PLO CENTRAL COUNCIL SLAMS HAMAS, SUPPORTS ABBAS

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001295 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/22/2017 TAGS: KWBG KPAL IS PGOV PTER SUBJECT: PLO CENTRAL COUNCIL SLAMS HAMAS, SUPPORTS ABBAS AND NEW CABINET Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) The PLO Central Council met in Ramallah June 20-21 and issued a statement (summarized in paras. 3-4) that condemned Hamas for its action in Gaza and expressed support for PA President/PLO ExComm Chairman Mahmud Abbas (Abu Mazen) and PM Salam Fayyad. (Note: The Central Council is a 115-member, mid-level PLO decision-making body, filling the niche between the 14-member Executive Committee (ExComm) and the much larger Palestinian National Council. End note). PLO ExComm member Hanna Amirah (People's Party) told PolOff June 22 that the Central Council wanted to send a strong message that all PLO factions oppose Hamas attacks on PA institutions and support President Abbas' decisions and the formation of the new Cabinet. He said the Central Council will meet again on July 20 to reassess the situation 30 days after the President's state of emergency decree. He said while the eventual goal is to hold elections and restore PA authority in Gaza through national dialogue and democratic means, but in the meantime "the PLO has a duty to support the President and new government against the illegal actions of certain factions in Gaza." Comment -------------- ¶2. (C) Because of the difficulties inherent in convening the PLC, President Abbas and his allies have turned to a PLO body to add legitimacy to his use of emergency decrees to form a Cabinet without PLC approval. The Central Council's call for amendments to the elections law and for early elections is consistent with Abbas' public statements. This is a long-term goal, however, as elections are unlikely in the near-term under current circumstances. End comment. PLO Central Council Resolutions -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The PLO Central Council's concluding statement includes the following points: -- The Council condemns Hamas for perpetrating a bloody coup against legitimate authority in Gaza; -- The Council calls for a committee to investigate those in Hamas responsible for these illegal acts and to bring them to trial; -- The Council supports President Abbas' decrees to form a Cabinet during the emergency period. ¶4. (SBU) The Central Council passed the following resolutions: -- Condemning Hamas attacks against PA institutions and Yasser Arafat's home; -- Stressing the rule of law in all PA areas; -- Supporting President Abbas' decisions and declaration of a state of emergency; -- Rejecting attempts to move the conflict to the West Bank; -- Calling upon Hamas to restore the situation in Gaza to its previous state; -- Calling for Presidential/PLC elections on the basis of proportional representation; -- Emphasizing the PA's jurisdiction in all areas of the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem; -- Pledging support to Jerusalem residents; -- Calling for the restructuring of the PLO and rehabilitation of the PLO National Fund; -- Calling on President Abbas to create a conducive atmosphere for early Presidential/PLC elections; -- Calling for dissolution of all factional militias; -- Scheduling a meeting for July 20 to continue action on these matters. WALLES