FAISAL HUSSEINI FOUNDATION IFTAR DISRUPTED

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001999 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2017 TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PTER IS KDEM SUBJECT: FAISAL HUSSEINI FOUNDATION IFTAR DISRUPTED Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Officials from the Faisal Husseini Foundation told PolOff September 21 that Israeli police attempted to cancel the Foundation's annual Ramadan fundraising Iftar on September 20, but eventually allowed the dinner to proceed without fundraising activities. One official said he fears the closure will be a harbinger of Israeli actions against East Jerusalem organizations. End summary. ISRAELI POLICE CLOSE RAMADAN IFTAR BUT PERMIT DINNER -------------- ¶2. (C) Abd al-Qadir Husseini, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Faisal Husseini Foundation, and Adnan Husseini, President Abbas's advisor on Jerusalem affairs, told PolOff on September 21 that Israeli police attempted to cancel the Foundation's annual Ramadan fundraising Iftar in East Jerusalem on September 20. The Hotel General Manager confirmed receiving an Israeli Ministry of Internal Security order roughly one hour before the event stating that an unauthorized Palestinian Authority (PA) meeting scheduled for that evening should not take place. Abd al-Qadir Husseini said four plainclothes police and several uniformed police were at the Hotel when he arrived. ¶3. (C) Husseini said he told the police the Foundation is not a PA body and the event was a benefit for Jerusalem educational institutions and youth, but the officer in charge replied that he had orders to shut down the Foundation's Iftar. According to Husseini, as guests arrived, however, the police allowed them to enter the hotel for dinner, but no more than five guests were allowed to sit at a table, the microphone could not be used for speeches, and bingo, a raffle, and music were not allowed. Husseini said the police initially entered the building and garden to observe the event, although all but two waited outside during the event. Husseini said 180 of the Foundation's 215 expected guests ate dinner at the Hotel, including the PA Minister of Education (in an unofficial capacity) and the Jordanian representative to Israel. HUSSEINI WONDERS WHY, AND WHAT NEXT? -------------- ¶4. (C) Husseini said he is puzzled because PA-sponsored events were held in Jerusalem earlier in the week (septel), and the GoI did not interfere. He said such action discredits Israel's intentions toward peace, and he fears it presages more Israeli actions against the Foundation and other East Jerusalem Palestinian organizations. WALLES