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