Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07JERUSALEM2412
2007-11-21 12:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
HAMAS AND TELECOM SERVICES IN GAZA
how-toVZCZCXRO2418 OO RUEHROV DE RUEHJM #2412 3251252 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 211252Z NOV 07 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9743 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002412
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/WATERS; TREASURY FOR
SZUBIN/LOEFFLER/NUGENT/HIRSON; COMMERCE FOR NTIA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/17
TAGS: ECON ECPS EFIN PGOV KWBG PTER
SUBJECT: HAMAS AND TELECOM SERVICES IN GAZA
REF: JERUSALEM 1334
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002412
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/WATERS; TREASURY FOR
SZUBIN/LOEFFLER/NUGENT/HIRSON; COMMERCE FOR NTIA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/17
TAGS: ECON ECPS EFIN PGOV KWBG PTER
SUBJECT: HAMAS AND TELECOM SERVICES IN GAZA
REF: JERUSALEM 1334
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (SBU) Summary. Hamas recently announced that telephone
bills in Gaza would be reduced by 75 percent, a move aimed to
punish Palestinian Telecommunication Company (Paltel),which
- in accordance with the order of PA President Abbas - has
not paid taxes in Gaza since the Hamas coup in June. In
addition, Hamas' physical control over the Gaza-based
internet servers managing the ".ps" domain allows Hamas
control over most PA websites. As a result, the Prime
Minister's website is maintained by Hamas and still features
former PM Haniyeh. End summary.
Hamas Authorities Announce Major Telecom Discounts
-------------- --------------
2. (SBU) Hamas announced in early November that all
land-line phone bills in Gaza would immediately be discounted
by 75 percent in an effort to induce the Palestinian
Telecommunications Company (Paltel) to pay taxes in Gaza.
The PA Ministry of Telecom and Communications (MOTC)
responded publicly by saying that Hamas does not speak for
the PA, and the Palestinian people should ignore statements
from "illegal parties."
3. (C) PA Deputy Minister of Telecom and Communications
Suleiman Zuhairi told Econoff on November 19 that Hamas is
attempting to blackmail Paltel with the proposed rate cuts,
as Paltel has abided by President Abbas' June 26 decree
exempting Palestinians in Gaza from paying taxes (reftel).
Paltel described the dispute as "political" in nature, and
refused to comment on the issue. Zuhairi told Econoff that
there will likely be some confusion at the end of the month
as Gazans receive their November telephone bills.
Hamas Controls Palestinian Internet Servers...
Keeping Haniyeh in (Virtual) Power
-------------- -
4. (SBU) Hamas has used its physical control over the PA's
internet registration servers to control the Palestinians'
".ps" domain. As a result, nine PA ministries cannot control
their own websites, some of which still show the previous
Hamas-led government's information, while others remain
"under construction." Examples include the website of the
Office of the Prime Minister (www.pmo.gov.ps),which depicts
former PM Haniyeh as the current Prime Minister; and the
Ministry of Health (www.moh.gov.ps),which is updated often
and points to the "crimes of the Ramallah government."
WALLES
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/WATERS; TREASURY FOR
SZUBIN/LOEFFLER/NUGENT/HIRSON; COMMERCE FOR NTIA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/17
TAGS: ECON ECPS EFIN PGOV KWBG PTER
SUBJECT: HAMAS AND TELECOM SERVICES IN GAZA
REF: JERUSALEM 1334
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (SBU) Summary. Hamas recently announced that telephone
bills in Gaza would be reduced by 75 percent, a move aimed to
punish Palestinian Telecommunication Company (Paltel),which
- in accordance with the order of PA President Abbas - has
not paid taxes in Gaza since the Hamas coup in June. In
addition, Hamas' physical control over the Gaza-based
internet servers managing the ".ps" domain allows Hamas
control over most PA websites. As a result, the Prime
Minister's website is maintained by Hamas and still features
former PM Haniyeh. End summary.
Hamas Authorities Announce Major Telecom Discounts
-------------- --------------
2. (SBU) Hamas announced in early November that all
land-line phone bills in Gaza would immediately be discounted
by 75 percent in an effort to induce the Palestinian
Telecommunications Company (Paltel) to pay taxes in Gaza.
The PA Ministry of Telecom and Communications (MOTC)
responded publicly by saying that Hamas does not speak for
the PA, and the Palestinian people should ignore statements
from "illegal parties."
3. (C) PA Deputy Minister of Telecom and Communications
Suleiman Zuhairi told Econoff on November 19 that Hamas is
attempting to blackmail Paltel with the proposed rate cuts,
as Paltel has abided by President Abbas' June 26 decree
exempting Palestinians in Gaza from paying taxes (reftel).
Paltel described the dispute as "political" in nature, and
refused to comment on the issue. Zuhairi told Econoff that
there will likely be some confusion at the end of the month
as Gazans receive their November telephone bills.
Hamas Controls Palestinian Internet Servers...
Keeping Haniyeh in (Virtual) Power
-------------- -
4. (SBU) Hamas has used its physical control over the PA's
internet registration servers to control the Palestinians'
".ps" domain. As a result, nine PA ministries cannot control
their own websites, some of which still show the previous
Hamas-led government's information, while others remain
"under construction." Examples include the website of the
Office of the Prime Minister (www.pmo.gov.ps),which depicts
former PM Haniyeh as the current Prime Minister; and the
Ministry of Health (www.moh.gov.ps),which is updated often
and points to the "crimes of the Ramallah government."
WALLES