ABU MAZEN REPORTEDLY MOVES TO RETAIN

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002004

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/LOGERFO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2016
TAGS: IS KPAL KWBG PREL MOPS
SUBJECT: ABU MAZEN REPORTEDLY MOVES TO RETAIN
ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL OF PASF

REF: A. JERUSALEM 00799


B. JERUSALEM 00386

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: Palestinian sources in the PA President's
office and the General Intelligence reported May 14 that
President Abbas (Abu Mazen) has moved to retain
administrative control of the PA security forces (PASF) by
appointing an advisory committee composed of key security
chiefs. The measure -- the legal basis of which is derived
from the executive powers outlined in the 2005 Security
Services Law )- will allow Abu Mazen to retain indirect
administrative control over the PASF. Interior Ministry
spokesmen declined comment on the measure pending an official
announcement, but the HAMAS leadership will likely view the
move negatively. END SUMMARY.

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Abu Mazen Implements Idea
Favored by PASF Chiefs
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2. (C) According to General Intelligence officer Jamil Abu
Surour, Abu Mazen has decided to implement an idea long
favored by high-ranking Fatah officials and form an Officers
Committee composed of Fatah loyalists (ref A). (NOTE: The
Security Services Law mandates the creation of an Officers
Committee, comprised of the most senior commanders of each
security service and two officials appointed by the
President, to provide recommendations on all administrative
decisions regarding the PASF. END NOTE.)


3. (C) According to the Security Services Law, the Officers
Committee is empowered to make recommendations to Abu Mazen
on the following:

-- Recruitment of officers in the security forces;
-- Promotions, dismissals, and retirements;
-- Recommendations for decorations, military honors, and
scholarships;
-- Appointment of all officers above the rank of colonel; and
-- Transferring officers from one unit to another.


4. (C) President's Office administrator Issam Abu Zeir told
POL FSN Specialist on May 14 that Abu Mazen has appointed the
following PASF officers to the committee:

-- Suleiman Hillis, Acting NSF Commander and Head of the
Committee
-- Tawfiq al-Tirawi, Deputy Chief of Intelligence (Mukhabarat)
-- Rashid Abu Shabak, Interior Security Chief
-- Mohammad Yusif, NSF Administrative Director (Presidential
Appointee)
-- Ala'a Husni, Chief of Civil Police
-- Ziad Hab Arrih, West Bank PSO Chief
-- Ibrahim Atiani, Civil Defense Chief
-- Mazin Izz Addin, NSF Director for Political Guidance
(Presidential Appointee)
-- Nidal Assouli, West Bank NSF Commander


5. (C) Effectively, the committee incorporates the leadership
of all the security services without including any officials
from HAMAS or the Interior Ministry.

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MOI Not Included or Consulted
--------------


6. (C) HAMAS Interior Ministry spokesman Khaled Abu Hilal
declined comment on the issue during a May 14 press
conference, saying only that he was unaware of the decision.
Issam Abu Zeir indicated to POL FSN on May 14 that President
Abbas has not yet decided whether to make an official
announcement about the formation of the Officers Committee.

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COMMENT
--------------


7. (C) While the creation of the Officers Committee is
intended to bolster Abu Mazen's security powers, the extent
of Abu Mazen,s legal authority to act on recommendations
from the Officers Committee remains unclear. While Abu Mazen
is commander-in-chief of all the PASF, operational control of
the security forces is divided between the President and the
Prime Minister (ref B).

WALLES