Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JERUSALEM2134
2006-05-25 15:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
FATAH AND HAMAS MEET TO EASE TENSIONS IN GAZA AS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHJM #2134 1451557 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 251557Z MAY 06 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2388 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002134
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/LOGERFO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2016
TAGS: KPAL KWBG PREL IS ASEC
SUBJECT: FATAH AND HAMAS MEET TO EASE TENSIONS IN GAZA AS
VIOLENCE CONTINUES
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002134
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/LOGERFO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2016
TAGS: KPAL KWBG PREL IS ASEC
SUBJECT: FATAH AND HAMAS MEET TO EASE TENSIONS IN GAZA AS
VIOLENCE CONTINUES
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: Tensions remain high in Gaza despite
efforts by Fatah and Hamas to calm the situation. Clashes
took place in Gaza City and a kidnapping elsewhere. The
death of a PSO chief appears to be a "work accident" and not
part of the ongoing clashes. Fatah and Hamas representatives
met and reportedly agreed to integrate the Special Security
Force into the PA Civil Police. END SUMMARY.
--------------
Clashes and Kidnappings Continue
--------------
2. (C) An official from the President's Office in Gaza told
POL FSN that at 1530L on May 25, clashes erupted between the
Interior Ministry's Special Security Force and the PSO on
Thalathini Street in Gaza City. He reported that at least
four-to-five people were injured in the clashes.
3. (C) In a separate incident, HAMAS gunmen kidnapped Fatah
activist and PSO officer Manar Abu Sill in Gaza City. A
second individual was shot and injured in the incident.
4. (C) Media reported that around 1930L on May 24, Nabil
Hudhud, chief of the PSO in Central Gaza, was killed and his
senior aide wounded when the vehicle Hudhud was traveling in
near Gaza City exploded. PSO announced that an investigation
has been opened into Hudhud's death. In a May 25 meeting
with the Consul General, PLC Member Muhammad Dahlan described
Hudhud's death as a "work-related accident," when an
explosive device accidentally detonated in his car. Dahlan
said Hamas had quickly called PSO to emphasize that it had
nothing to do with it.
--------------
Fatah and HAMAS Meet to
Diffuse Tensions . . .
--------------
5. (C) Senior officials of Fatah and HAMAS, including PM
Isma'il Haniyyah, met again May 24 in Gaza to reduce
tensions. Both sides reportedly agreed to integrate the
Interior Ministry's Special Security Force into the PA Civil
Police and release the conclusions of a fact-finding
committee examining the causes of the latest wave of
violence.
6. (C) In a press conference immediately following the
meeting, PM Haniyyah said that Fatah and HAMAS are not
involved in a civil war in Gaza, but indicated that some
"unknown people" within the security forces may have a hidden
agenda to provoke one. Haniyyah stressed that HAMAS and
Fatah are determined to contain the crisis and focus efforts
on confronting the "economic siege" imposed on the
Palestinians by the international community.
WALLES
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/LOGERFO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2016
TAGS: KPAL KWBG PREL IS ASEC
SUBJECT: FATAH AND HAMAS MEET TO EASE TENSIONS IN GAZA AS
VIOLENCE CONTINUES
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: Tensions remain high in Gaza despite
efforts by Fatah and Hamas to calm the situation. Clashes
took place in Gaza City and a kidnapping elsewhere. The
death of a PSO chief appears to be a "work accident" and not
part of the ongoing clashes. Fatah and Hamas representatives
met and reportedly agreed to integrate the Special Security
Force into the PA Civil Police. END SUMMARY.
--------------
Clashes and Kidnappings Continue
--------------
2. (C) An official from the President's Office in Gaza told
POL FSN that at 1530L on May 25, clashes erupted between the
Interior Ministry's Special Security Force and the PSO on
Thalathini Street in Gaza City. He reported that at least
four-to-five people were injured in the clashes.
3. (C) In a separate incident, HAMAS gunmen kidnapped Fatah
activist and PSO officer Manar Abu Sill in Gaza City. A
second individual was shot and injured in the incident.
4. (C) Media reported that around 1930L on May 24, Nabil
Hudhud, chief of the PSO in Central Gaza, was killed and his
senior aide wounded when the vehicle Hudhud was traveling in
near Gaza City exploded. PSO announced that an investigation
has been opened into Hudhud's death. In a May 25 meeting
with the Consul General, PLC Member Muhammad Dahlan described
Hudhud's death as a "work-related accident," when an
explosive device accidentally detonated in his car. Dahlan
said Hamas had quickly called PSO to emphasize that it had
nothing to do with it.
--------------
Fatah and HAMAS Meet to
Diffuse Tensions . . .
--------------
5. (C) Senior officials of Fatah and HAMAS, including PM
Isma'il Haniyyah, met again May 24 in Gaza to reduce
tensions. Both sides reportedly agreed to integrate the
Interior Ministry's Special Security Force into the PA Civil
Police and release the conclusions of a fact-finding
committee examining the causes of the latest wave of
violence.
6. (C) In a press conference immediately following the
meeting, PM Haniyyah said that Fatah and HAMAS are not
involved in a civil war in Gaza, but indicated that some
"unknown people" within the security forces may have a hidden
agenda to provoke one. Haniyyah stressed that HAMAS and
Fatah are determined to contain the crisis and focus efforts
on confronting the "economic siege" imposed on the
Palestinians by the international community.
WALLES