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 -------------- JERUSALEM 00001446 002 OF 002 ¶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