Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07JERUSALEM1523
2007-07-23 14:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
PLO CENTRAL COUNCIL SUPPORTS ABBAS, CONDEMNS HAMAS
VZCZCXRO8134 OO RUEHROV DE RUEHJM #1523 2041423 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 231423Z JUL 07 ZDS CTG RUEHCB 2462 2130631 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8456 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001523
SIPDIS
2ND CORRECTED COPY - CLASSIFIED BY LINE ADDED
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons
1.4 (b) and (d)
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2017
TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PTER IS KDEM
SUBJECT: PLO CENTRAL COUNCIL SUPPORTS ABBAS, CONDEMNS HAMAS
REF: A. GMP20070721745003
B. JERUSALEM 1499
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001523
SIPDIS
2ND CORRECTED COPY - CLASSIFIED BY LINE ADDED
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons
1.4 (b) and (d)
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2017
TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PTER IS KDEM
SUBJECT: PLO CENTRAL COUNCIL SUPPORTS ABBAS, CONDEMNS HAMAS
REF: A. GMP20070721745003
B. JERUSALEM 1499
1. (U) Summary: The PLO Central Council (PLO-CC) released a
July 20 statement (Ref A) after two days of meetings
supporting President Abbas and PM Fayyad and calling on HAMAS
to restore the Gaza Strip to PA control. PLO-CC Speaker
Salim Zanun said this PLO leadership body will follow Abbas'
lead on elections and wants to revise the electoral system
and replace the Basic Law with a Palestinian constitution.
HAMAS condemned the call for early elections and accused
Abbas of failing to watch out for Palestinians' well-being.
End summary.
PLO-CC STATEMENT SUPPORTS ABBAS, CONDEMNS HAMAS
-------------- --
2. (U) Following the PLO Central Council (PLO-CC) meeting
July 18-19 in Ramallah, the PLO-CC released a statement
supporting PA President Mahmud Abbas (Abu Mazen) and Prime
Minister Salam Fayyad's government (ref A). The statement
criticized HAMAS for its take-over of the Gaza Strip and
called on HAMAS to return Gaza to its pre-June 2007 status.
The PLO-CC called for an electoral system of 100 percent
proportional representation (versus the current mixed system)
and directed the constitutional committee to complete the
preparation of a Palestinian constitution to replace the
Basic Law.
PLO-CC SPEAKER FLESHES OUT PLO-CC PLANS
--------------
3. (U) Speaker of the Council Salim Zanun told the press
that the PLO-CC endorsed President Abbas' request to call for
early presidential and legislative elections (see ref B).
Zanun said Abbas will be responsible for the timing of the
elections and commented that the PLO-CC has reservations
about holding elections in the West Bank without the Gaza
Strip. Zanun said the PLO-CC insists HAMAS reverse its
actions in Gaza before elections are held. He added that the
elections should use a system of 100 percent proportional
representation, combining all the Palestinian territories
into a single electoral district. (Note: In 2006, half the
PLC deputies were elected based on proportional
representation and half from districts. End note.)
4. (U) Zanun told the press that the PLO-CC supports Prime
Minister Salam Fayyad's government and endorses the
presidential decrees issued since HAMAS' takeover of the Gaza
Strip. He announced the formation of a committee to resume
drafting of a Palestinian constitution in preparation for
statehood. Without setting a date, Zanun suggested that the
PLO-CC and the Palestinian National Council (PNC) should meet
in the future to pursue these issues. (Note: The PNC is a
PLO body of over 600 members responsible for PLO policy and
programs. End note.)
HAMAS CRITICIZES ABBAS, ISRAEL AND THE U.S.
--------------
5. (U) Former HAMAS Foreign Minister Mahmud al-Zahar said
HAMAS will thwart any attempt to hold early elections, and
criticized Abbas for his "hasty decisions without considering
the well-being of the Palestinian people." Early elections
could only be held, he said, if all Palestinian factions
agreed. He gave no indication that HAMAS will consider early
elections. Zahar accused Israel and the U.S. of failing to
recognize the Palestinians' legitimately elected officials.
COMMENT
--------------
6. (C) Abbas does not intend to pursue early elections, and
HAMAS likely realizes this, given that he has called for
early elections repeatedly over the last eighteen months.
The public exchange between the PLO/Fatah and HAMAS about
early elections may continue, but neither side seems to take
seriously the other side's rhetoric. The PLO-CC meeting and
subsequent statement was intended to give some additional
political cover to Abbas' emergency decrees and Fayyad's
government, but most Palestinians are more concerned about
what Fayyad can deliver than public statements for or against
him.
WALLES
SIPDIS
2ND CORRECTED COPY - CLASSIFIED BY LINE ADDED
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons
1.4 (b) and (d)
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2017
TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PTER IS KDEM
SUBJECT: PLO CENTRAL COUNCIL SUPPORTS ABBAS, CONDEMNS HAMAS
REF: A. GMP20070721745003
B. JERUSALEM 1499
1. (U) Summary: The PLO Central Council (PLO-CC) released a
July 20 statement (Ref A) after two days of meetings
supporting President Abbas and PM Fayyad and calling on HAMAS
to restore the Gaza Strip to PA control. PLO-CC Speaker
Salim Zanun said this PLO leadership body will follow Abbas'
lead on elections and wants to revise the electoral system
and replace the Basic Law with a Palestinian constitution.
HAMAS condemned the call for early elections and accused
Abbas of failing to watch out for Palestinians' well-being.
End summary.
PLO-CC STATEMENT SUPPORTS ABBAS, CONDEMNS HAMAS
-------------- --
2. (U) Following the PLO Central Council (PLO-CC) meeting
July 18-19 in Ramallah, the PLO-CC released a statement
supporting PA President Mahmud Abbas (Abu Mazen) and Prime
Minister Salam Fayyad's government (ref A). The statement
criticized HAMAS for its take-over of the Gaza Strip and
called on HAMAS to return Gaza to its pre-June 2007 status.
The PLO-CC called for an electoral system of 100 percent
proportional representation (versus the current mixed system)
and directed the constitutional committee to complete the
preparation of a Palestinian constitution to replace the
Basic Law.
PLO-CC SPEAKER FLESHES OUT PLO-CC PLANS
--------------
3. (U) Speaker of the Council Salim Zanun told the press
that the PLO-CC endorsed President Abbas' request to call for
early presidential and legislative elections (see ref B).
Zanun said Abbas will be responsible for the timing of the
elections and commented that the PLO-CC has reservations
about holding elections in the West Bank without the Gaza
Strip. Zanun said the PLO-CC insists HAMAS reverse its
actions in Gaza before elections are held. He added that the
elections should use a system of 100 percent proportional
representation, combining all the Palestinian territories
into a single electoral district. (Note: In 2006, half the
PLC deputies were elected based on proportional
representation and half from districts. End note.)
4. (U) Zanun told the press that the PLO-CC supports Prime
Minister Salam Fayyad's government and endorses the
presidential decrees issued since HAMAS' takeover of the Gaza
Strip. He announced the formation of a committee to resume
drafting of a Palestinian constitution in preparation for
statehood. Without setting a date, Zanun suggested that the
PLO-CC and the Palestinian National Council (PNC) should meet
in the future to pursue these issues. (Note: The PNC is a
PLO body of over 600 members responsible for PLO policy and
programs. End note.)
HAMAS CRITICIZES ABBAS, ISRAEL AND THE U.S.
--------------
5. (U) Former HAMAS Foreign Minister Mahmud al-Zahar said
HAMAS will thwart any attempt to hold early elections, and
criticized Abbas for his "hasty decisions without considering
the well-being of the Palestinian people." Early elections
could only be held, he said, if all Palestinian factions
agreed. He gave no indication that HAMAS will consider early
elections. Zahar accused Israel and the U.S. of failing to
recognize the Palestinians' legitimately elected officials.
COMMENT
--------------
6. (C) Abbas does not intend to pursue early elections, and
HAMAS likely realizes this, given that he has called for
early elections repeatedly over the last eighteen months.
The public exchange between the PLO/Fatah and HAMAS about
early elections may continue, but neither side seems to take
seriously the other side's rhetoric. The PLO-CC meeting and
subsequent statement was intended to give some additional
political cover to Abbas' emergency decrees and Fayyad's
government, but most Palestinians are more concerned about
what Fayyad can deliver than public statements for or against
him.
WALLES