Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JERUSALEM1760
2006-05-02 12:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
UNRWA HEAD ABU ZAYD ON CURRENT SITUATION
how-toVZCZCXYZ0020 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHJM #1760 1221235 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 021235Z MAY 06 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1863 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001760
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MUSTAFA
ALSO FOR PRM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2016
TAGS: PREL KPAL KWBG PHUM
SUBJECT: UNRWA HEAD ABU ZAYD ON CURRENT SITUATION
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001760
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MUSTAFA
ALSO FOR PRM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2016
TAGS: PREL KPAL KWBG PHUM
SUBJECT: UNRWA HEAD ABU ZAYD ON CURRENT SITUATION
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)
Commissioner General Karen Abu Zayd told Consul General on
May 1, in advance of her upcoming trip to Washington, that
the situation in Gaza is worsening due to the general
deterioration of the Palestinian economy, exacerbated by the
non-payment of salaries to PA employees. She cited PA
employees as a new class of needy, with UNRWA being asked for
jobs and services by Palestinians who had not previously
relied on UNRWA. Abu Zayd said that UNRWA is maintaining an
approximately 6-day supply of food, down from previous
stockpiles, and voiced her concern about the ability to get
goods into Gaza. In the West Bank, Abu Zayd said she saw
increasing frustration at growing numbers of IDF checkpoints
and other movement restrictions.
2. (C) Abu Zayd expressed concern about the growing demands
on UNRWA to meet the needs of "thousand of new families."
She described UNRWA as being "caught between the old PA and
the new PA," between those long-standing contacts with whom
UNRWA has long done business, and the new Hamas ministers who
are overwhelmed at the magnitude of the challenges facing
them. In response to a question from the Consul General, Abu
Zayd said she had not met PA ministers in the new government
and continued to work primarily through the PLO Department of
Refugee Affairs. Regarding security, Abu Zayd said UNRWA
workers did not feel particularly threatened - if anything,
they felt more welcomed than before - but worried about the
possibility of rising civil disorder stemming from the
presence of thousands of armed people without salaries. She
thought that PA comments over the last several days about
pending payments from the Arab League to PA employees were
misleading, and said that individual PA ministers appeared to
be raising expectations by telling their employees to expect
their salaries soon.
3. (C) Abu Zayd said she said would meet later on May 1 with
Israeli Foreign Minister Livni and that she looked forward to
meeting USG officials in Washington and discussing US policy
towards the PA and U.S. expectations for UNRWA.
WALLES
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MUSTAFA
ALSO FOR PRM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2016
TAGS: PREL KPAL KWBG PHUM
SUBJECT: UNRWA HEAD ABU ZAYD ON CURRENT SITUATION
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)
Commissioner General Karen Abu Zayd told Consul General on
May 1, in advance of her upcoming trip to Washington, that
the situation in Gaza is worsening due to the general
deterioration of the Palestinian economy, exacerbated by the
non-payment of salaries to PA employees. She cited PA
employees as a new class of needy, with UNRWA being asked for
jobs and services by Palestinians who had not previously
relied on UNRWA. Abu Zayd said that UNRWA is maintaining an
approximately 6-day supply of food, down from previous
stockpiles, and voiced her concern about the ability to get
goods into Gaza. In the West Bank, Abu Zayd said she saw
increasing frustration at growing numbers of IDF checkpoints
and other movement restrictions.
2. (C) Abu Zayd expressed concern about the growing demands
on UNRWA to meet the needs of "thousand of new families."
She described UNRWA as being "caught between the old PA and
the new PA," between those long-standing contacts with whom
UNRWA has long done business, and the new Hamas ministers who
are overwhelmed at the magnitude of the challenges facing
them. In response to a question from the Consul General, Abu
Zayd said she had not met PA ministers in the new government
and continued to work primarily through the PLO Department of
Refugee Affairs. Regarding security, Abu Zayd said UNRWA
workers did not feel particularly threatened - if anything,
they felt more welcomed than before - but worried about the
possibility of rising civil disorder stemming from the
presence of thousands of armed people without salaries. She
thought that PA comments over the last several days about
pending payments from the Arab League to PA employees were
misleading, and said that individual PA ministers appeared to
be raising expectations by telling their employees to expect
their salaries soon.
3. (C) Abu Zayd said she said would meet later on May 1 with
Israeli Foreign Minister Livni and that she looked forward to
meeting USG officials in Washington and discussing US policy
towards the PA and U.S. expectations for UNRWA.
WALLES