Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JERUSALEM172
2008-02-01 09:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:  

PM FAYYAD TALKS ROAD MAP WITH LTG FRASER,

Tags:  KWBG PBTS PREL PINS IS 
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VZCZCXRO7007
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #0172/01 0320929
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 010929Z FEB 08
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0400
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000172 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2018
TAGS: KWBG PBTS PREL PINS IS
SUBJECT: PM FAYYAD TALKS ROAD MAP WITH LTG FRASER,
INTRODUCES SECURITY CHIEFS

Classified By: Acting Principal Officer Thomas M. Duffy, per reasons
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000172

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2018
TAGS: KWBG PBTS PREL PINS IS
SUBJECT: PM FAYYAD TALKS ROAD MAP WITH LTG FRASER,
INTRODUCES SECURITY CHIEFS

Classified By: Acting Principal Officer Thomas M. Duffy, per reasons 1.
4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: PM Salam Fayyad told LTG William Fraser
January 29 that freezing settlement construction is the top
Palestinian priority for Roadmap implementation. He said the
PA will be pragmatic and also seriously address Israeli
security concerns. He urged GoI compliance with the
obligation to re-open Palestinian institutions in East
Jerusalem, which he said are closed for political, not
security, reasons. He said Fraser should not allow the GoI
or the PA to use domestic politics as an excuse for not
moving on the Roadmap. Fayyad noted that the Roadmap allows
only three security services and asked Fraser not to focus on
this number, but rather on effective command and control. PM
Fayyad also convoked the security chiefs to meet LTG Fraser.
END SUMMARY.

Israeli and Palestinian
Roadmap Obligations
--------------


2. (C) LTG William Fraser and PM Salam Fayyad discussed
Roadmap monitoring and Fraser's new mission January 29. PM
Fayyad urged LTG Fraser not to accept political excuses for
inaction from the GoI or the PA, and pledged not to make
them. PM Fayyad said freezing settlement construction is the
top priority for Palestinians, who want "100 percent
performance" on this "litmus test" for Israeli seriousness
about the Roadmap.


3. (C) PM Fayyad said he knows that the GoI redeploying its
forces to pre-intifada positions is inconsistent with the
current GoI security concept. He suggested finding an
"interim" option that helps the PA, which is deploying PA
security forces (PASF) in the West Bank to address law and
order issues and which is undermined by IDF operations in the
same areas. "We want to be pragmatic," he said, "and this
issue does not impact us permanently, as the settlements do."
Fayyad underscored that he will take seriously any Israeli
concern about the impact of Road Map implementation on
security.


4. (C) PM Fayyad said the continued closure of Palestinian

institutions in East Jerusalem is unrelated to security
concerns, but to political will. Opening these institutions,
he said, help start Roadmap discussions -- compliance is
easily assessed, since institutions are "open or closed." He
added that this issue is also unrelated to discussions of
Jerusalem as a permanent status issue.


5. (C) Fayyad said the PA is "not interested in point
scoring, but in outcomes." He said his office will be the PA
clearing house for Roadmap issues, and security advisor BG
Hazem Attallah and Hala Rashed (of the PLO Negotiations
Support Unit) from his office will be the points of contact
for Fraser's team.

Broader Focus on Security Branches
--------------


6. (C) PM Fayyad asked LTG Fraser to consider carefully the
Roadmap's "artificial" requirement of three security services
and not to "get bogged down" on this number. Fayad said his
own focus is on effective command and control relationships.
He called for a clear delineation between organizations,
adequate coordination systems and an effective command
structure, he said, noting that the requirement for three
services derived from historical concerns over past
Palestinian leaders (i.e. former President Arafat) that have
changed over time. Fayyad said an effective PASF command
structure is more important than the number of security
services. "Do we have a commander who can order the
Presidential Guard and National Security Forces at one time?"
should be the question, Fayyad said, underscoring that the
answer now is no.

Security Chiefs Pledge Cooperation
--------------


7. (C) PM Fayyad convoked the PA security commanders to meet
LTG Fraser and emphasized to them and to LTG Fraser that
security restructuring and fulfillment of Road Map
commitments is critical. The PA, he said, will meet its own
commitments and not give any excuses for the GoI not to meet
its commitments.

Security attendees:
Deputy Interior Minister: BG Raji al-Nijmi

JERUSALEM 00000172 002 OF 002


PM's Military Advisor: BG Hazem Attallah
National Security Forces (NSF): MG Thiab Ali (Abu al-Fatah)
Civil Police: MG Kamal al-Shaykh
Preventive Security Organization (PSO): BG Zakariya Muslih
al-Tarifi (Abu Ali) (Note: PSO Chief Ziad Hab al-Rih was in
the U.S. End Note)
Civil Defense: BG Ibrahim Atiani (Sakr Mujahib)
General Intelligence (Mukhabarat): MG Tawfiq al-Tirawi
Military Intelligence (Istikhbarat): BG Majid al-Farraj


8. (C) MG Tirawi said the PASF are imperfect and have made
mistakes, but also accomplished a great deal since Hamas'
June 2007 takeover of Gaza and is working hard to fight
terror. He said the GoI does not acknowledge these
achievements, but he hopes to cooperate with the GoI and
restore mutual confidence. MG Ali welcomed LTG Fraser and
said he hopes their joint efforts will fulfill Palestinian
national aspirations. BG al-Nijmi said LTG Fraser's presence
symbolizes USG support and commitment, and the Palestinian
security establishment has improved significantly in recent
months primarily with PA resources. He said the PASF need
more resources, especially vehicles, radios and weapons, to
increase effectiveness. BG al-Farraj said the USG's
third-party monitoring role is helpful and will answer
Israeli claims that there is no Palestinian partner on
security. He said political leadership has assisted recent
PA efforts to fight militants and disorder, and the PA
leadership and security chiefs share a vision of achieving
statehood peacefully. He said no country has 100 percent
security and 10 percent failure does not mean less than 100
percent commitment and effort.


9. (U) LTG Fraser did not clear this message.
DUFFY