PALESTINIAN TRADE UNION LEADER KIDNAPPED,

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001440

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR
WILLIAMS/SHAMPAINE/BELGRADE; DRL FOR JAMES VIRAY; NSC FOR
ABRAMS/WATERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/16
TAGS: ELAB ECON KPAL KWBG CASC ASEC
SUBJECT: PALESTINIAN TRADE UNION LEADER KIDNAPPED,
THREATENED, AND RELEASED


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


1. (SBU) Summary: Palestinian General Federation of Trade
Unions (PGFTU) Chairman Shaher Sa'ad was kidnapped in the
West Bank town of Nablus on the afternoon of July 10. He was
released unharmed following one hour of physical threats and
demands by the kidnappers for him to (a) resign his post and
(b) end his criticisms of groups that carry arms and practice
violence. End summary.


2. (C) PGFTU Chairman Shaher Sa'ad told EconSpecialist July
11 that, during a June 10 lunch with visiting members of an
Italian trade union in a Nablus restaurant, he was kidnapped
at gun-point by five or six gunmen. Sa'ad said his
kidnappers took him to a remote area where they demanded that
Sa'ad resign as chairman of the PGFTU and also stop publicly
criticizing those groups that carry weapons and practice
violence.


3. (C) Sa'ad said he refused his kidnappers' insistence that
he record on videotape his resignation. He noted that his
kidnappers claimed to be a part of the "Chicago brigades."
He was released one hour following his abduction. Sa'ad said
that he met with Nablus Security officials July 11 in an
effort to improve his physical protection.


4. (C) Comment: A disturbing element of this kidnapping is
that it occurred in the presence of international visitors,
which may signal greater boldness on the part of armed groups
in the West Bank. An Amcit representative of the Solidarity
Center, a National Endowment for Democracy fund beneficiary,
works closely with Sa'ad but was not with him in Nablus July

10. RSO has contacted Amcit to discuss his personal
security. End comment.

WALLES