REACTION TO PRISONER EXCHANGE: PA CONCERNED ABOUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 001262

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA, NSC FOR ABRAMS/PASCUAL/SINGH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2018
TAGS: KWBG PHUM PREL PTER IS
SUBJECT: REACTION TO PRISONER EXCHANGE: PA CONCERNED ABOUT
CONFLATION OF PRISONERS RELEASED TO ABBAS AND HIZBOLLAH

Classified By: Acting Principal Officer Jessica Lapenn, for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary. Palestinian Authority (PA) and Fatah
leaders publicly cheered the release of Lebanese prisoners
but privately feared that Hizbollah, not the PA, will receive
credit for Palestinian prisoners released in the future. PA
Prisoners Affairs Minister Ashraf Ajrami said the GOI has not
discussed planned future prisoner releases with PA officials.
He and senior leaders said they worry that the GOI agreement
with Hizbollah to release an unspecified number of
Palestinian prisoners will undermine PA attempts to claim
credit for future releases. They complained that the GOI's
unwillingness to release prisoners to the PA also sends the
message that fighting and kidnapping works to obtain prisoner
releases, and peaceful negotiations are ineffectual. Hamas
leaders praised the prisoner release, and former Hamas PM
Ismayil Haniyah said captured Israeli soldier Cpl. Gilad
Shalit will only be freed for a "just price." End summary.

Abbas' Office Welcomes Release
--------------


2. (SBU) PA Presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudaynah told
local press July 16 that President Abbas welcomes the release
of Palestine Liberation Front (PLF) terrorist Samir Kuntar
and other Lebanese prisoners and is happy for the families of
those who are freed. Abu Rudaynah said Abbas has been
working hard to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners
and hopes to achieve more prisoner releases soon.

PA Prisoners Minister: We Want
Discussions with GOI on More Releases
--------------


3. (C) PA Prisoners Affairs Minister Ajrami told POL FSN
July 16 that he has no information on Palestinian prisoners
who the GOI agreed to release in the context of the Hizbollah
exchange, since the PA was not consulted. He said he wants
to meet with Israeli Public Security Minister Avi Dichter to
discuss a possible prisoner release pursuant to the July 14
meeting between PM Olmert and President Abbas in Paris. He
said the Israelis have not responded to past PA meeting
requests or to suggestions for defining prisoner release
criteria. He said he is concerned that Hizbollah, not the
PA, will receive credit for any future Palestinian prisoner
releases, as the GOI has committed to a Palestinian prisoner
release with Hizbollah and many will interpret any future
release as fulfilling this agreement rather than as a PA
achievement.

Fatah Officials: "Israeli Actions
Show Only Fighting Achieves Results"
--------------


4. (C) Fatah officials Qaddura Faris and Muhammad al-Madani
similarly told POL FSN that they are concerned that
Palestinians will conflate the Israeli agreement with
Hizbollah on Palestinian prisoners with future releases
coordinated with President Abbas. Faris said months of PA
attempts to engage the GOI on prisoner releases have proven
ineffectual, and Palestinians thus are receiving a message
that "only fighting achieves results with Israel." Publicly,
Faris and other Fatah leaders congratulated the released
Lebanese prisoners and urged the PA to strengthen efforts to
secure the release of Palestinian prisoners.


5. (SBU) About 1200 Fatah activists rallied in Ramallah on
July 16 and marched from Manara Square to Yasir Arafat's
mausoleum at the Muqata'a to celebrate the prisoner release
and return of the remains of Palestinian fighters to Lebanon.
Fatah regional committee member Sa'id Yaqin told the crowd
that slain militant "Dalal al-Mughrabi and all other
Palestinian fighters will eventually be returned to the
homeland for proper burial." Fatah Central Committee member
Abdallah Ifranji paid tribute to Hizbollah for securing the
prisoner release.


6. (SBU) Abbas Zaki, the Fatah/PLO representative to
Lebanon, told Palestinian press that Hizbollah officials had
confirmed that Dalal al-Mughrabi's remains are among those
returned by the GOI, and 159 other sets of remains are being
identified. (Note: There are conflicting media reports about
whether al-Mughrabi's remains have been returned or are
identifiable. End note).

Hamas: We Congratulate Hizbollah and Families;
Shalit Only To Be Released for "Just Price"
--------------

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7. (SBU) Hamas leaders told Gaza-based press that the
prisoner release is a victory for resistance. Ismayil
Haniyah told press that he congratulated freed terrorist
Samir Kuntar's stepmother, Um Jabr Wishah, in al-Burayj
Refugee Camp, on Kuntar's release. Haniyah also told press
that captured Israeli soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit will only be
released for a "just price."
LAPENN