Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07JERUSALEM1820
2007-08-29 04:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
PA CLOSES 103 NGOS AND CHARITIES, MOST WITH LINKS
how-toVZCZCXRO2702 OO RUEHROV DE RUEHJM #1820 2410450 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 290450Z AUG 07 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8851 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001820
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: 08/28/17
TAGS: ECON EFIN KFTN PTER PGOV KWBG
SUBJECT: PA CLOSES 103 NGOS AND CHARITIES, MOST WITH LINKS
TO HAMAS
Classified By: Acting Principal Officer Thomas Duffy, reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001820
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: 08/28/17
TAGS: ECON EFIN KFTN PTER PGOV KWBG
SUBJECT: PA CLOSES 103 NGOS AND CHARITIES, MOST WITH LINKS
TO HAMAS
Classified By: Acting Principal Officer Thomas Duffy, reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d).
1. (U) PM Salam Fayyad announced August 27 a PA cabinet
decision to dissolve 103 charitable and non-governmental
organizations in the West Bank and Gaza due to violations of
laws governing civil groups. Publicly, Fayyad denied that
the action is aimed at Hamas institutions, asserting that NGO
compliance with relevant laws has been under review for a
long time. He said that the 103 institutions can appeal the
closures. Fayyad urged beneficiaries of these organizations
to contact the Ministry of Social Affairs, which will
consider extending equivalent assistance on a case-by-case
basis. He noted that there are about 2,400 registered NGOs
in the West Bank and Gaza.
2. (C) In a meeting August 28 with visiting NEA DAS Rob
Danin, Fayyad said there was no official proclamation;
rather, he announced the initiative in a meeting with print
journalists on August 27, and would follow-up ith electronic
media on August 28. Fayyad said he list of the
establishments would be distributd soon. He commented that
the initial number ofclosures "had to be over 100 to make an
impact" ad that he plans on closing other establishments on
a case-by-case basis.
3. (C) Palestinian Montary Authority (PMA) Deputy Governor
Jihad al-Wair told Econoff August 28 that most of the
instiutions are affiliated with Hamas, including many
stablished inappropriately during the period when amas led
the PA. He said that actions taken aganst the 103 are based
on the Charities Law (Artile 38),enforcement of which is
the responsibiliy of the Ministry of Interior. He said the
PMA bgan issuing circulars to banks August 27 to freezethe
accounts of the targeted institutions. The ames of the 103
institutions will not be made pulic until these
notifications are completed.
. (C) Palestine Stock Exhange CEO Hassan Abu Libdeh told
Econchief Augus 28 that the action was clearly aimed at
Hamas-afiliated charities. "If there are non-Hamas
charties listed, they are only one or two, and only togive
the action 'balance'." Al Ayyam editor Akrm Haniyeh told
DAS Danin that Fayyad is taking a"very difficult, brave
decision" in ordering thecharities closed.
DUFFY
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: 08/28/17
TAGS: ECON EFIN KFTN PTER PGOV KWBG
SUBJECT: PA CLOSES 103 NGOS AND CHARITIES, MOST WITH LINKS
TO HAMAS
Classified By: Acting Principal Officer Thomas Duffy, reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d).
1. (U) PM Salam Fayyad announced August 27 a PA cabinet
decision to dissolve 103 charitable and non-governmental
organizations in the West Bank and Gaza due to violations of
laws governing civil groups. Publicly, Fayyad denied that
the action is aimed at Hamas institutions, asserting that NGO
compliance with relevant laws has been under review for a
long time. He said that the 103 institutions can appeal the
closures. Fayyad urged beneficiaries of these organizations
to contact the Ministry of Social Affairs, which will
consider extending equivalent assistance on a case-by-case
basis. He noted that there are about 2,400 registered NGOs
in the West Bank and Gaza.
2. (C) In a meeting August 28 with visiting NEA DAS Rob
Danin, Fayyad said there was no official proclamation;
rather, he announced the initiative in a meeting with print
journalists on August 27, and would follow-up ith electronic
media on August 28. Fayyad said he list of the
establishments would be distributd soon. He commented that
the initial number ofclosures "had to be over 100 to make an
impact" ad that he plans on closing other establishments on
a case-by-case basis.
3. (C) Palestinian Montary Authority (PMA) Deputy Governor
Jihad al-Wair told Econoff August 28 that most of the
instiutions are affiliated with Hamas, including many
stablished inappropriately during the period when amas led
the PA. He said that actions taken aganst the 103 are based
on the Charities Law (Artile 38),enforcement of which is
the responsibiliy of the Ministry of Interior. He said the
PMA bgan issuing circulars to banks August 27 to freezethe
accounts of the targeted institutions. The ames of the 103
institutions will not be made pulic until these
notifications are completed.
. (C) Palestine Stock Exhange CEO Hassan Abu Libdeh told
Econchief Augus 28 that the action was clearly aimed at
Hamas-afiliated charities. "If there are non-Hamas
charties listed, they are only one or two, and only togive
the action 'balance'." Al Ayyam editor Akrm Haniyeh told
DAS Danin that Fayyad is taking a"very difficult, brave
decision" in ordering thecharities closed.
DUFFY