PA RECEIVES GOI PERMISSION TO REOPEN 20 "AREA B"

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000688 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/PASCUAL E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2018 TAGS: KWBG IS PGOV SUBJECT: PA RECEIVES GOI PERMISSION TO REOPEN 20 "AREA B" POLICE STATIONS Classified By: Acting Principal Officer Thomas M. Duffy, for reasons 1. 4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) According to PA police chief MG Hazim Attallah, on April 18 the GOI MoD gave the PA permission to reopen 20 small police stations in B areas throughout the West Bank (specific locations listed para. 3). ATTALLAH told POL FSN that the two sides still need to agree on the number of policemen, number/type of arms and permitted activities/hours of operation at the stations before they can be reestablished. He said the GOI Civil Administration said it will review PA requests to freely move police between Areas A and B and allow the stations one rifle for every two officers. In the meantime, ATTALLAH said the police will complete a survey of the stations and their communities and determine requirements for repairs, furniture, equipment and logistical sustainment. (Note: Most of the 20 stations already have buildings, but have been defunct since the IDF forbid their operation in 2001. End note). Comment -------------- ¶2. (C) Reopening these stations is a small but positive step for GOI-PA security coordination, favorably covered by Palestinian press. It also sets a precedent for further discussions to expand the PA's security presence. While it helps a minority of Area B towns and villages, and falls far short of transferring security responsibility to the PA for these areas, it will improve delivery of law enforcement to towns that have had no effective justice sector since 2001. End comment. Listing of Towns Authorized to Reopen PA Police Stations -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Jenin Area: Dayr Abu Dayf Tubas Tamun Fara'a Aqaba Tulkarm Area: Atil Bayt Lid Allar Qalqiliya Area: Hajah Kufr Thilth Nablus Area: Bayt Furik Ramallah Area: Baytunia (Area A, but functionally treated as Area B by GOI) Im Sharayit Khirbit Abu Fadalah Dayr Ghassanah Arura Bethlehem Area: Takua' Hebron Area: Ithna Sa'ir Tafuh Wadi al-Hariyah DUFFY