US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV4402

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 004402 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2015 
TAGS: KWBG, PGOV, PREL, ECON, IS 
SUBJECT: (C) GOI OFFICIALS ARE TALKING TO HAMAS MAYORS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Daniel C. Kurtzer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Summary: Israeli Defense Force officers are 
communicating with Hamas mayors in the Palestinian 
territories on routine matters, although it is unclear 
whether these contacts are direct or through other 
Palestinian intermediaries.  Post has asked the Ministry of 
Justice whether the GOI has any laws or regulations governing 
contact with Hamas; MOJ has forwarded that request to MFA. 
End Summary. 
 
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Dealing With Realities on the Ground 
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2. (C) Amos Gilad (protect), head of the Political-Military 
Bureau in the Ministry of Defense, told Econcouns in late 
June that field commanders under the Coordinator for 
Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) are dealing 
with Hamas mayors on a regular basis.  He could not provide 
details of the mechanism for communication, stating that 
regardless of the official policy, "work has to get done and 
is getting done." 
 
3. (C) In a more recent meeting MOD advisors, Baruch Spiegel 
(protect) and Netzach Mashiach (protect) told Econcouns that 
IDF field staff are reporting that many of the 
Hamas-affiliated mayors are doing a good job.  The officials 
commented that Hamas officials are "not coming to work with 
guns" and are taking their responsibilities seriously. 
 
4. (C) Lt Col. Daniel Beaudoin of COGAT (protect) told acting 
Econcouns July 6 that while COGAT is aware of which mayors 
are Hamas or "close to Hamas," COGAT continues to work with 
those mayors on routine matters.  According to Beaudoin, 
COGAT field staff treat all mayors as technocrats and deal 
with them on COGAT's issues, regardless of political 
affiliation. 
 
5. (C) Yair Hirschfeld of the Economic Cooperation 
Foundation, who deals regularly with a range of Palestinians, 
told acting Econcouns July 6 that the GOI does not/not have 
any specific legal prohibitions on contact between Israeli 
citizens and Hamas. 
 
6. (C) In a recent conversation, Major General "Haki" Harel, 
IDF Chief of Planning Branch, told DAO that the IDF and COGAT 
do not directly interface with Hamas officials, particularly 
those recently elected to local city councils in the West 
Bank and Gaza.  He said when issues require coordination with 
local Hamas controlled councils the IDF and the COGAT 
indirectly coordinate through other (non-Hamas) Palestinian 
contacts.  (Note:  This appears to be the "official" internal 
IDF policy; the other reports above indicate that direct 
contact is taking place.  End note).  Another contact, a 
former COGAT advisor on Arab Affairs said that, at times, the 
IDF will ask that a Palestinian Authority official be present 
to provide "cover" during meetings with Hamas officials. 
 
7. (C) Post has asked the Ministry of Justice whether the GOI 
has any laws or regulations prohibiting contact with Hamas. 
MOJ has passed the inquiry to the MFA for response. 
 
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KURTZER