PA POLICE CHIEF OUTLINES FORCE PRIORITIES, DECRIES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 001446

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2018
TAGS: KWBG IS PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: PA POLICE CHIEF OUTLINES FORCE PRIORITIES, DECRIES
UNSATISFACTORY PA-GOI COORDINATION

Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary. PA police chief MG Hazim Attallah told
PolOff that GOI-PA security coordination is unsatisfactory,
with twice as many IDF incursions and increased clearance
delays for police operations since July 1. While PA police
are increasingly effective at fighting crime, the PA General
Intelligence is reluctant to share information, and other
forces do not accept that the police should be in the
forefront of dealing with demonstrations, according to
Attallah. He said the PA judiciary is "not helping" security
efforts and is ineffective in prosecuting criminal cases. He
said the police need to develop a cadre of 50-60 expert
police trainers, conduct nearly all training in Jericho, and
build SWAT and VIP protection elements. He claimed police
vetting procedures are effective in eliminating officers with
possible terror links. Attallah said the PA will miss
operational budget payments for the second month in a row,
stymieing progress on capacity-building and operational
effectiveness. End summary.

PA-GOI Security Coordination Unsatisfactory
--------------


2. (C) PA police chief Attallah told POLOFF August 6 that
improvements in GOI-PA security in the West Bank have
stalled, with twice as many IDF incursions (including
frequent daytime raids) after July 1 compared to the period
from April-June. He said the GOI delays or denies PA
requests to move police between towns much more often than
during the Jenin operation in May. He said BG Noam Tibon
(IDF West Bank Division commander) and BG Yoav Mordechai
(West Bank COGAT chief) met with PA security forces (PASF)
chiefs (National Security Forces commander MG Thiab Ali,
Preventive Security Organization director Ziad Hab al-Rih,
General Intelligence director Tawfiq Tirawi, Deputy Interior
Min. Raji al-Najmi and Attallah) August 4. The IDF
commanders made no commitments on PA requests to stop
incursions, reduce roadblocks, expedite PASF moves into Area
B or share "real intelligence." Attallah said the IDF now
provides lists of businesses/institutions to shut down and
people to arrest, without explanation of the targets'
connection to illegal/terrorist activity. This is "not
helpful and unacceptable," and the lists contain some
incorrect information, Attallah said.


Anti-Crime Successes Balanced by Internal
Security, Judicial Establishment Problems
--------------


3. (C) Attallah said PA police are increasingly effective,
recently cracking several theft rings, but the PA judiciary
is "not helping" security efforts and has been ineffective in
prosecuting criminal cases. He said many PA officials want
to use military courts, which render speedy judgments, as an
alternative, but the PA has demurred due to objections from
civil rights groups. Attallah said PM Salam Fayyad is
frustrated with the courts and Higher Judicial Council, and
wants to increase the courts' effectiveness.


4. (C) Attallah said the PA General Intelligence is
reluctant to share information and "does not share the belief
that Hamas is one enemy." He went on, "there is no 'good and
moderate Hamas' and 'bad Hamas,' but not all the security
chiefs see this." He said the police have had to push to be
in the forefront of dealing with Hizb al-Tahrir
demonstrations, blaming "other security forces" for killing a
demonstrator in Hebron in November, that "played right into
the enemy's hands for propaganda."

PA Priorities for Training, Rebuilding
--------------


5. (C) Attallah said the PA needs to train police in Jericho
and limit foreign training (and trainers) to a few specialty
courses. He said he is revamping the Jericho police college
accordingly and wants to develop a cadre of 50-60 expert
police trainers. He said EU COPPS assistance has been
minimal, and he wants to increase bilateral assistance
arrangements. Attallah said top priorities include building
SWAT and VIP protection elements and equipping a bomb
detection/disposal unit. (Note: In a separate meeting later
July 6, Police Training Directorate chief BG Majid Huwwari
identified the same priorities plus a new forensics lab. End
note).

Attallah: Strong Internal Vetting Program
--------------

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6. (C) Attallah said the police have re-vetted all
personnel, removing 250 officers for conduct or questionable
associations in 2008. He said eight senior officers have
sued to protest their dismissals, but the PA leadership
supports strict vetting standards. Attallah said special
scrutiny is applied to armed officers and all members of
special units, who are subject to an extensive review of all
associations and can be disqualified for even family ties to
Hamas or PIJ.

Funding Problems Persist
--------------


7. (C) Salary payments are expected August 7, Attallah said,
but the PA will miss operational budget payments to the
police for the second month in a row. He compared this
situation to Gaza, where he said Hamas paid all salaries and
operations costs August 3. He emphasized that the PASF as a
whole cannot operate effectively without a stable budget.
WALLES