PA STARTS SECURITY OPERATION SOUTH OF HEBRON;

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 001952

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, IPA; NSC FOR ABRAMS/PASCUAL/RAMCHAND

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/27/2018
TAGS: KWBG IS PINS PGOV PTER LE
SUBJECT: PA STARTS SECURITY OPERATION SOUTH OF HEBRON;
ABBAS, FAYYAD ORDER PASF CHIEFS TO ENFORCE PA AUTHORITY

REF: A. JERUSALEM 1942

B. 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 26-27 that joint PASF patrols entered
Yatta and al-Samu'a (Area A towns south of Hebron) early
October 27, arresting 23 criminal fugitives and Hamas
activists and detaining 30 other suspects. The PA National
Security Forces (NSF) commander said the NSF coordinated the
move with the IDF on October 26, a day after 585 PASF troops
deployed into the Hebron Governorate in accordance with a
three-stage security plan (Ref A). Local press report that
PA President Mahmud Abbas (Abu Mazen) and PM Salam Fayyad
charged PASF chiefs with enforcing PA law and authority as
part of an overall West Bank security strategy. Hamas
spokesmen attacked the PA's security campaign as a plot to
terminate Hamas and "national resistance" in the West Bank,
while a Hebron settlement spokeswoman told press that the
deployment was "an illegal move" that "puts terrorists in
uniform." End summary.

PASF Detain 20 in Yatta, Samu'a
--------------


2. (C) NSF commander MG Thiab Mustafa Ali (Abu al-Fatah)
said joint PASF patrols (with over 350 security officers and
100 vehicles) entered al-Samu'a (Area A, population 20,000)
and then Yatta (Area A, population 35,000) south of Hebron
early October 27, arresting 14 criminal fugitives and 9 Hamas
activists and detaining 30 other suspects for questioning.
MG Ali said the NSF coordinated the move with the IDF and
received approval, as stipulated by the IDF's West Bank
commander (ref A) on October 26. PA forces raided the
private al-'Itimad Hospital in Yatta based on information
that it was operating illegally, and confiscated expired and
smuggled medicines.


3. (SBU) Hebron NSF commander BG Samih Jamil al-Sayfi said
the deployed force of 585 soldiers and police (composition
described ref A) deployed into makeshift barracks in central
Hebron without incident (except for a vehicle collision that
injured two Presidential Guard soldiers en route from
Ramallah) early October 25. Al-Sayfi released a press
statement October 26 announcing the PA security operation,
targeting "outlaws, criminals anyone who holds firearms and
anyone who violates law and order," and calling for citizens'
cooperation and support.


4. (SBU) In an October 26 operation carried out separately,
PA Preventive Security and police officers attempted to
arrest Hamas activist Wadah Muhammad Abu Ghayshah, but were
unable to execute the arrest after residents attacked the
officers. The PA detained 4 Hamas relatives and associates
of Abu Ghayshah during the incident.

Abbas, Fayyad Charge PA Commanders
with Imposing Order and PA Authority
--------------


5. (C) Local press report PA President Abbas met with PASF
chiefs on October 25 and received briefings on current
security plans and operations. Press report Abbas instructed
the chiefs "to enforce PA law and authority while maintaining
good relations with the common man on the street." Press
reported that PM Salam Fayyad gave PASF commanders guidance
to establish law and order throughout the Hebron Governorate
as part of an overall strategy to provide Palestinians with
security throughout the West Bank. In an October 27
conversation with the Consul General, PM Fayyad said he is
pleased with initial PASF steps in Hebron and plans to visit
the city on October 28 for briefings by the security chiefs.

Hamas Denounces "Treasonous" Security
Coordination, Hebron Operation
--------------


6. (SBU) Lebanon-based Hamas spokesman Usama Hamdan claimed
to press October 27 that PASF had arrested two Hamas
activists in Hebron and extradited them to Israel, a claim PA
intelligence officers denied. Gaza-based Hamas spokesman
Fawzi Barhum attacked the PA's security campaign as part of a
PA plot to terminate Hamas and "national resistance" in the
West Bank, in collaboration with American and Israeli
authorities. Gaza-based Hamas PLC member Ismayil al-Ashqar
said, "security coordination with the Israeli occupation is
treasonous" and called for PA commanders who coordinated with
the IDF to be "prosecuted."

JERUSALEM 00001952 002 OF 002



Settlers: PA Deployment
"Puts Terrorists in Uniform"
--------------


7. (U) Hebron settlement spokeswoman Orit Struck told
Israeli press October 27 that GOI approval of the Hebron
deployment was "an illegal move" that "puts terrorists in
uniform." Other settler leaders claimed that the PA forces
would attack Jewish residents in the Hebron area.

WALLES