US embassy cable - 98KUWAIT8116

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KUWAITI GOVT FUNDING HAMAS: "NOT ONE PENNY"

Identifier: 98KUWAIT8116
Wikileaks: View 98KUWAIT8116 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Kuwait
Created: 1998-12-02 14:43:00
Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
Tags: PREL KU IS PA
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
O 021443Z DEC 98
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1316
INFO AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 
AMCONSUL JERUSALEM PRIORITY 
GCC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 008116 
 
E.O. 12958:  DECL:  01/01/08 
TAGS: PREL, KU, IS, PA 
SUBJECT: KUWAITI GOVT FUNDING HAMAS:  "NOT ONE PENNY" 
 
(U)  CLASSIFIED BY THE AMBASSADOR.  REASON 1.5. D. 
 
1.  (C)  DURING A CALL BY CONGRESSMAN ROHRABACHER ON FONMIN 
SABAH TODAY, THE CONGRESSMAN TOLD SHAYKH SABAH THAT CHAIRMAN ARAFAT 
HAD TOLD A SENIOR CONGRESSMAN YESTERDAY IN WASHINGTON THAT THE 
KUWAITI GOVERNMENT WAS PROVIDING FUNDING FOR HAMAS. 
 
2.  (C)  SHAYKH SABAH RESPONDED WITH SOME EMOTION, UNDERLINING THAT HE 
COULD ASSURE US THAT "NOT ONE PENNY" OF KUWAITI GOVERNMENT FUNDS HAD 
GONE TO HAMAS.  HE ADDED, HOWEVER, THAT HE COULD PROVIDE NO SUCH 
ASSURANCE OF KUWAITI PRIVATE SUPPORT FOR HAMAS, WHICH COULD NOT REALLY 
BE CONTROLLED BY THE GOK.  HE NOTED THAT KUWAITIS PROVIDED FUNDING NOT 
SO MUCH OUT OF SYMPATHY FOR HAMAS AS OUT OF HATRED FOR ARAFAT FOR HIS 
STAND DURING THE GULF WAR. 
 
3.  (C)  COMMENT:  AS WE REPORTED DURING SHAYKH YASSIN'S VISIT 
HERE EARLIER THIS YEAR, CONSIDERABLE KUWAITI PRIVATE FUND RAISING 
FOR HAMAS DOES OCCUR, BUT WE ALSO HAVE NO EVIDENCE OF OFFICIAL 
FUNDS GOING TO HIM.  (IT IS WORTH NOTING ALSO, HOWEVER, THAT SHAYKH 
SABAH IS NO FRIEND OF HAMAS AND TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO BLOCK 
YASSIN'S VISIT.) 
 
 
LAROCCO 

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