Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07JERUSALEM2114
2007-10-10 17:24:00
SECRET
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
ABBAS ORDERS DISSOLUTION OF FORCE 17
how-toVZCZCXRO5972 OO RUEHROV DE RUEHJM #2114 2831724 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 101724Z OCT 07 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9254 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY
S E C R E T JERUSALEM 002114
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2017
TAGS: KWBG PINS IS PGOV
SUBJECT: ABBAS ORDERS DISSOLUTION OF FORCE 17
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
S E C R E T JERUSALEM 002114
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2017
TAGS: KWBG PINS IS PGOV
SUBJECT: ABBAS ORDERS DISSOLUTION OF FORCE 17
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (S) PA National Security Forces (NSF) commander Thiab
Mustafa Ali told PolSpec October 7 that PA President Mahmud
Abbas (Abu Mazen) instructed security chiefs to integrate
Force 17 members into the Presidential Guard (PG) and NSF.
BG Ali said the timeline for Force 17 integration/dissolution
will be short, and all Force 17 weapons, vehicles and other
equipment will be transferred to the PG and NSF. Not all
Force 17 members will be integrated, he said; those unfit to
carry out their duties will be removed from active service.
Muhammad Abu Samara, acting Force 17 commander, will probably
be retired, Ali said.
2. (S) BG Ali said President Abbas had ordered Force 17 to
be integrated into the Special PG force (VIP/Critical
Facility Protection) several months ago, but little action
was taken until October 6. According to Ali, Force 17
members will be integrated on an individual basis, not as
units, following screening for competency. Most will go into
the PG; 100 currently deployed in Dahriya (southern Hebron)
will be integrated into the NSF. Ali noted the precedent for
integrating Force 17 personnel into the NSF, pointing to the
few hundred who joined the NSF several months ago at the
direction of then-NSA Muhammad Dahlan.
Comment
--------------
3. (S) Elimination of Force 17 as a separate security branch
is a positive step in PA security forces (PASF)
restructuring. If President Abbas' order is fully
implemented, it will constitute progress toward fulfilling
the PA's Roadmap obligation to reduce and realign their
forces and contribute to clearer lines of responsibility
among security branches.
WALLES
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2017
TAGS: KWBG PINS IS PGOV
SUBJECT: ABBAS ORDERS DISSOLUTION OF FORCE 17
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (S) PA National Security Forces (NSF) commander Thiab
Mustafa Ali told PolSpec October 7 that PA President Mahmud
Abbas (Abu Mazen) instructed security chiefs to integrate
Force 17 members into the Presidential Guard (PG) and NSF.
BG Ali said the timeline for Force 17 integration/dissolution
will be short, and all Force 17 weapons, vehicles and other
equipment will be transferred to the PG and NSF. Not all
Force 17 members will be integrated, he said; those unfit to
carry out their duties will be removed from active service.
Muhammad Abu Samara, acting Force 17 commander, will probably
be retired, Ali said.
2. (S) BG Ali said President Abbas had ordered Force 17 to
be integrated into the Special PG force (VIP/Critical
Facility Protection) several months ago, but little action
was taken until October 6. According to Ali, Force 17
members will be integrated on an individual basis, not as
units, following screening for competency. Most will go into
the PG; 100 currently deployed in Dahriya (southern Hebron)
will be integrated into the NSF. Ali noted the precedent for
integrating Force 17 personnel into the NSF, pointing to the
few hundred who joined the NSF several months ago at the
direction of then-NSA Muhammad Dahlan.
Comment
--------------
3. (S) Elimination of Force 17 as a separate security branch
is a positive step in PA security forces (PASF)
restructuring. If President Abbas' order is fully
implemented, it will constitute progress toward fulfilling
the PA's Roadmap obligation to reduce and realign their
forces and contribute to clearer lines of responsibility
among security branches.
WALLES