Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07JERUSALEM1522
2007-07-23 14:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
PLC SESSION FAILS AGAIN, FAYYAD CONTINUES GOVERNING
how-toVZCZCXRO9953 OO RUEHROV DE RUEHJM #1522 2041404 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 231404Z JUL 07 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8455 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001522
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2017
TAGS: KWBG, PGOV, PREL, PTER, IS, KDEM
SUBJECT: PLC SESSION FAILS AGAIN, FAYYAD CONTINUES GOVERNING
REF: A. JERUSALEM 1514
B. JERUSALEM 1441
C. JERUSALEM 1463
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001522
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2017
TAGS: KWBG, PGOV, PREL, PTER, IS, KDEM
SUBJECT: PLC SESSION FAILS AGAIN, FAYYAD CONTINUES GOVERNING
REF: A. JERUSALEM 1514
B. JERUSALEM 1441
C. JERUSALEM 1463
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: A boycott by Fatah legislators prevented
the PLC from achieving a quorum July 22. PM Fayyad says he
has acted in accordance with the Basic Law and has a popular
mandate to continue to govern. HAMAS called on Abbas to
select a new Prime Minister, claiming that Fayyad's legal
term has ended. End Summary.
PLC: NO QUORUM
--------------
2. (SBU) The Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) failed to
convene a quorum for the third time in two weeks on July 22.
Only 33 PLC members attended the session (10 in Ramallah and
23 in Gaza),falling short of the 67 required. PLC
Secretary-General Ibrahim Khrayshah told the press that Abu
SIPDIS
Mazen must inaugurate a new cycle and the PLC must elect new
leadership before the PLC can legally meet. He said PM
Fayyad and his cabinet will continue to govern until "a
constitutional solution out of the impasse is found." Fatah
PLC bloc leader Azzam al-Ahmad told Political Specialist that
Fatah boycotted the July 22 session because the PLC has not
initiated a new cycle. He noted that HAMAS PLC members had
boycotted the meeting called for July 11 at which Abu Mazen
would have initiated a new PLC session and the PLC would have
elected a new speaker and deputies. Al-Ahmad confirmed that
PM Fayyad will govern and Abu Mazen will legislate by decree
until the PLC is able to convene in a manner consistent with
the Basic Law, .
HAMAS: ABBAS MUST SELECT NEW PRIME MINISTER
--------------
3. (U) Acting PLC Speaker Ahmad Bahar (HAMAS) told
Palestinian press that the Fayyad government completed its
legal term as an emergency government, and he called on Abbas
to appoint a new prime minister to form a new government.
However, HAMAS members told local press that the PLC must
initiate a new cycle before undertaking any legislative work.
FAYYAD: CONTENT WITH SITUATION
--------------
4. (C) Speaking to the press, PM Fayyad noted that the PLC
had not voted on his government. He told the Consul General
on July 22 that he is satisfied with the current situation.
He said he asked the PLC to meet and to vote on his
government in accordance with the Basic Law, but there was no
quorum. He said he believes he has done the necessary and
can now move forward with governing, consistent with the
Basic Law and other requirements for legitimacy.
WALLES
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2017
TAGS: KWBG, PGOV, PREL, PTER, IS, KDEM
SUBJECT: PLC SESSION FAILS AGAIN, FAYYAD CONTINUES GOVERNING
REF: A. JERUSALEM 1514
B. JERUSALEM 1441
C. JERUSALEM 1463
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: A boycott by Fatah legislators prevented
the PLC from achieving a quorum July 22. PM Fayyad says he
has acted in accordance with the Basic Law and has a popular
mandate to continue to govern. HAMAS called on Abbas to
select a new Prime Minister, claiming that Fayyad's legal
term has ended. End Summary.
PLC: NO QUORUM
--------------
2. (SBU) The Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) failed to
convene a quorum for the third time in two weeks on July 22.
Only 33 PLC members attended the session (10 in Ramallah and
23 in Gaza),falling short of the 67 required. PLC
Secretary-General Ibrahim Khrayshah told the press that Abu
SIPDIS
Mazen must inaugurate a new cycle and the PLC must elect new
leadership before the PLC can legally meet. He said PM
Fayyad and his cabinet will continue to govern until "a
constitutional solution out of the impasse is found." Fatah
PLC bloc leader Azzam al-Ahmad told Political Specialist that
Fatah boycotted the July 22 session because the PLC has not
initiated a new cycle. He noted that HAMAS PLC members had
boycotted the meeting called for July 11 at which Abu Mazen
would have initiated a new PLC session and the PLC would have
elected a new speaker and deputies. Al-Ahmad confirmed that
PM Fayyad will govern and Abu Mazen will legislate by decree
until the PLC is able to convene in a manner consistent with
the Basic Law, .
HAMAS: ABBAS MUST SELECT NEW PRIME MINISTER
--------------
3. (U) Acting PLC Speaker Ahmad Bahar (HAMAS) told
Palestinian press that the Fayyad government completed its
legal term as an emergency government, and he called on Abbas
to appoint a new prime minister to form a new government.
However, HAMAS members told local press that the PLC must
initiate a new cycle before undertaking any legislative work.
FAYYAD: CONTENT WITH SITUATION
--------------
4. (C) Speaking to the press, PM Fayyad noted that the PLC
had not voted on his government. He told the Consul General
on July 22 that he is satisfied with the current situation.
He said he asked the PLC to meet and to vote on his
government in accordance with the Basic Law, but there was no
quorum. He said he believes he has done the necessary and
can now move forward with governing, consistent with the
Basic Law and other requirements for legitimacy.
WALLES