israel to exist, renounces violence, and accepts 
previous international agreements on the conflict, such as 
UNSCRs 242 and 338.  In addition, he argued it gives 
President Abbas full authority to negotiate with the Israelis 
and contains an important article in which the Palestinian 
government agreed to honor previous agreements with Israel, 
including the Arafat-Rabin letters indicating mutual 
recognition and the Oslo Agreement, which specifically 
renounces violence and calls for a peaceful, negotiated 
settlement to the dispute.  Accordingly, asserted Abu-Amr, 
the position put forth by the new unity government 
substantively meets all the conditions set forth by the 
Quartet.  He believes the Quartet should have accepted this 
and, if still not completely satisfied, should have worked to 
narrow the differences.  "Constructive engagement is required 
to synchronize our positions, but the U.S. Administration and 
Israel have rejected this, continued with their boycott, and 
have refused to recognize anything good. This is the reason 
for the decline in the situation in the Palestinian 
territories. They should have recognized us and worked with 
us to satisfy any further demands rather than pursuing a 
policy of 'blind restriction.'" 
 
---------------------------------- 
MEETINGS WITH ISRAEL GOING NOWHERE 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Abu-Amr stated that the three meetings the Secretary 
has helpfully arranged between President Abbas and Prime 
Minister Olmert have gone nowhere because the Israelis refuse 
to give Abbas anything.  This has embarrassed him before his 
people and undercut his authority, as the Palestinians 
question his ability to deliver on even "minor" quality of 
life issues.  The failure of Israel to release tax revenues 
owed to the Palestinians is "unexplainable."  If Israel were 
to give the Palestinians the $50-60 million a month owed to 
them this would go a long way toward alleviating the violence 
and would also reduce the need for the Palestinians to ask 
for international support.  Because of his inability to 
resolve any issues with the Israelis, Abbas has decided not 
to attend another meeting at this time.  Abu-Amr said he is 
somewhat hopeful that perhaps a meeting will be held on June 
26 in Sharm el-Sheikh at which Quartet representatives will 
be present.  He emphasized the participation of the EU and 
said "maybe the Quartet members can help break this deadlock 
and move things forward." 
 
¶7. (SBU) Further on the access to funds, Abu-Amr responded to 
a question from a reporter about the establishment of the 
"Single Treasury Account" process, which he termed an 
unnecessary "detour" imposed by the United States. 
Nevertheless, he hopes it will allow international - mainly 
European - funds to go directly to the institutions that need 
them, rather than was the case under the "Temporary 
International Mechanism." 
 
------------------------------------ 
FAILURE TO CONTROL ATTACKS ON ISRAEL 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶8. (SBU)  Several reporters asked Abu-Amr questions about why 
the Palestinians are unable to stop rocket attacks against 
Israel.  He replied that he is totally opposed to such 
attacks and to all violence, but then sought to downplay 
them, asserting that half of the unguided rockets fall in 
Palestinian territories and that they have killed more 
Palestinians than Israelis.  When pressed, he admitted that 
the conditions in Gaza make it impossible for anyone or any 
authority to exercise control, but then blamed this on 
external factors.  He also asserted that Israel cannot expect 
the rockets to stop if they continue targeted killings, 
arrests, land confiscations, home demolitions, and other 
violent acts against the Palestinians.  Abu-Amr concluded: 
"We must be brave and honest and say this must be stopped. 
Perhaps we have some responsibility, but we have been put in 
an untenable situation by others. It is not right to only 
blame the victims of siege, occupation, and poverty for this." 
 
-------------------- 
RELATIONS WITH JAPAN 
-------------------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) Abu-Amr commented very favorably on Japanese 
relations with the Palestinians.  His remarks will be 
reported septel when we've received a more complete readout 
of his visit. 
SCHIEFFER