HEBRONITES DISCUSS SETTLERS, ECONOMY AND HAMAS

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002036

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/19/2016
TAGS: PREL KPAL KWBG EAID
SUBJECT: HEBRONITES DISCUSS SETTLERS, ECONOMY AND HAMAS

REF: A. JERUSALEM 1499


B. JERUSALEM 1824

Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary. In a May 18 meeting with the Consul
General, prominent Hebronites expressed concerns about
settlers, the economy and Hamas' stewardship of the
government. Hebron Governor Jabari expressed his
appreciation for USG assistance in past difficulties
involving the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs,
described new difficulties and sought USG help to resolve
them. All the Hebronites spoke of the political and economic
difficulties caused by the presence of Israeli settlers
inside Hebron and hoped that Israeli PM Olmert's Convergence
Plan would result in their departure. A local business
leader described recent economic deterioration and asked for
reconsideration of suspended USAID private sector projects.
A Fatah leader underscored the need for the USG to remain
engaged on a political level. Follow-on press coverage
highlighted the Consul General's visit. End summary.


2. (U) Attendees:

Palestinian
--------------
Hebron Governor Arif Jabari
Local businessman Khaled Osaily, CEO of Osaily Trading Co.
Fatah leader and former PLC member Sliman Abu Sneineh

ConGen
--------------
Consul General
Political Chief (notetaker)
FSN Political Specialist

Settler and IDF Concerns
--------------


3. (C) Governor Jabari thanked the Consul General for
assistance regarding a recent difficulty in the Ibrahimi
Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs (ref (a) and said that
Palestinians faced severe security and economic problems
within Hebron's Old City, which he linked directly to the
ongoing presence of Israeli settlers in and around the Old
City. Jabari is closely following statements made by Israeli
PM Olmert regarding the future of settlements, and said he
hopes the settlements in and around Hebron will be removed as
part of Olmert's Convergence Plan.


4. (C) Jabari said he had received information regarding a
new development at the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs
on May 17, in which the IDF issued a military order to
install bullet-proof windows around the burial place of
Abraham. Jabari opined that the only threat in the Mosque is
from Israeli extremists, noting the 1994 attack on Muslim
worshippers by Israeli settler Baruch Goldstein, and
explained that the Palestinians opposed any changes around
Abraham's resting place. He asked for USG assistance with
the GOI in turning off this project. He also charged the GOI
with preventing the muezzin from announcing the call to
prayer in recent weeks and asked for US intervention on this
issue as well.

Business Concerns
--------------


5. (C) Prominent local businessman Osaily echoed the
governor's concerns regarding Hebron's Old City. He
expressed concern about the overall political situation, and
recalled the recent Palestinian private sector political
initiative (ref (b) geared toward addressing political and
economic problems. Osaily described the overall Palestinian
economic situation as bleak and asked for reconsideration of
USAID projects suspended in the wake of the January 2006
Hamas Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) victory. Osaily
said he was at a recent meeting in Jordan where investors in
Palestinian companies had decided to send their investment
funds to Sudan instead of the West Bank and Gaza.


6. (C) Osaily criticized the new Israeli checkpoints
established as part of the security barrier, noting in
particular the one between Bethlehem and Jerusalem. He
explained that they hinder the movement of goods and
humiliate Palestinians as they cross. He also pressed for
freer access by tourists to sites on the Palestinian side of
the separation barrier to alleviate the economic problems in
towns such as Bethlehem.

Political Concerns
--------------


7. (C) Fatah leader Abu Sneineh said he understood U.S.
legal restrictions against dealing with Hamas, but asked that
the USG stay engaged on Palestinian political issues, Hebron
and border crossings with Israel. Abu Sneineh -- an
unsuccessful candidate in the January PLC elections --
described most Hamas support as "non-ideological" and said
that "we all share the blame for the Hamas victory." Abu
Sneineh pressed for USG assistance in releasing tax clearance
revenues being held by the GOI, which he said would help
alleviate the economic crisis.


8. (C) Governor Jabari took aim at the Hamas leaders in
the PA, saying they lacked the experience to properly perform
their jobs. He asked for USG assistance in strengthening the
position of Abu Mazen vis-a-vis the Hamas-led government, and
underscored the negotiation role that could only be played by
the President and the PLO.

WALLES