PALESTINIAN MONETARY AUTHORITY AND GAZA BANKS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 001486 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR WILLIAMS/SHAMPAINE/BELGRADE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/WATERS; TREASURY FOR SZUBIN/LOEFFLER/NUGENT/HIRSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/17 TAGS: ECON EFIN KFTN KWBG IS SUBJECT: PALESTINIAN MONETARY AUTHORITY AND GAZA BANKS CONTINUE COUNTERMEASURES REF: A. JERUSALEM 1276 ¶B. JERUSALEM 1372 Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary. The Palestinian Monetary Authority (PMA) and banks operating in the Gaza Strip continue to implement measures to thwart Hamas interference in the banking sector, according to PMA Deputy Governor Jihad al-Wazir. Most commercial banks have moved their headquarters to the West Bank or established parallel operations there. Banks have limited shipments of cash into Gaza to amounts necessary to maintain normal operations. Funds in Palestinian Authority (PA) and PMA accounts are now being held only in the West Bank. An instruction letter from Former PM Haniyyah to two banks was ignored with no adverse repercussions. End summary. Private Bank Actions -------------- ¶2. (C) PMA Deputy Governor Jihad al-Wazir told Econoffs July 17 that the PMA continues to work closely with commercial banks in implementing countermeasures to prevent Hamas interference in the banking sector (ref. A). Per PMA instructions, banks have developed business continuity plans which will allow them to close down operations in Gaza, if necessary, while maintaining operations and protecting data through their branches in the West Bank. Only two banks continue to maintain their headquarters in Gaza: the Palestine Islamic Bank and Al-Quds Bank. The PMA instructed older bank branches with an inadequate vaults to transfer funds to other Gaza branches with more secure vaults. PMA Steps -------------- ¶3. (C) Wazir said that after the Hamas take-over of Gaza, he closed PMA accounts there "in seconds." He estimated that PA funds held in the main branches of banks there totaled about USD 100 million. These accounts, frozen by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Salam Fayyad shortly after he took office, have been "zeroized," according to Wazir. Changes in signatory authority initiated by Fayyad continue to govern PA banking activities. Wazir said PMA staff in Gaza continue to work with limited authority as a means of protecting banks and the employees themselves from possible Hamas intimidation. Cash Shipments As Needed -------------- ¶4. (C) Wazir reported that shipments of cash into Gaza resumed (ref B.),but banks are limiting orders to amounts needed to maintain normal operations only. He noted that, due to force majeure being applied in Gaza, cash shipments cannot be insured. Wazir estimated that a total of about USD 80 million in all currencies is currently in circulation in Gaza. Haniyyah Letter -------------- ¶5. (C) Wazir said that, with one exception, Hamas has taken no action so far to interfere with banks. Former PA Prime Minister Ismail Haniyyah sent a letter to two banks notifying them of the appointment of a Hamas-affiliated individual to a PA position. The banks, in consultation with the PMA, elected to ignore the letter, and there have been no adverse repercussions. Possible Scenarios -------------- ¶6. (C) Wazir outlined four possible scenarios for Hamas relations with banks operating in Gaza: -- 1.) Status quo: Hamas continues a "hands off" approach to the banking sector. -- 2.) "Hamas Minus:" Hamas begins low-scale interventions, such as letters to banks demanding certain action along with Executive Force acts of intimidation. Hamas may also attempt to appoint some of its own members to the PMA's Gaza office. -- 3.) "Hamastan:" Hamas prohibits all banks except Islamic banks and appoints its own PMA governor. -- 4.) "Armageddon:" Israeli and Jordanian banks cut their ties with Gaza. The economy of Gaza totally collapses. Banks JERUSALEM 00001486 002 OF 002 fall prey to fraud, embezzlement, robbery, and bombings. Electricity is turned off, forcing banks to close, if they had not already. Anarchy prevails. WALLES