PA MINISTER OF PRISONERS' AFFAIRS VISITS KETZIOT

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002245 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2017 TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KPAL IS SUBJECT: PA MINISTER OF PRISONERS' AFFAIRS VISITS KETZIOT REF: JERUSALEM O2205 Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) PA Minister of Prisoners' Affairs (MoPA) Ashraf al-Ajrami met with fourteen prisoners from various political factions at the Israeli prison at Ketziot. On October 28, he told ConGen political specialist that Israeli Prison Service (IPS) allowed the visit, but only if supervised by IPS officials. He said the fourteen prisoners plan to meet with IPS officials October 29 to discuss medical treatment for the injured and restoration of family visitation rights. ¶2. (C) Al-Ajrami plans to meet with IPS Director Pini Keniak during the coming week to discuss the violence at Ketziot. He will also discuss the IPS offer to allow the transfer of 500,000 NIS (125,000 USD) to prisoners at Ketziot for purchase of sundries. He told the prisoners he intends to approve the transfer, but wants first to discuss it with IPS. Al-Ajrami told ConGen political specialist that he also wants to reverse the recent ban on Palestinian prisoners working in prison kitchens, noting that prisons usually have prisoners' committees to run kitchens and serve food. WALLES