PALESTINIAN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS SITREP

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000157

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MUSTAFA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KWBG PBTS IS KPAL KDEM
SUBJECT: PALESTINIAN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS SITREP
#6: JANUARY 13, 2006: JERUSALEM CANDIDATES DEMAND THAT
ELECTIONS BE HELD ON TIME; SHOTS FIRED AT NASSER YUSIF'S
RAMALLAH RESIDENCE

REF: JERUSALEM 00139

Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

Hamas, Independent Candidates Issue
Statement on Jerusalem Voting
--------------


1. (C) PLO Chief Negotiator Sa'eb Erekat January 12
provided the Consul General a one-page statement endorsed by
19 of the 39 Jerusalem PLC candidates. The statement, which
includes the signatures of four Hamas candidates, urges that
elections be held as scheduled regardless of any potential
Israeli interference. The statement also calls on the US and
EU to increase their efforts to ensure a free and fair
election. (Note: The first four signatories of the document
are from Hamas, suggesting that Hamas composed the document.
The signature of Fatah national slate candidate Jihad Abu
Zneid and two Fatah independent candidates also appear on the
document. End note.)


2. (SBU) The following is an unofficial translation of the
January 11 statement:

Begin text:

A statement released by candidates of Jerusalem district.

On Wednesday January 11, the PLC candidates in the district
of Jerusalem have come together to examine the procedures as
were released by the Central Elections Commission (Jerusalem
Branch),on the management of election campaigning in
Jerusalem. The signers agreed on the following:

1 -- The candidates (signatories of this petition) would like
to stress that the second Palestinian PLC election is an
internal Palestinian affair. No foreign body has the right
to interfere in it.

2 -- The candidates would like to stress that elections must
be held as scheduled on January 25, 2006. The elections must
not be delayed for whatever reason and no matter the Israeli
obstructions.

3 -- The candidates highly value the supportive position of
the international community to conduct free and fair
elections.

4 -- The candidates request the international community,
particularly the EU and the US, to increase their initiatives
meant to conduct free and fair elections. The candidates
demand that all offices of civil society organizations, UN
headquarters, and other international organizations be made
available to the disposal of the Palestinian Central
Elections Commission.

5 -- The candidates demand that Palestinian citizens in
Jerusalem be allowed to vote while presenting their identity
cards (in lieu of prior registration). The candidates also
demand that Israeli authorities must not harass citizens on
Elections Day.

6 -- Candidates request the international community and all
freedom and democracy-loving bodies to render the Palestinian
elections as a successful endeavor.

7 -- Candidates condemn the Israeli measures of summoning and
questioning of candidates and supporters, some of whom have
been arrested.

8 -- Candidates demand the cancellation of all Israeli
prosecution measures that have been taken or will be taken on
grounds of the Palestinian elections in the city of Jerusalem.

9 -- Candidates urge all Jerusalem residents to head to the
polling stations wherever they will be located.

Signatories:
Dr. Ibrahim Abu Salem (Change and Reform)
Mohammed Toutah (Change and Reform)
Ahmad Atoun (Change and Reform)
Wael Husseini (Change and Reform)
Dr. Talal Abu Afifa (Fatah Independent candidate)
Iyad Salaymeh (Independent)
Hana Siniora (Independent)
Fadwa Khader (Independent)
Asad Ghazawneh (Independent)



Majed Aloush (Independent)
Mitri Nasrawi (Independent)
Hatem Abbas (Fatah Independent candidate)
Ziad Abu Zayyad (Independent)
Younis Jafar (Independent)
Hani Isawi (Independent)
Abdel Latif Ghaith (Independent)
Yacoub Ghaith (Independent)
Simon Awad (Independent)
Jihad Abu Zneid (Candidate on Fatah national list)

Unrest in Ramallah
--------------


3. (C) Unidentified gunmen the evening of January 12
reportedly fired gunshots at the al-Bireh residence of PA
Minister of Interior Nasser Yusif. PA police guarding the
residence returned fire, causing the driver of a passing
vehicle to crash, injuring two passengers. The police
arrested two individuals from the vehicle, on suspicion that
they were the suspected shooters. Following the arrest,
scores of Fatah activists took to the streets of al-Bireh,
where they blocked traffic, burned tires, and demanded the
release of the two suspects. The activists charged that the
two men in custody were not involved in the shooting. (Note:
This may be correct, since a similar shooting took place at
the Council of Ministers by speeding car immediately
following the incident at Yusif's residence. No injuries
were reported. According to an official from the Preventive
Security Organization, initial findings from the
interrogation of the two suspects indicated that the actual
gunmen who shot at Yusif's residence had managed to flee the
scene. End note.) PA security officials suggested that the
motive behind the shootings was linked to opposition within
Fatah to holding PLC elections on January 25.

More Problems Reported for
"Third Way" in Tulkarm
--------------


4. (C) In a separate incident in Tulkarm, unknown gunmen
fired shots at the vehicle of Samir Hilal, the campaign
coordinator for Salam Fayyad's "Third Way" national list.
There were no reported injuries. Sources in the "Third Way"
have reported several incidents of harassment, including the
January 10 flyer denouncing Fayyad as a US agent (reftel).


5. (C) Hamas officials in Tulkarm January 12 charged that
eleven activists arrested in the early morning hours during
an Israeli arrest operation were engaged in official
campaigning for the Hamas slate, "Change and Reform". The
Hamas officials said that the Israeli round-up was blatant
interference in internal Palestinian affairs.

WALLES