Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JERUSALEM690
2008-04-21 14:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
PA MINISTER OF RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS COUNTERING
how-toVZCZCXRO3533 PP RUEHROV DE RUEHJM #0690 1121409 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 211409Z APR 08 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1258 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000690
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/PASCUAL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2018
TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KPAL IS
SUBJECT: PA MINISTER OF RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS COUNTERING
EXTREMISM, REACHING OUT TO USG
Classified By: Acting Principal Officer, Thomas M. Duffy, per reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000690
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/PASCUAL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2018
TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KPAL IS
SUBJECT: PA MINISTER OF RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS COUNTERING
EXTREMISM, REACHING OUT TO USG
Classified By: Acting Principal Officer, Thomas M. Duffy, per reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) PA Minister of Religious Affairs Jamal Bawatna and
Assistant Secretary Salah Zuhayka told PolOff April 17 that
on-going reform efforts at the Ministry are reducing
extremist rhetoric in the West Bank. Bawatna said he is
focused on mosques, religious schools, and other religious
institutions to reduce the use of religious arenas for
political purposes. Bawatna added that 25 imams have been
banned from preaching after they used their sermons to
criticize the PA and advocate extremist ideas.
2. (C) Bawatna told PolOff that the PA security forces
(PASF) now screen potential imams before they are hired by
the Ministry of Religious Affairs to ensure that they have no
connections to extremist groups, are moderate, and focused on
religion, not politics. Bawatna said the screening process
is so stringent that he fears some moderate imams may be
excluded based on unfounded claims of extremist views.
3. (C) Bawatna said he is grateful for his good relations
with the USG and wants to strengthen these relations. He
said he wants to improve Americans' understanding of Islam to
convince Americans that Arabs are not their enemies and
discussed exposing Americans to moderate Islam through a
speaking tour in the US and other means.
DUFFY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/PASCUAL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2018
TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KPAL IS
SUBJECT: PA MINISTER OF RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS COUNTERING
EXTREMISM, REACHING OUT TO USG
Classified By: Acting Principal Officer, Thomas M. Duffy, per reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) PA Minister of Religious Affairs Jamal Bawatna and
Assistant Secretary Salah Zuhayka told PolOff April 17 that
on-going reform efforts at the Ministry are reducing
extremist rhetoric in the West Bank. Bawatna said he is
focused on mosques, religious schools, and other religious
institutions to reduce the use of religious arenas for
political purposes. Bawatna added that 25 imams have been
banned from preaching after they used their sermons to
criticize the PA and advocate extremist ideas.
2. (C) Bawatna told PolOff that the PA security forces
(PASF) now screen potential imams before they are hired by
the Ministry of Religious Affairs to ensure that they have no
connections to extremist groups, are moderate, and focused on
religion, not politics. Bawatna said the screening process
is so stringent that he fears some moderate imams may be
excluded based on unfounded claims of extremist views.
3. (C) Bawatna said he is grateful for his good relations
with the USG and wants to strengthen these relations. He
said he wants to improve Americans' understanding of Islam to
convince Americans that Arabs are not their enemies and
discussed exposing Americans to moderate Islam through a
speaking tour in the US and other means.
DUFFY