Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07JERUSALEM1801
2007-08-27 12:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
ABU MAZEN ASKS EXILED FATAH MEMBERS TO RETURN TO
how-toVZCZCXRO1245 PP RUEHROV DE RUEHJM #1801 2391238 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 271238Z AUG 07 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8830 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001801
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2017
TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KPAL IS
SUBJECT: ABU MAZEN ASKS EXILED FATAH MEMBERS TO RETURN TO
WEST BANK
Classified By: Acting Principal Officer Thomas M. Duffy, per reasons
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001801
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2017
TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KPAL IS
SUBJECT: ABU MAZEN ASKS EXILED FATAH MEMBERS TO RETURN TO
WEST BANK
Classified By: Acting Principal Officer Thomas M. Duffy, per reasons 1.
4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Senior Fatah officials told ConGen political
specialist that PA President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) has
recently encouraged senior exiled Fatah members to come to
Ramallah in an effort to surround himself with strong Fatah
personalities. Among this group are Fatah Central Council
(FCC) members Mohammad Ghneim (Abu Maher) and Faruq al-Qadumi
and PLO Central Council members Nayef Hawatmeh and Ahmad
Afaneh, all of whom live between Tunis, Amman and Damascus.
On August 18, a spokesman from the President's office
announced that Abu Mazen recently met with Abu Maher and
Afaneh in Amman and encouraged their return to the West Bank.
On August 15, FCC member Nabil Sha'ath told the press that
the GoI will permit Abu Maher, who has not visited the West
Bank since 1967, to travel to Ramallah and allow the PA to
issue him residency status. Senior Fatah officials told
ConGen political specialist that Abu Maher has said he will
only return, if Abu Mazen appoints him number two in the FCC.
2. (C) According to press reports, the GoI also approved
al-Qadumi's return to the West Bank and will allow the PA to
issue him residency status. Senior Fatah officials told
ConGen political specialist that Al-Qadumi refused the offer
and said he will not return to the West Bank while it is
occupied. They also said that al-Qadumi, who was FCC
Secretary General until recently, is at odds with Abu Mazen
SIPDIS
for removing him from that position. The GoI has not yet
approved Hawatmeh's return to the West Bank.
3. (C) On August 15, Sha'ath denied press reports that the
FCC had nominated Fatah-founder Abu Maher to succeed Abu
Mazen as Fatah's next presidential candidate. Sha'ath told
the press that the FCC did not discuss the issue. However,
several FCC members, including Hakem Bilawi, told ConGen
political specialist that Abu Mazen and several FCC members
are seriously considering Abu Maher, although they have not
officially endorsed him. One Fatah official said Abu Maher
has "more friends than enemies within the FCC" and is the
only viable option for a Fatah presidential candidate.
Bio Note
--------------
4. (C) Abu Maher was born in Jerusalem in 1937. He is one
of the founders of Fatah and currently serves as a senior
member of the FCC and the Fatah Revolutionary Council (FRC).
He is based in Tunis and has not returned to the West Bank
since 1967. In Egypt from 1957-1958, Abu Maher joined the
Muslim Brotherhood. He left the Brotherhood in 1959 to help
establish Fatah. In 1968, Abu Maher served as the Fatah
Regional Commander in Jordan. He went to China for military
training in 1969 and served as Arafat's deputy for military
administration from 1969-1970. Abu Maher joined the FRC in
the late sixties and the Fatah Central Committee in 1974.
During the eighties, he served as head of Fatah organizations
and syndicates in Lebanon. Abu Maher rejected the Oslo
Accords and refused to return to the West Bank and Gaza in
1994, setting up offices in Tunis and Amman instead.
Although he opposed Oslo, he permitted his two sons to return
to the West Bank where they worked for the PA since 1996 and
now serve as Directors General at the Ministries of Labor and
Public Works.
5. (C) Comment: Abu Maher is generally well-respected by
senior FRC and FCC members, but has little grassroots or
public support after his many years abroad. End Comment
DUFFY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2017
TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KPAL IS
SUBJECT: ABU MAZEN ASKS EXILED FATAH MEMBERS TO RETURN TO
WEST BANK
Classified By: Acting Principal Officer Thomas M. Duffy, per reasons 1.
4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Senior Fatah officials told ConGen political
specialist that PA President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) has
recently encouraged senior exiled Fatah members to come to
Ramallah in an effort to surround himself with strong Fatah
personalities. Among this group are Fatah Central Council
(FCC) members Mohammad Ghneim (Abu Maher) and Faruq al-Qadumi
and PLO Central Council members Nayef Hawatmeh and Ahmad
Afaneh, all of whom live between Tunis, Amman and Damascus.
On August 18, a spokesman from the President's office
announced that Abu Mazen recently met with Abu Maher and
Afaneh in Amman and encouraged their return to the West Bank.
On August 15, FCC member Nabil Sha'ath told the press that
the GoI will permit Abu Maher, who has not visited the West
Bank since 1967, to travel to Ramallah and allow the PA to
issue him residency status. Senior Fatah officials told
ConGen political specialist that Abu Maher has said he will
only return, if Abu Mazen appoints him number two in the FCC.
2. (C) According to press reports, the GoI also approved
al-Qadumi's return to the West Bank and will allow the PA to
issue him residency status. Senior Fatah officials told
ConGen political specialist that Al-Qadumi refused the offer
and said he will not return to the West Bank while it is
occupied. They also said that al-Qadumi, who was FCC
Secretary General until recently, is at odds with Abu Mazen
SIPDIS
for removing him from that position. The GoI has not yet
approved Hawatmeh's return to the West Bank.
3. (C) On August 15, Sha'ath denied press reports that the
FCC had nominated Fatah-founder Abu Maher to succeed Abu
Mazen as Fatah's next presidential candidate. Sha'ath told
the press that the FCC did not discuss the issue. However,
several FCC members, including Hakem Bilawi, told ConGen
political specialist that Abu Mazen and several FCC members
are seriously considering Abu Maher, although they have not
officially endorsed him. One Fatah official said Abu Maher
has "more friends than enemies within the FCC" and is the
only viable option for a Fatah presidential candidate.
Bio Note
--------------
4. (C) Abu Maher was born in Jerusalem in 1937. He is one
of the founders of Fatah and currently serves as a senior
member of the FCC and the Fatah Revolutionary Council (FRC).
He is based in Tunis and has not returned to the West Bank
since 1967. In Egypt from 1957-1958, Abu Maher joined the
Muslim Brotherhood. He left the Brotherhood in 1959 to help
establish Fatah. In 1968, Abu Maher served as the Fatah
Regional Commander in Jordan. He went to China for military
training in 1969 and served as Arafat's deputy for military
administration from 1969-1970. Abu Maher joined the FRC in
the late sixties and the Fatah Central Committee in 1974.
During the eighties, he served as head of Fatah organizations
and syndicates in Lebanon. Abu Maher rejected the Oslo
Accords and refused to return to the West Bank and Gaza in
1994, setting up offices in Tunis and Amman instead.
Although he opposed Oslo, he permitted his two sons to return
to the West Bank where they worked for the PA since 1996 and
now serve as Directors General at the Ministries of Labor and
Public Works.
5. (C) Comment: Abu Maher is generally well-respected by
senior FRC and FCC members, but has little grassroots or
public support after his many years abroad. End Comment
DUFFY