IDF, PA AGREE ON HEBRON SECURITY DEPLOYMENT; PA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 001942 SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, IPA; NSC FOR ABRAMS/PASCUAL/RAMCHAND E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2018 TAGS: KWBG IS PINS PGOV SUBJECT: IDF, PA AGREE ON HEBRON SECURITY DEPLOYMENT; PA CONCERNED ABOUT OPERATIONAL RESTRICTIONS REF: JERUSALEM 1903 Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. PA security forces (PASF) commanders told ConGenOffs October 23 that the IDF approved a PASF deployment of about 580 troops to the Hebron Governorate, starting late October 24, for 30 days. PA commanders said the IDF laid down conditions for the deployment's approval as well as operational restrictions in the city of Hebron. These include requiring a three-phase deployment in which PA forces would only enter central Hebron (H1) in the last phase, and a prohibition against discharging firearms inside the city. PASF chiefs said the IDF will deliver final approval and an agreed deployment time by October 24 and maintain a coordination hotline throughout the operation. End summary. IDF, PA Agree on Hebron Deployment; IDF Imposes Operational Restrictions -------------- ¶2. (C) After a late October 22 meeting, PA security commanders told PolFSN that the IDF approved a PASF deployment of about 580 troops to the Hebron Governorate, starting late October 24 (after sunset and the beginning of the Jewish Sabbath). At the meeting, attended by IDF West Bank Commander BG Noam Tibon, West Bank Civil Administration (COGAT) director BG Yoav ("Poli") Mordechai, Hebron IDF commander Udi Ben-Muha and Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet) officials, and by PA National Security Forces (NSF) commander MG Thiab Ali ("Abu al-Fatah"),police chief MG Hazim Attallah, Preventive Security Organization (PSO) director MG Ziad Hab al-Rih, and West Bank General Intelligence (Mukhabarat) director Aql Sa'adi, the two sides to finalize technical details for the planned move. The PASF contingent will consist of 200 NSF (nearly all from the NSF's 2nd Battalion, which underwent USG-funded training at JIPTC, 255 Presidential Guard (PG),50 police, 30 NSF "Military Intelligence" (Istikhbarat),44 PSO agents and a small number of Mukhabarat agents. PASF chiefs said the IDF approved a 30-day deployment with the option for extension with IDF approval. ¶3. (C) PA commanders said the PASF-IDF meeting held late October 22 was tense, and the IDF laid down conditions for approval of the deployment, including operational restrictions. The NSF and police commanders said IDF West Bank Division commander BG Noam Tibon told PASF chiefs that the political echelon in Israel remains reluctant to approve the move, but Tibon's superior, IDF Central Command chief MG Gadi Shamni, will allow the deployment as long as the PA strictly abides by IDF conditions. PA commanders said Tibon described the following conditions: a) The IDF retains overall security responsibility, both day and night, for all of Hebron, including H1/H2; b) the Hebron deployment must be implemented in three stages: first, in towns south of Hebron, avoiding Hebron's urban area; second, in locations near Route 60, including Arroub Refugee Camp, Halhul, and Bayt Ummar; and third inside Hebron (excepting H2 and areas in close proximity); separate IDF clearance must be received before transition from each phase; c) the PA must receive future IDF approval before it takes any actions in Jabal Abu Snaynah and Harat al-Shaykh, which are in H1 but overlook some H2 areas, and may not permanently station troops there; d) the PA may carry but must not discharge firearms during operations inside H1; if shots are fired, the IDF will halt PA operations and reserve the right to arrest all those firing shots; and e) PASF are prohibited from detaining anyone who holds an Israeli identity card. ¶4. (C) PASF chiefs said the IDF will deliver final approval to the NSF with an agreed deployment time by October 24. PASF chiefs said the IDF commanders said they will maintain a coordination hotline throughout the operation, and expect advance notice with specific details for each PASF action. Comment -------------- ¶5. (C) PASF chiefs are disappointed by the operational restrictions (including some prohibitions the IDF does not JERUSALEM 00001942 002 OF 002 require of the PASF currently in Hebron),but report the political guidance from President Abbas and PM Salam Fayyad was to deploy to Hebron regardless of IDF strictures. PM Fayyad confirmed this in a conversation with the Consul General on October 22. PASF commanders are concerned that settler pressure will stall transition into the deployment's third phase (central H1 Hebron) and that IDF incursions will complicate their goal of increasing public support, noting a recent increase in Hebron-area settler incidents and an October 22 IDF incursion into the city. WALLES