Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07JERUSALEM1429
2007-07-10 09:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:  

PM FAYYAD LAYS OUT SECURITY/DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

Tags:  PREL KWBG IS OREP EAID PGOV ECON 
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VZCZCXRO7833
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #1429 1910954
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 100954Z JUL 07
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8323
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001429 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2017
TAGS: PREL KWBG IS OREP EAID PGOV ECON
SUBJECT: PM FAYYAD LAYS OUT SECURITY/DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
WITH CODEL ISRAEL

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001429

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2017
TAGS: PREL KWBG IS OREP EAID PGOV ECON
SUBJECT: PM FAYYAD LAYS OUT SECURITY/DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
WITH CODEL ISRAEL

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


1. (C) Summary. At a July 5 meeting in Ramallah, PM Salam
Fayyad told Congressman Steve Israel (D-NY) that the PA must
make immediate progress--including a political track with
Israel--because this government is probably Palestinians'
last chance. PM Fayyad said security is his government's
priority, because no sustainable progress in other areas is
possible without it. Cooperation with Israel is essential
for PA success, he said, and partnership with Israel will
serve Israeli and Palestinian interests. PM Fayyad said he
wants to rebuild the trust and cooperation with the USG that
made past assistance (including cash transfers) possible and
asked the USG to take the lead on PA assistance with the
international donor community. "As we make it easier for you
to make our case, please ask for more for us," he requested,
"and we will always demonstrate that assistance is being used
effectively and with transparency." End summary.

This Is Our Last Chance
--------------


2. (C) At a July 5 meeting at the PM's office in Ramallah,
PM Fayyad told Congressman Israel that while conditions are
far from ideal, the PA must make immediate progress on
security. He said the new government is probably the last
chance to present Palestinians with an alternative to
extremists. Fayyad said he wants to return to previous
periods of close cooperation with the USG and particularly
with the U.S. Congress. "We are trying to change the
prevailing culture; we are honored to be friends with the
U.S., not ashamed," he said.


3. (C) PM Fayyad said security is his government's priority,
because no sustainable progress in other areas--including a
political track with Israel--is possible without it. The
long-term goal of the PA security program is implementation
of President Abbas' position that the PA is the only legal
authority and only the PA's legitimate security forces should
possess weapons.

Cooperative Relationship with GoI: Security, Access/Movement
-------------- --------------


4. (C) Cooperation with Israel is essential for the PA's
success, PM Fayyad said. Palestinians generally feel
hopeless and depressed, and suffer psychological (as well as
economic) harm from closures, checkpoints and inadequate
personal security, and the PA cannot improve Palestinians'
daily lives with Israeli help. Partnership with Israel will
also serve Israeli interests, he said, because there are
limits on the GoI ability to provide security to its people
without PA assistance. He said he wants to move quickly to
resolve immediate concerns while keeping sight of long-term
political issues. He said Israeli help is critical for the
PA to deal effectively with the problems of fugitives and
West Bank militants, and he noted that he recently discussed
these issues with Israeli MoD Ehud Barak.

Increased Financial and Project Assistance
--------------


5. (C) PM Fayyad said past USG cash transfers boosted the PA
enormously, and he wants to rebuild the trust and cooperation
with the USG that made such assistance possible. He said the
PA currently owes its private sector USD 350 million in
vendor debts, VAT refunds, etc., and he asked the USG to take
the lead on PA financial assistance to energize the
international donor community ahead of upcoming donor
meetings. Noting that the U.S. is the PA's biggest bilateral
donor, he said he wants to work with Congress to restore
USAID project funding and increase assistance in areas where
critical needs are identified. "Doing the right thing is
also appreciated on Capitol Hill," he said. "As we make it
easier for you to make our case, please ask for more for us,
and we will always demonstrate that assistance is being used
effectively and with transparency."


6. (U) CODEL Israel did not clear this telegram.
WALLES