VZCZCXRO8035
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #0817 1391334
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 191334Z MAY 09
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4878
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000817 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/19/2019 
TAGS: PGOV PTER KWBG KPAL KDEM IS GS
SUBJECT: LATEST ROUND OF FATAH-HAMAS RECONCILIATION TALKS 
ENDS WITHOUT PROGRESS 
 
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1.  (C) Summary.  A fifth round of reconciliation talks in 
Cairo between Fatah and Hamas concluded on May 18 without 
significant progress, according to Fatah negotiator Azzam 
al-Ahmad.  The parties failed to reach agreement in any of 
the substantive areas discussed, including formation of a 
factional committee, "reform" of the security sector, and 
changes to the electoral law.  Egyptian officials have 
announced a sixth and "final" round of dialogue will begin on 
July 1, including plans for a "signing ceremony" to be held 
on July 7.  End summary. 
 
Dialogue Produces No Breakthroughs 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C) The fifth round of reconciliation talks between Fatah 
and Hamas ended without significant progress on May 18 in 
Cairo after three days of Egyptian-moderated negotiations. 
In press statements, both sides sought to portray the other 
as intransigent, while leaving the door open for a resolution 
in a "final" round of talks, now scheduled for July 1. 
Privately, Fatah negotiator al-Ahmad told PolSpec on May 18 
that this round produced no major breakthroughs. 
Agreements in Principle Only 
---------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (C) Al-Ahmad said Fatah and Hamas agreed "in principle" 
to an Egyptian proposal to form a 16-member committee, 
including Fatah, Hamas, and other factions, to act as a 
"communications channel" between Ramallah and Gaza.  However, 
no agreement was reached on the committee's mandate nor on 
the role that would remain for Hamas' "government" in Gaza, 
according to al-Ahmad.  Press reports indicate that the gap 
between the parties' positions remains significant. 
 
¶4.  (C) Fatah and Hamas also failed to agree on the 
composition, scope, and authorities of a joint security force 
for Gaza.  Al-Ahmad said Fatah demanded the force comprise 
10,000 personnel, split evenly between Fatah and Hamas, while 
Hamas proposed a much smaller force, of 300 personnel, 
focused on border crossings only.  Hamas also continues to 
insist on having a role in the West Bank security services as 
part of any deal to modify Gaza's security forces. 
 
¶5.  (C) Al-Ahmad also noted that the two parties failed to 
reach agreement on procedures for future legislative 
elections (now nominally scheduled for January 2010).  Fatah 
insists on giving greater weight to candidates on national 
lists as part of a proportional representation system, while 
Hamas wants a larger share of the PLC reserved for 
individuals elected in specific consituencies. 
 
Pessimism (and Confusion) Ahead of July 1 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (C) Fatah Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) member 
Mohammed Dahlan told the Consul General on May 19 in Ramallah 
that "there is nothing to the dialogue talks" and no prospect 
that Hamas will reconcile with Fatah and PA President Abbas 
(Abu Mazen).  Dahlan said that Hamas' external patrons, Iran 
and Syria, will prevent it, as will Hamas' own self interest 
now that the group has become "a gang of thieves and 
criminals getting rich off Gazan businesses and the tunnels." 
 Dahlan said he was surprised by Egypt's call for a "final" 
round of talks and a "signing ceremony" on July 7.  He 
suggested that the Egyptians need to present the appearance 
of success, despite the reality to the contrary.  Fatah 
negotiator al-Ahmad said he expects the Egyptians to produce 
a new set of bridging proposals for the next round.  He said 
it is not clear what, if anything, the parties will have to 
sign on July 7. 
 
¶7.  (C) Jenin-area Fatah grassroots leader and PLC member 
Shami al-Shami told Poloffs on May 18 that no reconciliation 
is at hand, and Fatah should focus itself on internal reform 
efforts, including the much-delayed Sixth Party Congress (now 
also scheduled to take place in July).  Independent civil 
society figure Mahdi Abdelhadi, who participated in the 
dialogue's security forces subcommittee in previous rounds, 
told Poloffs on May 13 that Hamas delegates were much better 
prepared than Fatah, but neither faction sent representatives 
empowered to make decisions or negotiate in good faith. 
 
WALLES