INTERIOR MINISTRY SECURITY PLAN: LONG ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000785 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA, NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WATERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/03/2017 TAGS: PREL KWBG IS KPAL PGOV PINS SUBJECT: INTERIOR MINISTRY SECURITY PLAN: LONG ON PLATITUDES, SHORT ON SECURITY SPECIFICS, AND ALREADY A DEAD LETTER REF: A. JERUSALEM 728 ¶B. JERUSALEM 640 Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. PA Interior Minister (MoI) Hani al-Qawasmi (Independent) issued a 100-day security plan in early April, but the plan has already languished without political and security commander support. Technical Team for Reform (TTR) Chairman Basil Jabr presented Poloff with a list of problems National Security Advisor (NSA) Muhammad Dahlan and his staff identified with the plan, and said neither President Mahmud Abbas (Abu Mazen) nor Dahlan support implementing the plan. TTR members told Poloff the plan represents al-Qawasmi's reaction to public pressure to improve local security, but is effectively a dead letter. End Summary. MoI 100-Day Security Plan -------------- ¶2. (C) The PA Cabinet approved Interior Ministry Hani al-Qawasmi's 100-day security plan on April 7, but the first 25 days suggest the plan will never be implemented, according to TTR members. (Comment: The plan, which the ConGen obtained from sources in the President's Office, is a sprawling 30-page document that examines causes of the poor security situation and prescribes a myriad of remedies including traffic law enforcement, advertising campaigns calling on citizens to stop carrying arms and stealing water and electricity, and MoI reorganization. The plan scarcely addresses deploying Palestinian security forces (PASF) and assumes full involvement of Hamas "Executive Force" in security operations. End comment). Flawed Plan -------------- ¶3. (C) TTR Chairman Basil Jabr and Operations Chief 'Imad Zuhayri passed Poloff a list of problems with the plan, including that it: -- does not define security or successful implementation of the plan; -- mentions the NSC will issues directive to implement the MoI plan, but TTR members note the NSC does not work for the Interior Minister, who is only one of the NSC's ten members and should abide by its dictates, not the converse; -- recommends establishing a new "Central Security Forces" structure from MoI units and excess members of the National Security Forces (NSF) (who do not fall under the MoI's legal authority),even as the TTR says it is clear that fewer PASF organizations are needed, not new forces; -- creates a new "MoI General Superintendent," with the powers of the current Director-General of Internal Security (Rashid Abu Shbak),undermining presidential control of PASF through Abu Shbak; -- deals with Gaza security, but not problems in the West Bank; and -- discusses regulating shops, parking and traffic, not specific law enforcement plans. "Executive Force" -------------- ¶4. (C) MoI al-Qawasmi told Palestinian press on several occasions in April that the Executive Force's future will be addressed in the context of overall PASF restructuring, and he does not intend to eliminate it presently. The MoI plan mentions the "Executive Force" several times as a participant in patrols and security operations. (Comment: Al-Qawasmi has sided with the previous Hamas MoI Sa'id Siyam and at odds with President Abbas over the "Executive Force." Abbas has told the Consul General and the press that the Executive Force is illegal and must be disbanded. This guarantees the MoI plan will not receive any support from the President or PASF who have clashed with the Executive Force. End comment). Security Commanders Reaction -------------- ¶5. (C) In multiple conversations with Poloff, Gaza and West Bank NSF commanders BG Jamal Kayyad and BG Thiab Mustafa Ali said the plan is not a factor in their security strategy or decisions. They said they answer to the President and work with his security advisors, and do not receive MoI directives. Kayyad said implementation of the MoI plan is unlikely, and the Executive Force cannot play a constructive role after clashing violently with the PASF. JERUSALEM 00000785 002 OF 002 MoI Renews Resignation Threat -------------- ¶6. (SBU) After PM Haniyah rejected al-Qawasmi's resignation on April 23 (Ref A),the Minister has demanded that Internal Security Director-General Rashid Abu Shbak be dismissed. (Note: Abu Shbak effectively commands PSO, civil defense and police, and answers to Dahlan and President Abbas, despite al-Qawasmi's legal responsibility for these forces. Legally al-Qawasmi is Abu Shbak's superior, but neither Abu Shbak nor the security chiefs take instructions from the MoI. End note). Hamas leaders including former FM al-Zahar, Musa al-Marzuq and Ghazi Hamad have recently increased public criticism of Abu Shbak, calling for him to resign or give al-Qawasmi control of MoI forces. Security contacts say al-Qawasmi is again saying he will resign if he does not have authority over internal security forces. Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) Al-Qawasmi's 100-day plan has significant flaws. Implementation will be impossible, because of al-Qawasmi's limited political power and his lack of authority over the internal security forces. The plan was not coordinated with President Abbas, NSA Dahlan or the security chiefs, is in many respects contrary to their security strategy, and will not receive any support from the Palestinian security establishment or President's office. WALLES