Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07JERUSALEM1989
2007-09-21 11:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
CEC DOWNSIZES BUT REMAINS READY FOR ELECTIONS
how-toVZCZCXRO4258 PP RUEHROV DE RUEHJM #1989 2641153 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 211153Z SEP 07 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9093 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001989
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2017
TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KPAL IS
SUBJECT: CEC DOWNSIZES BUT REMAINS READY FOR ELECTIONS
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001989
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2017
TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KPAL IS
SUBJECT: CEC DOWNSIZES BUT REMAINS READY FOR ELECTIONS
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary. On September 18, Central Elections
Commission (CEC) Chairman Hanna Nasir announced that the CEC
is reducing its sixteen West Bank and Gaza offices to six and
83 employees to 76. CEC Chief Electoral Officer Hisham
Kuhail told POLOFF that nonetheless, "the CEC is always ready
to deliver." End Summary.
2. (C) On September 18, CEC Chairman Hanna Nasir announced
in mid-September that it had reduced the number of employees
from 83 to 76 and will reduce monthly expenditures by 25
percent from USD 175,000 to USD 132,000. The sixteen West
Bank and Gaza offices are reduced to six by establishing
regional offices in Jerusalem, Jenin, Nablus, Hebron, Gaza
City, and Khan Yunis with regional coordinators and desk
officers from the respective districts.
3. (C) CEC Chief Electoral Officer Hisham Kuhail told
PolOff September 19 that this second phase of downsizing is
primarily intended to cut costs. The CEC conducted its first
stage of downsizing after the January 2006 PLC elections and
reduced personnel from 237 to 90 and monthly costs from USD
250,000 to 175,000. Kuhail said September's downsizing has
been "smooth so far," and "the CEC is always ready to
deliver." He said the CEC does not plan to implement a third
phase of downsizing.
4. (C) Kuhail told POLOFF that the CEC plans a voter
registration drive in the West Bank and Gaza in early 2008
targeting graduating high school students. He said he fears
Hamas will block the Ministry of Education from making Gaza
schools available for voter registration. He underscored
that the CEC will approach voter registration as a necessary,
regular activity, unconnected with political developments or
statements by President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) calling for
early elections.
WALLES
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2017
TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KPAL IS
SUBJECT: CEC DOWNSIZES BUT REMAINS READY FOR ELECTIONS
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary. On September 18, Central Elections
Commission (CEC) Chairman Hanna Nasir announced that the CEC
is reducing its sixteen West Bank and Gaza offices to six and
83 employees to 76. CEC Chief Electoral Officer Hisham
Kuhail told POLOFF that nonetheless, "the CEC is always ready
to deliver." End Summary.
2. (C) On September 18, CEC Chairman Hanna Nasir announced
in mid-September that it had reduced the number of employees
from 83 to 76 and will reduce monthly expenditures by 25
percent from USD 175,000 to USD 132,000. The sixteen West
Bank and Gaza offices are reduced to six by establishing
regional offices in Jerusalem, Jenin, Nablus, Hebron, Gaza
City, and Khan Yunis with regional coordinators and desk
officers from the respective districts.
3. (C) CEC Chief Electoral Officer Hisham Kuhail told
PolOff September 19 that this second phase of downsizing is
primarily intended to cut costs. The CEC conducted its first
stage of downsizing after the January 2006 PLC elections and
reduced personnel from 237 to 90 and monthly costs from USD
250,000 to 175,000. Kuhail said September's downsizing has
been "smooth so far," and "the CEC is always ready to
deliver." He said the CEC does not plan to implement a third
phase of downsizing.
4. (C) Kuhail told POLOFF that the CEC plans a voter
registration drive in the West Bank and Gaza in early 2008
targeting graduating high school students. He said he fears
Hamas will block the Ministry of Education from making Gaza
schools available for voter registration. He underscored
that the CEC will approach voter registration as a necessary,
regular activity, unconnected with political developments or
statements by President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) calling for
early elections.
WALLES