US embassy cable - 05CAIRO7998

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 007998 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KPAL, MOPS, PTER, ECON, EG, IS, IZ, MEPN, Palestinian Authority 
SUBJECT: EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER DETAILS OCTOBER 17 CAIRO 
VISIT OF PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT ABBAS 
 
 
Classified by DCM Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) Summary.  Egyptian Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit told 
the Ambassador October 17 that Palestinian President Mahmoud 
Abbas during his meeting with President Mubarak earlier the 
same day had provided a confident and upbeat assessment of 
events in the Palestinian territories as well as prospects 
for continued USG support.  Nevertheless, Aboul Gheit 
highlighted Abbas' complaint that ammunition had yet to be 
delivered by Egypt to the Palestinian Authority as agreed, 
and requested USG help to persuade Israel to "turn words to 
action."  Abbas was reportedly sanguine over prospects for 
Gazan economic development and a pending agreement on 
reopening the Rafah terminal.  End summary. 
 
2.  (C) Aboul Gheit described Abbas, currently en route to 
Washington via Paris and Madrid, as upbeat and positive on 
the overall political situation in the Palestinian 
territories.  Abbas conveyed to President Mubarak his 
"eagerness" to receive further political support from 
President Bush "beyond what was received in the U.S. during 
his last visit."  It was crucial that he "build further 
bridges to Washington" and receive clear USG political 
support. 
 
3.  (C) The PA, Aboul Gheit said, was anxious to increase its 
ability to control the situation in the territories and 
needed the deal on ammunition provision by Egypt to turn 
"from words to action."  Despite apparent agreement from all 
three sides (Egypt-Israel-PA), the ammunition had yet to be 
delivered.  (Note:  Aboul Gheit disawoved any role in the 
ammunition issue for himself, noting that it was being 
handled in security channels.  End note.)  According to Aboul 
Gheit, Abbas claimed that the PA was "not in a position to 
take hold of the situation" without the ammunition. 
 
4.  (C) On a more positive note, Aboul Gheit described 
Abbas's optimism on Gazan economic development.  Abbas said 
that money was starting to flow for hospitals and other 
projects, including from United Arab Emirates figures who 
were investing in housing and other infrastructure projects. 
Similarly, Abbas conveyed that he expected an agreement "very 
soon" between Egypt, Israel, and the PA on the reopening of 
the Rafah border. 
 
 
RICCIARDONE