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