FAYYAD RESPONDS TO ALLEGATIONS OF "REVOLVING DOOR"

S E C R E T JERUSALEM 002184

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2017
TAGS: KWBG IS PGOV PTER PREL
SUBJECT: FAYYAD RESPONDS TO ALLEGATIONS OF "REVOLVING DOOR"
ON "ASSASSINATION PLOT" SUSPECTS

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


1. (S) Summary. PA PM Salam Fayyad provided the Consul
General (in October 19-22 calls) a detailed chronology of PA
actions concerning suspects in an alleged assassination plot
against Israeli PM Ehud Olmert. Fayyad confirmed that the
suspects are now in PA custody. He said PA procedures on
suspects detained based on Israeli requests are flawed and
will be revised. End summary.


Fayyad: We Held Suspects for 2 Months
Despite No Israeli Explanation/Follow-up
--------------


2. (S) In October 19-22 conversations, PM Salam Fayyad told
the Consul General that the GOI asked the PA to detain
several individuals during the summer regarding a terrorist
plot, but did not specify at that time that the plot was
related to Israeli PM Olmert. He said the PA's Istikhbarat
(Military Intelligence) detained the individuals (Muhammad
Hamdan and Hamzah Brunu of the National Security Forces (NSF)
and Muhammad Ghruf from the Mukhabarat) shortly after the GOI
made the request. (Note: the Istikhbarat operates as an
autonomous "internal affairs" security force and normally
handles terror/serious criminal cases involving members of
the security forces. End note). Fayyad said the PA
interrogated them, and held them until September 25 when they
were released. He said there had been no follow-up by the
GOI about these individuals during this period and, to the
best of his recollection, ISA Chief Yuval Diskin had never
raised the issue with him during several meetings they held
during this time.


3. (S) Fayyad said Israeli FM Tzipi Livni complained that
the suspects had been released on October 19 while meeting
with the Palestinian team headed by Abu Ala'a. Livni
indicated that the individuals were connected to a plot
against Olmert. Fayyad said he ordered security chiefs that
evening to re-arrest the individuals, and all were in custody
by the morning of October 20, prior to Israeli ISA Chief
Yuval Diskin's October 21 statement to the GOI cabinet, which
alleged the suspects had been released and did not mention
that any had been rearrested.

PA Officials Dispute Israeli Version
--------------


4. (C) Palestinian press quoted Mukhabarat Chief Tawfiq
al-Tirawi on October 21 as saying the "members of the cell
are still in custody and are being interrogated." (Note:
Ha'aretz reported October 22 that its reporters saw two of
the plot suspects in detention in Jericho on October 21.
According to press accounts, the third suspect was arrested
previously by Israel. End note). PA Istikhbarat Chief Majid
al-Farraj told the USSC on October 21 that PA interrogation
of the suspects revealed that they had only talked generally
about an attack on Olmert, without indications of serious
planning, and said the PA released the suspects for lack of
evidence after they had spent nearly three months in
detention.


Fayyad Wants New Procedures
--------------


5. (S) Fayyad told the Consul General October 22 that PA
procedures for release of suspects detained on Israeli
request are flawed and should not have happened without
checking back with the Israelis. (Note: The fact that
Istikhbarat handled the detention and interrogation while
Preventive Security (PSO) and the Mukhabarat are the ISA's
primary counterparts may have contributed to internal
confusion on the Palestinian side. End note). Fayyad said
the detainees had been "lost in the shuffle,8 and
acknowledged gaps in the PA's system that will be remedied
for future cases involving Israeli arrest requests.
WALLES