Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JERUSALEM955
2006-03-07 13:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
RAJUB: ABU MAZEN MUST SHOW LEADERSHIP
how-toVZCZCXYZ0015 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHJM #0955/01 0661334 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 071334Z MAR 06 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0751 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000955
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MUSTAFA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2016
TAGS: ASEC KPAL IS
SUBJECT: RAJUB: ABU MAZEN MUST SHOW LEADERSHIP
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 000955
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MUSTAFA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2016
TAGS: ASEC KPAL IS
SUBJECT: RAJUB: ABU MAZEN MUST SHOW LEADERSHIP
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: During a March 6 meeting with the Consul
General, former PA National Security Advisor Jibril Rajub
repeatedly called for Abu Mazen to show strong leadership on
internal Fatah reform and executive powers. Rajub withheld
judgment on the March 4-6 meetings of the Fatah Revolutionary
Council (FRC),which were still underway when this meeting
took place. Rajub called for "regional coordination" among
the PA, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt to contain the HAMAS
threat. Rajub said Abu Mazen cannot be perceived as
collaborating with the GOI or the U.S. to undermine HAMAS.
He predicted HAMAS would not accept the conditions outlined
by the Quartet and Fatah would not join the government. END
SUMMARY
--------------
Abu Mazen Must Lead
--------------
2. (C) Rajub repeatedly called for Abu Mazen to show strong
leadership to promote internal Fatah reform and strengthen
the executive authorities of the President. In regard to
control of the PA security forces (PASF),Rajub quipped, "Why
this strip tease of his powers?" criticizing Abu Mazen's
decision to hand control of the PA Interior Ministry
affiliated security forces and National Security Force (NSF)
to the HAMAS Prime Minister. Rajub argued Abu Mazen should
turn the PA President,s office into a &shadow government8
and use the General Intelligence (Mukhabarat) to collect
intelligence on the other branches of the PA. Rajub opined
that Abu Mazen must find ways to strengthen his control of
key governmental powers or forfeit authority to a HAMAS-led
government that is &already planning to turn him into a
figurehead.8
3. (C) In regard to the March 4-6 FRC meetings, Rajub
reported the consensus was for Fatah not to join a National
Unity Government (NUG),despite some grumblings at the
sidelines of the movement that a NUG might be a good idea.
Rajub reported the FRC meetings are proceeding &as if
nothing has happened8 and described the discussions as
largely superficial and focused on what went wrong in the PLC
election. Rajub spoke at length about Fatah,s failings in
the PLC elections, blaming the disorganized candidate lists
in the district races for HAMAS, strong showing.
--------------
Regional Powers
--------------
4. (C) Rajub said he had met with the Egyptian and Jordanian
intelligence chiefs following the PLC elections. The
Egyptians and Jordanians understand the threat posed by HAMAS
and have declined political overtures by the Islamist
movement. Rajub opined Abu Mazen should strengthen security
cooperation with Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia in order to
counter the ®ional threat8 posed by HAMAS. Rajub
speculated that Syria would look to use HAMAS to create
instability because of Syria,s own political difficulties
saying, &the Syrians will want to play this card.8 Rajub
reported he had picked up indications that some members of
the HAMAS leadership are uncomfortable with strengthening
ties with the Government of Iran.
--------------
Abu Mazen Must Confront
HAMAS Without U.S. or GOI
--------------
5. (C) Rajub said Abu Mazen and Fatah could not be perceived
as working with the GOI and the U.S. to undermine HAMAS.
While Rajub backed plans to pressure the HAMAS-led government
to accept the conditions laid out in Abu Mazen,s letter to
PM-designate Isma,il Hanniyah, the &red line is the
appearance of cooperation with the U.S. and the Israelis.8
Rajub said he felt it was unlikely that HAMAS would accept
the Quartet conditions or ultimately succeed at governing,
describing the movement as "a bunch of shaykhs."
--------------
A Humbled &Lion of the South?8
--------------
6. (C) Rajub described his loss in the PLC elections as &a
personal earthquake.8 Rajub said he remains close with his
brother Nayif Rajub, who won a PLC seat from Hebron on the
HAMAS slate, and spoke proudly of their recent appearance
together in a televised debate on the al-Arabiya television
news network. Rajub said he plans to take a position at
al-Quds University and would remain involved in Palestinian
politics. "Call me anytime, as you know I have a lot more
time on my hands now," said Rajub.
WALLES
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MUSTAFA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2016
TAGS: ASEC KPAL IS
SUBJECT: RAJUB: ABU MAZEN MUST SHOW LEADERSHIP
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: During a March 6 meeting with the Consul
General, former PA National Security Advisor Jibril Rajub
repeatedly called for Abu Mazen to show strong leadership on
internal Fatah reform and executive powers. Rajub withheld
judgment on the March 4-6 meetings of the Fatah Revolutionary
Council (FRC),which were still underway when this meeting
took place. Rajub called for "regional coordination" among
the PA, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt to contain the HAMAS
threat. Rajub said Abu Mazen cannot be perceived as
collaborating with the GOI or the U.S. to undermine HAMAS.
He predicted HAMAS would not accept the conditions outlined
by the Quartet and Fatah would not join the government. END
SUMMARY
--------------
Abu Mazen Must Lead
--------------
2. (C) Rajub repeatedly called for Abu Mazen to show strong
leadership to promote internal Fatah reform and strengthen
the executive authorities of the President. In regard to
control of the PA security forces (PASF),Rajub quipped, "Why
this strip tease of his powers?" criticizing Abu Mazen's
decision to hand control of the PA Interior Ministry
affiliated security forces and National Security Force (NSF)
to the HAMAS Prime Minister. Rajub argued Abu Mazen should
turn the PA President,s office into a &shadow government8
and use the General Intelligence (Mukhabarat) to collect
intelligence on the other branches of the PA. Rajub opined
that Abu Mazen must find ways to strengthen his control of
key governmental powers or forfeit authority to a HAMAS-led
government that is &already planning to turn him into a
figurehead.8
3. (C) In regard to the March 4-6 FRC meetings, Rajub
reported the consensus was for Fatah not to join a National
Unity Government (NUG),despite some grumblings at the
sidelines of the movement that a NUG might be a good idea.
Rajub reported the FRC meetings are proceeding &as if
nothing has happened8 and described the discussions as
largely superficial and focused on what went wrong in the PLC
election. Rajub spoke at length about Fatah,s failings in
the PLC elections, blaming the disorganized candidate lists
in the district races for HAMAS, strong showing.
--------------
Regional Powers
--------------
4. (C) Rajub said he had met with the Egyptian and Jordanian
intelligence chiefs following the PLC elections. The
Egyptians and Jordanians understand the threat posed by HAMAS
and have declined political overtures by the Islamist
movement. Rajub opined Abu Mazen should strengthen security
cooperation with Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia in order to
counter the ®ional threat8 posed by HAMAS. Rajub
speculated that Syria would look to use HAMAS to create
instability because of Syria,s own political difficulties
saying, &the Syrians will want to play this card.8 Rajub
reported he had picked up indications that some members of
the HAMAS leadership are uncomfortable with strengthening
ties with the Government of Iran.
--------------
Abu Mazen Must Confront
HAMAS Without U.S. or GOI
--------------
5. (C) Rajub said Abu Mazen and Fatah could not be perceived
as working with the GOI and the U.S. to undermine HAMAS.
While Rajub backed plans to pressure the HAMAS-led government
to accept the conditions laid out in Abu Mazen,s letter to
PM-designate Isma,il Hanniyah, the &red line is the
appearance of cooperation with the U.S. and the Israelis.8
Rajub said he felt it was unlikely that HAMAS would accept
the Quartet conditions or ultimately succeed at governing,
describing the movement as "a bunch of shaykhs."
--------------
A Humbled &Lion of the South?8
--------------
6. (C) Rajub described his loss in the PLC elections as &a
personal earthquake.8 Rajub said he remains close with his
brother Nayif Rajub, who won a PLC seat from Hebron on the
HAMAS slate, and spoke proudly of their recent appearance
together in a televised debate on the al-Arabiya television
news network. Rajub said he plans to take a position at
al-Quds University and would remain involved in Palestinian
politics. "Call me anytime, as you know I have a lot more
time on my hands now," said Rajub.
WALLES