PALESTINIAN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS SITREP

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000324

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MUSTAFA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2016
TAGS: PREL KWBG PGOV PINS PTER KPAL IS PBTS KDEM
SUBJECT: PALESTINIAN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS SITREP
#11: JANUARY 24, 2006: SENIOR FATAH ACTIVIST KILLED IN
NABLUS; ALLEGED USG FUNDING CRITICIZED


Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: A senior Fatah activist associated with
Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) candidate Ghassan
Shakaa was killed in Nablus early on January 24, reportedly
by gunmen associated with rival Fatah leader Jamal al-Tirawi.
Large Fatah and Hamas rallies on January 23 marked the
official end of campaigning in the West Bank and Gaza. Hamas
candidates criticized alleged USG funding of Fatah
candidates. Hamas released a statement saying a senior
member of its military wing had escaped an assassination
attempt in Gaza. The Israeli High Court rejected a petition
to prevent Hamas and PFLP from participating in PLC elections
in Jerusalem. Voting by PA Security Forces (PASF) ended on
January 23. CEC officials estimated a turnout of over 92
percent of eligible, registered security personnel. END
SUMMARY.

Senior Fatah Activist
Killed in Nablus
--------------


2. (C) Ahmad Hasouneh, a senior Fatah activist was shot and
killed in Nablus reportedly by gunmen affiliated with a rival
Fatah faction. Hasouneh has been a prominent member of Fatah
PLC candidate Ghassan Shakaa's campaign staff. Local
contacts speculated to ConGen POL FSN that individuals
associated with al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (AMB) leader Jamal
al-Tirawi were responsible for the killing. Rival Fatah
factions exchanged fire later in the day in the vicinity of
Balata Camp. Reportedly, no one was injured. Acting
Governor of Nablus Said Abu Ali told POL FSN during a January
24 telcon that mounting tensions in the city between the
factions may effect voter turnout on Election Day, but said
he will do everything possible to prevent clashes.

Large Rallies Mark
End of Campaigning
--------------


3. (C) Election campaigning officially ended January 23.
Nearly 30,000 Fatah members and supporters gathered in Khan
Yunis in a final campaign rally. Ten Fatah independent
candidates announced during the rally that they are pulling
out of the race in favor of the official Fatah candidates.
Hamas supporters marched in Gaza City, Ramallah, Nablus and
other areas in a show of force ahead of Election Day.

Reports of USG Funding for
Fatah Criticized
--------------


4. (C) Hamas PLC candidate Ismael Hanniyah (National
List/Number 1) said reports of USG funding of PLC candidates
constitute a blatant violation of "America's supposed
democratic principles." Hanniyah said money tainted with
"the blood of Arabs and Muslims" would not detract from
Hamas's popularity and Palestinians will reject any leaders
who come to power with USG financial or military assistance.
Several Palestinian factions, including Hamas, PFLP, DFLP,
FIDA, and National Struggle Front, released statements
condemning the alleged US funding of Fatah candidates and
demanding an investigation. Central Elections Committee
(CEC) Director Ammar Dweik defended the USG during a January
23 televised debate, explaining funds were provided to the PA
and not PLC candidates. Consul General categorically denied
that the USG provided funds to candidates or political
parties in a January 24 TV interview with Ma'an News Agency.
The interview has aired twice on Ma'an's network of 11
stations in the West Bank and Gaza.

Fattuh Pushing for Post-Election
Fatah Reforms
--------------


5. (C) During a January 24 interview with local reporters,
PLC Speaker Rawhi Fattuh warned that certain armed groups are
planning to attack polling stations on Election Day. Fattuh
said that after the PLC election he will propose expanding
the membership of the Fatah Central Committee (FCC) from 17
to 100 members and expanding the Fatah Revolutionary Council
(FRC) from 120 to 250 members. Fattuh also said that his
proposal includes establishing a political bureau of 25
members to lead the movement. Fattuh is not running in the
PLC elections, but has called for restructuring Fatah during
the campaign

Attempted Assassination of


Hamas Military Leader
--------------


6. (C) Hamas released a statement saying a senior member of
its military wing in Gaza City, 'Abd al-Hadi Siam, escaped a
January 23 assassination attempt in Gaza City. The statement
said that the individuals responsible are known to Hamas and
that they will be held accountable after the election.
ConGen contacts reported Siam was not hurt in the attack and
that the individuals responsible for the attacked were also
responsible for January 4 killing of Hamas activist Rami
Adlo.

GOI High Court Declines to
Intervene in Jerusalem Vote
--------------


7. (SBU) The Israeli High Court of Justice rejected a
petition made by Palmah Ze'evi, son of the assassinated
Tourism Minister, and MK Gilad Erdan to prevent Hamas and
PFLP from participating in the PLC elections in Jerusalem.
The panel of three judges, including Supreme Court President
Aharon Barak, did not issue a statement explaining their
decision

Media Reports:


8. (SBU) Campaigning for the Palestinian legislative
elections came to a close yesterday, and the three main
Palestinian dailies reported that more than 90% of the
security forces have voted. Reports also noted that
preparations are under way for public voting tomorrow.

-- The papers carried the Palestinian government's call for
all Palestinians to exercise their right -- and national duty
-- to vote. Al-Ayyam carried above-the-fold pictures of
Palestinians taking part in a Fatah campaigning event in Khan
Yunis in the Gaza Strip.

-- Al-Hayat Al-Jadida ran a story on international observers,
and noted that their presence in every voting center reflects
the world,s interest in the Palestinian legislative
elections.

-- The former Prime Minister of Sweden, who is leading an
international monitoring team, was quoted in the dailies as
saying that he expects the upcoming legislative elections to
have more credibility than the presidential elections did
last year.

-- Al-Quds reported that the Israeli forces broke into the
village of Surbaher, near Jerusalem, and removed all
campaigning posters.

-- The newspapers announced that in an effort to allow
Palestinian legislative elections to proceed smoothly, Israel
ordered its military forces to not carry out any operations
in the West Bank from tomorrow morning until midnight.

Op-eds:

-- Al-Quds editorialized that regardless of which party,
faction or movement wins seats in the next legislative
council, the international forces &must respect the
Palestinian people,s decision and allow the next cabinet to
carry out its difficult duties and mission.&

-- Hasan al-Batal opined in Al-Ayyam that Americans know that
democratic Palestinian elections that in turn lead to a
democratic Palestinian state would help the United States to
"whiten its misdeeds" of imposing democracy by force in the
Balkans, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

-- Ahmad Bahr commented in Al-Quds that no party or faction
can deal with the (Israeli-Palestinian) conflict
unilaterally. Thus, as Hamas shares this responsibility it
will direct its action toward the larger national project at
Palestinian, regional, Islamic and international levels.

-- Mohammad Madhoun commented in Al-Quds that a potential win
for Hamas will not only be a victory for this group but also
for the whole Islamic movement in the region, especially for
those groups that adopt moderate views of Islam such as the
Muslim Brotherhood.

-- Ayman Yusuf opined in Al-Quds that by participating in the
elections, Hamas seems to have realized that its sacrifices,
including the substantial loss of life among its members,


must now be coupled with political participation.

WALLES