FAYYAD PREPARING FOR DONORS' CONFERENCE; ACTS TO

S E C R E T JERUSALEM 002171

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA FOR A/S WELCH, NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2017
TAGS: KWBG PREL IS PGOV PTER
SUBJECT: FAYYAD PREPARING FOR DONORS' CONFERENCE; ACTS TO
CONTROL ISLAMIC CHARITIES


Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (S) Summary. Meeting with the Consul General in Ramallah
on October 18, PM Salam Fayyad said the PA is preparing a
comprehensive development plan, covering all key sectors, in
advance of the December Donors' Conference in Paris. He said
he wants the Conference organizers to coordinate fully with
the U.S. on the Conference's agenda and programming. Fayyad
said he is tired of being blamed by third parties for the
closure of Gaza crossing points, which are under Israeli
control. He noted that the PA released a statement on Zakat
(Islamic charity) committees as part of its efforts to review
all charitable societies and disrupt terror financing. End
summary.


PA Preparing Development Plan
for Donor's Conference
--------------


2. (S) PM Fayyad told the Consul General October 18 that the
PA is preparing a comprehensive development plan for donor
review in advance of a planned December Donor's Conference.
He said the plan may not be as detailed as he would like, but
it will cover all key Palestinian sectors including economic
development, infrastructure, governance, security and
educational needs.


Fayyad Ok with Paris Statement, But
Wants U.S. Buy-in for Donors' Conference
--------------


3. (S) Reacting to French FM Bernard Kouchner's October 17
announcement (with Special Envoy Tony Blair and Norwegian FM
Jonas Stoere) of France's willingness to host a December
Donors' Conference for Palestinians, Fayyad said he has no
problem with the French statement, but wants to ensure there
is full agreement on the Conference's programming and
intended outcomes. Noting that the Conference will be
co-chaired by European countries, he said the PA is not
looking for a special role itself, but cannot afford to
alienate donors, including the U.S., by having the conference
depart from well-established donor relationships. He said
the U.S. and EU are critical players in making the conference
a success, and he will tell the organizers that they must
coordinate fully with the USG.


PM Wants Out of Facilitating Gaza Access. . .
Unless the PA Takes Control of Crossings
--------------


4. (S) Fayyad said he is tired of being blamed by
third-parties for the closure of Gaza crossing points. As
the GOI unilaterally controls access and the PA does not have
an effective presence on the Gaza side, he said he no longer
wants to be the address for third-party (i.e. European)
requests to facilitate shipments. He said the situation
would be different if the PA controlled the crossings. He
noted that Abu Mazen was considering the idea of taking
control of Gaza's crossings (which he said "was a dumb idea,
but sometimes a dumb idea just might work"). He commented
that the GoI could be fickle in responding to PA requests,
noting that MoD Barak had denied something as simple as
providing Eid sweets to Palestinian prisoners.


PA Orders Review of All Zakat Committees
in Push Against Terror Funding
--------------


5. (S) Fayyad noted that the PA released a statement on
Zakat (Islamic charity) committees through the Ministry of
Waqf/Religious Affairs on October 17. He said the PA will
reorganize the Zakat/charity NGO sector as part of efforts to
review all charitable societies and disrupt terror financing.
(Additional details septel).
WALLES