Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JERUSALEM1757
2008-09-22 13:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:  

MINISTRY OF AWQAF HOPES SAUDIS WILL DISTRIBUTE

Tags:  PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KPAL KWBG KISL IS SA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8285
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #1757 2661347
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 221347Z SEP 08
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2841
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001757 

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KPAL KWBG KISL IS SA
SUBJECT: MINISTRY OF AWQAF HOPES SAUDIS WILL DISTRIBUTE
GAZA HAJJ VISAS THROUGH PA

Classified By: Acting Principal Officer Greg Marchese, per reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001757

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KPAL KWBG KISL IS SA
SUBJECT: MINISTRY OF AWQAF HOPES SAUDIS WILL DISTRIBUTE
GAZA HAJJ VISAS THROUGH PA

Classified By: Acting Principal Officer Greg Marchese, per reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary. The PA Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs
called for USG pressure on Saudi Arabia to distribute Hajj
visas to Gazans through the Ministry rather than through
HAMAS. Doing so would help the PA, he said. He added that
the PA wants Gazans to depart through Jordan, not Egypt. The
PA has already begun the selection process for Hajj visa
recipients in the West Bank and Gaza, but HAMAS's competing
list in Gaza could produce some friction, according to the
Minister. End Summary.

PA MINISTRY DISTRIBUTING HAJJ VISAS,
HOPES TO DISTRIBUTE TO GAZANS
--------------


2. (C) Deputy Minister of Awqaf and Religious Affairs Salah
Zuhayka told PolOff September 22 that Saudi Arabia offered
3000 Hajj visas for Palestinians from the West Bank and 1800
for Gazans. (Note. The Hajj begins o/a December 10. End
Note.) He said the Ministry has already begun an
Internet-based lottery to select the 3000 West Bankers and
hopes to receive 2000 additional visas for West Bankers after
Eid al-Fitr in early October. He said selection of visa
recipients this year is being done by the Ministry, rather
than an independent committee as previously.


3. (C) Zuhayka said the Ministry asked Saudi Arabia to
distribute the 1800 visas to Gazans through the PA rather
than HAMAS, but the Saudis have not responded. He said the
PA and HAMAS are compiling separate lists of Gazans for
visas, which could produce conflict when one group of people
is denied visas in favor of the other. Zuhayka said USG
pressure on Saudi Arabia to work with the Ministry of Awqaf
would help the PA. He said the PA prefers to bring Gazans
through Israel and the West Bank to Jordan for the Hajj,
rather than through Egypt.

PALESTINIANS MAKING UMRA TRAVEL INDEPENDENTLY
--------------


4. (C) Zuhayka told PolOff that Saudi Arabia issues Umra
visas on a rolling basis throughout the year and that
Muslims, including Palestinians, can apply without the
assistance of their governments. He said Gazans who make the
Umra, therefore, are not necessarily identified with a
particular faction. (Note: The Umra pilgrimage to Mecca can
be performed at almost any time during the year, unlike the
Hajj, which occurs annually in the twelfth month of the
Islamic calendar. End Note.)
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