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