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