ABU MAZEN WITH LTG FRASER: FAYYAD IS ROADMAP POINT

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000171 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/PASCUAL E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2018 TAGS: KWBG PBTS PREL IS SUBJECT: ABU MAZEN WITH LTG FRASER: FAYYAD IS ROADMAP POINT MAN; PA READY TO OPERATE RAFAH CROSSING Classified By: Acting Principal Officer Thomas M. Duffy, for reasons 1. 4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: PA President Mahmud Abbas (Abu Mazen) told LTG William Fraser January 29 that the PA is ready to operate the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, but he is skeptical that Hamas will accept this arrangement. He identified PM Salam Fayyad as LTG Fraser's principal interlocutor on Roadmap implementation and military advisor BG Hazem Attallah as a key contact on Roadmap security obligations. END SUMMARY. Abbas Seeks Hamas Acquiescence on PA Control of Rafah Crossing -------------- ¶2. (C) In a January 29 meeting with LTG William Fraser, President Abbas previewed his January 30 discussions with the GoE on Gaza and said the PA will establish a border presence at Rafah as long as Hamas does not interfere. Abbas said he would not meet with Hamas in Cairo, but "everything will depend on Hamas." He said he is not looking for Hamas to ratify the PA plan for Rafah; he will need Hamas' "silence on, not acceptance of" the proposal. He added that the PA is ready to deploy and Israel does not object to a PA presence at Rafah. PLO Negotiations Chief Sa'eb Erekat said Hamas "has a veto over the idea," and would likely use it. Erekat commented that the border problem and humanitarian situation in Gaza are products of Israel's policy of collective punishment for militant attacks. He added that the PA still must provide details on its plan for Rafah. Roadmap Implementation -------------- ¶3. (C) President Abbas said the PA's priority in Roadmap implementation is freezing settlement construction, noting that the GoI priority is PA security performance. Abbas said PM Fayyad will be LTG Fraser's main point of contact, noting that he (Abbas) will be General James Jones' key interlocutor on security arrangements related to permanent status. He pointed to military advisor BG Hazem Attallah as another key contact on Roadmap implementation. Erekat welcomed LTG Fraser's mission as a mechanism to address important daily issues that will help protect the negotiations track. He commented that until the GoI addresses Winograd and "the dust settles," Fraser will have numerous Israeli counterparts, but ultimately he expects it to be Defense Minister Barak. ¶4. (U) LTG Fraser did not clear this message. DUFFY