ABU MAZEN/HANIYYAH REACH REPORTED DEAL ON SSF;

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002470 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/LOGERFO E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2016 TAGS: KPAL KWBG PREL PGOV IS SUBJECT: ABU MAZEN/HANIYYAH REACH REPORTED DEAL ON SSF; CONFLICTING HAMAS STATEMENTS ON QASSAM ROCKETS REF: JERUSALEM 02150 Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: President Abbas (Abu Mazen) and PM Isma'il Haniyyah reportedly agreed June 14 to integrate members of the HAMAS-affiliated Special Security Force (SSF) into the PA Civil Police. Presidential security sources report that the two sides have yet to agree on whether the SSF will be integrated as a unit or dispersed throughout the Civil Police. HAMAS released conflicting statements regarding a possible cessation of Qassam rocket fire into Israel. END SUMMARY. -------------- Abu Mazen, Haniyyah Reach Deal on SSF -------------- ¶2. (C) Abu Mazen and PM Haniyyah agreed to integrate the HAMAS-affiliated SSF into the Civil Police during a June 14 meeting, according to Gaza-based presidential staffers. As part of the agreement, PM Haniyyah promised to withdraw the SSF from populated areas of Gaza and concentrate them in Civil Police training centers. (NOTE: As of 1600L June 15, the SSF remains deployed in several areas of Gaza City. END NOTE.) PA Interior Ministry Spokesman Khaled Abu Hilal told the media June 15 that the agreement legalizes the status of the SSF and will allow it to operate as part of the PA security forces (PASF). ¶3. (C) Presidential security sources reported that the two sides have not agreed on a mechanism for integrating the SSF into the Civil Police. PM Haniyyah prefers to keep the 3000-plus member SSF as one unit within the Civil Police. Abu Mazen and the PASF chiefs, however, want to disperse the militants throughout the security forces. -------------- Reduced Qassam Attacks; Conflicting Reports About HAMAS Intentions -------------- ¶4. (C) At least eight Qassam rockets were fired into Israel June 14-15. This marks a significant reduction following the June 9 killing of 8 Palestinian civilians on a Gaza beach. Media sources reported that three Israelis were injured when a Qassam rocket struck the town of Sderot. PIJ and PRC factions claimed responsibility for the attacks. ¶5. (C) Following a June 15 Israeli media report that PM Haniyyah had ordered HAMAS militants to stop launching rockets into Israel, the military wing of HAMAS issued a statement denying the movement had any intention of halting rocket attacks on Israel. Later on June 15, government spokesman Ghazi al-Hamad appeared to offer the possibility of a cease-fire during an Israeli radio interview. "We are interested in a cease-fire everywhere. We want to end all operations if the Israeli side is interested in doing so," al-Hamad said. WALLES