PLO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER SALEH RAFAT ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002541 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/PASCUAL E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2017 TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KPAL IS SUBJECT: PLO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER SALEH RAFAT ON ANNAPOLIS AND HAR HOMA/JEBEL ABU GHNEIM Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. PLO Executive Committee (EC) member Saleh Rafat told PolChief December 10 that the GoI issuance of a tender for housing units at Har Homa/Jebel Abu Ghneim is an obstacle to permanent status negotiations and that some PLO-EC members had advised PA President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) not to begin negotiations in response. He said PLO-EC members are also discussing how to fill the PLO-EC's three vacant positions. Rafat told PolChief that the Palestinian Democratic Union (FIDA) supports PM Fayyad and his cabinet of independents, despite the efforts of some Fatah leaders to force a cabinet shuffle, and said he does not anticipate any change for at least three to four months. End Summary. Positive Reaction to Annapolis Undermined by Har Homa/Jebal Abu Ghneim -------------- ¶2. (C) PLO Executive Committee (PLO-EC) member Saleh Rafat told PolChief on December 10 that the Annapolis conference was "positive," but the GoI's December 2 publication of a new tender for 307 housing units at Har Homa/Jebel Abu Ghneim undermines permanent status negotiations. He said the tender announcement serves as a statement on Israel's position on Jerusalem and the settlement freeze. Rafat said the PLO-EC met December 9 to discuss the issue and that he and other PLO-EC members recommended that Abu Mazen delay the start of negotiations due to the Israeli step. Rafat said members of the PLO-EC urged Abu Mazen to raise the issue of Har Homa/Jebal Abu Ghneim in his next meeting with Secretary Rice. Fatah Pressure for Fayyad's Removal -------------- ¶3. (C) Rafat noted that many of the Fatah leaders are maneuvering for PM Fayyad's removal and/or a change to his cabinet. He said his party, Palestinian Democratic Union (FIDA),rejects this step as a legal and a political matter. He said Abu Mazen cannot change the cabinet without the PLC meeting under the PA Basic Law, and he does not support an amendment to allow Abu Mazen to change the cabinet. He said he does not want Fatah members appointed to cabinet positions and calls efforts by Fatah leaders to change the government "inappropriate." He commented, "We do not want to go from a political coup by Hamas in Gaza to a coup against PM Fayyad in the West Bank." Rafat stressed that the independent, technocrat government is needed for Palestinians to remain hopeful about negotiations. PLO-EC Vacancies -------------- ¶4. (C) Rafat said PLO-EC members are discussing how to fill the PLO-EC's three empty seats following the recent death of Emil Jarjoui. He said they are debating whether the PLO Central Council should fill the three seats or whether the Palestinian National Council (PNC) should elect an entirely new PLO-EC. Rafat said the decision will be made after Eid al-Adha (December 19-23),but he prefers to bypass the PNC and have the Central Council select members to fill the vacancies. (Comment: PLO-EC members who would stand to lose their seats as a result of a PNC vote will likely share this view, and we expect it will prevail. End Comment.) Rafat also said there was some discussion on holding presidential, PLC, and PLO elections at the same time and requiring that all candidates would have to agree to PLO political platform, including negotiations. WALLES