FAYYAD COMMENDS PALESTINIAN SECURITY FORCES WHO

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001821 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2017 TAGS: KWBG PINS IS PGOV PTER ASEC SUBJECT: FAYYAD COMMENDS PALESTINIAN SECURITY FORCES WHO PROTECT IDF OFFICER IN JENIN REF: JERUSALEM 1810 Classified By: Acting Principal Officer Thomas M. Duffy, for reasons 1. 4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) At a August 28 meeting with NEA DAS Rob Danin in Ramallah, PM Salam Fayyad praised Palestinian Authority security forces (PASF) personnel who protected an IDF officer who accidentally entered Jenin August 27, passing A/PO a copy of his official commendation to Jenin security officers (printed in full in para. 3). Fayyad noted the criticism his government received from some extremist groups for rescuing an Israeli soldier, but said he wanted the commendation letter widely distributed as a sign of political support for the PASF. Israeli and Palestinian media both gave positive coverage to the incident, and Israeli newspapers carried Israeli FM Tzipi Livni's remark that "the operation proves that the Palestinian government and its forces are growing stronger in their action against terror organizations." Palestinian press noted that Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) condemned PASF protection of the IDF officer, claiming PASF had disrupted a PIJ plan to lure the officer into Jenin (PASF commanders in Jenin deny this and say the IDF officer was lost). ¶2. (C) In an August 28 phone call, Jenin National Security Forces (NSF) commander Sulayman Umran, whose forces protected the Jenin Muqata'a (security headquarters) against an angry mob that burned the IDF officer's truck and fired several shots at the Muqata'a, said he "did not even want to think about" what might have happened if PASF had not identified the IDF officer before militants found him. He said NSF reinforcements that the Interior Ministry sent to Jenin on August 16 had been vital to his ability to hold off the angry mob. He added that he hopes the incident will help improve security coordination with the IDF. He said Jenin Preventive Security (PSO) commander Ibrahim Abu Jazar and the police worked closely with the NSF to resolve the crisis without violence. ¶3. (SBU) Commendation of Jenin PASF by PM Fayyad follows. The Palestinian Authority The Prime Minister's Office Major General Abd al-Raziq al-Yahya, Greetings, Please convey my best regards and highest appreciation to all PASF personnel who played a brave and wise role in ending the situation of the Israeli officer who mistakenly entered Jenin. Their intervention demonstrates the highest responsibility and commitment to the ethics of our great people. Please also convey the government's absolute rejection of those voices casting doubts about the security forces and their position. I stress my pride in them and their brave and responsible action which serves our people's national interests. Please circulate this memorandum to the entire security establishment. Respectfully, Salam Fayyad Prime Minister Ramallah August 28, 2007 DUFFY