Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JERUSALEM2405
2006-06-13 14:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
PALESTINIAN BANKERS' SECURITY CONCERNS
VZCZCXYZ0012 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHJM #2405 1641448 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 131448Z JUN 06 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2745 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002405
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR
WILLIAMS/GREENE/WATERS/WAECHTER; NSC FOR
ABRAMS/DORAN/LOGERFO; TREASURY FOR NUGENT/ADKINS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2016
TAGS: EFIN PREL KWBG JO
SUBJECT: PALESTINIAN BANKERS' SECURITY CONCERNS
REF: JERUSALEM 2245
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 002405
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR
WILLIAMS/GREENE/WATERS/WAECHTER; NSC FOR
ABRAMS/DORAN/LOGERFO; TREASURY FOR NUGENT/ADKINS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2016
TAGS: EFIN PREL KWBG JO
SUBJECT: PALESTINIAN BANKERS' SECURITY CONCERNS
REF: JERUSALEM 2245
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Senior representatives of Palestinian and regional
banks operating in the West Bank and Gaza Strip expressed
their security concerns to USAIDoffs and EconOffs June 7 over
possible violent attacks against bank branch offices in
response to non-payment of salaries (reftel). Arab Bank
Regional Manager Mazen Abu Hamdan and Cairo-Amman Bank
Regional Manager Joseph Nesnas related several recent
incidents in Jenin, Bethlehem and Gaza that had resulted in
the temporary closures of branch offices and successful
appeals to President Abbas for additional security. The most
publicized event was the June 5 incident in Gaza where an
individual, who did not have an Arab Bank account, walked
into a Gaza branch of the Arab Bank, climbed the stairs to
the third floor manager's office, spilled water on his desk,
and demanded his salary. Arab Bank then closed its four
branches in Gaza while it successfully appealed to President
Abbas for security forces to provide 24 hour protection to
the branches.
2. (C) In his June 7 press comments and June 8 discussion
with ConGenOffs, Palestinian Monetary Authority Governor
George Abed spoke of his regular and constructive contacts
with the Governor of the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) and the
Chairman of the Arab Bank. His most recent conversation with
both dealt with a Jordanian government warning that, in
response to security concerns, Jordanian banks operating in
the West Bank and Gaza may close their doors. (Note: Abed
complained that the June 5 incident at an Arab Bank branch in
Gaza which had prompted the warning had been blown out of
proportion by local press. End note.) Abed said he had
secured agreement with the CBJ to coordinate future
announcements related to banking activities in the
Palestinian areas. He added that the warning was helpful in
highlighting for Palestinians the adverse consequences of
violence directed at all banks.
WALLES
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR
WILLIAMS/GREENE/WATERS/WAECHTER; NSC FOR
ABRAMS/DORAN/LOGERFO; TREASURY FOR NUGENT/ADKINS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2016
TAGS: EFIN PREL KWBG JO
SUBJECT: PALESTINIAN BANKERS' SECURITY CONCERNS
REF: JERUSALEM 2245
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Senior representatives of Palestinian and regional
banks operating in the West Bank and Gaza Strip expressed
their security concerns to USAIDoffs and EconOffs June 7 over
possible violent attacks against bank branch offices in
response to non-payment of salaries (reftel). Arab Bank
Regional Manager Mazen Abu Hamdan and Cairo-Amman Bank
Regional Manager Joseph Nesnas related several recent
incidents in Jenin, Bethlehem and Gaza that had resulted in
the temporary closures of branch offices and successful
appeals to President Abbas for additional security. The most
publicized event was the June 5 incident in Gaza where an
individual, who did not have an Arab Bank account, walked
into a Gaza branch of the Arab Bank, climbed the stairs to
the third floor manager's office, spilled water on his desk,
and demanded his salary. Arab Bank then closed its four
branches in Gaza while it successfully appealed to President
Abbas for security forces to provide 24 hour protection to
the branches.
2. (C) In his June 7 press comments and June 8 discussion
with ConGenOffs, Palestinian Monetary Authority Governor
George Abed spoke of his regular and constructive contacts
with the Governor of the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) and the
Chairman of the Arab Bank. His most recent conversation with
both dealt with a Jordanian government warning that, in
response to security concerns, Jordanian banks operating in
the West Bank and Gaza may close their doors. (Note: Abed
complained that the June 5 incident at an Arab Bank branch in
Gaza which had prompted the warning had been blown out of
proportion by local press. End note.) Abed said he had
secured agreement with the CBJ to coordinate future
announcements related to banking activities in the
Palestinian areas. He added that the warning was helpful in
highlighting for Palestinians the adverse consequences of
violence directed at all banks.
WALLES