PM FAYYAD AND HIS GOVERNMENT CONTINUE AFTER END OF

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 001463 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR NEA FRONT OFFICE. PLEASE PASS TO NSC WATERS/ABRAMS/SINGH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAL KWBG PGOV PREL PTER IS SUBJECT: PM FAYYAD AND HIS GOVERNMENT CONTINUE AFTER END OF EMERGENCY PERIOD ¶1. (SBU) Begin Summary. Following expiration of the 30-day state of emergency declared on June 14, PA President Mahmud Abbas (Abu Mazen) accepted PM Salam Fayyad's resignation and then directed him to form a new government. Until a new government receives a vote of confidence by the PLC -- which is unlikely to muster a quorum in the foreseeable future -- the current cabinet (including three new ministers sworn in on July 13) will continue to function. Acting PLC speaker Ahmad Bahar (Hamas) called for a PLC session to be convened on July 15, but the session was suspended for lack of a 67-member quorum. The PLO Central Council will meet in Ramallah on July 18 and is expected to issue a statement supporting President Abbas and PM Fayyad's government. End Summary. FAYYAD TO CONTINUE AS PM -------------- ¶2. (SBU) According to PM Fayyad and sources in the President's office, following expiration of the state of emergency on July 13, President Abbas accepted PM Fayyad's resignation and subsequently tasked him to form a new government. Abu Mazen's legal advisors told ConGen political specialist July 16 that the current government will continue until the PLC is able to meet and issue a vote of confidence for a new government. They note that a meeting of the PLC is not likely to muster a quorum under current circumstances. President's office contacts say that by accepting PM Fayyad's resignation, Abu Mazen has agreed that PM Fayyad and the current cabinet, including three new ministers sworn in on July 13, will effectively continue to govern for the foreseeable future until a resolution to the Palestinian political crisis allows the PLC to convene. HAMAS REACTION -------------- ¶3. (SBU) In response to Abbas' decree, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhum called the Fayyad government "unlawful" and added that only the national unity government (which was headed by former PM Ismayil Haniyah) is legal. On July 15, acting PLC speaker Ahmad Bahar (Hamas) called for a PLC session to discuss the legality of Abbas' state of emergency and presidential decrees, but just 30 minutes after he announced the session, Bahar suspended it for lack of a 67-member quorum. The session was attended by just 26 Hamas members in Gaza and another 5 in the West Bank (connected via video conference). Bahar said that he will call for another PLC session later this week. Hassan Khrayshah (independent), the second deputy PLC speaker, stated that he will also call for a PLC session this week. PLO CENTRAL COUNCIL TO CONVENE -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The PLO CC is scheduled to convene in Ramallah on July 18. PA contacts told ConGen political specialist that five prominent PLO leaders, including Faruq al-Qaddumi, Muhammad Jihad and Muhammad Ghnaym from Fatah, Nayif Hawatmah from DFLP, and former Palestine Liberation Army (PLA) commander Muhammad Afanah have received permission from Israel to enter the West Bank to participate in the meeting. Sources said that they expect the PLO CC will express support for Abu Mazen and the Fayyad government, call for early PLC and PNC elections, discuss revitalizing the PLO structure, and address the issue of Fatah-Hamas dialogue. WALLES