PA SECURITY CHIEFS, IDF COMMANDERS COORDINATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000733

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/PASCUAL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/2018
TAGS: KWBG PINS IS PGOV PTER
SUBJECT: PA SECURITY CHIEFS, IDF COMMANDERS COORDINATE
FUTURE JENIN OPERATION, AREA B OPERATIONS AND POLICE
STATIONS


Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary. Following an April 28 meeting with senior
IDF officers in Bet El, PA security forces (PASF) commanders
report progress in coordination for security operations in
Jenin, shortening deployment clearance times, and reopening
police stations in Area B. They report IDF criticism of the
recent escape of al-Aqsa Brigades prisoners from Jericho (the
PA says it subsequently recaptured the escapees). PASF
chiefs said they asked the IDF to pass a request to expedite
and expand the fugitive disarmament/amnesty deal. End
summary.


Senior IDF Commanders Host PA
Security Chiefs, Discuss Jenin Ops
--------------


2. (C) PA security commanders report that IDF West Bank
Division commander BG Noam Tibon and Civil
Administration/Liaison director BG Yoav Mordechai met with PA
National Security Forces (NSF) commander MG Thiab Mustafa Ali
(Abu al-Fatah),Joint Security Committee (JSC) chief BG Samir
Makhzumi Qaysi, Preventive Security (PSO) director MG Ziad
Hab al-Rih, General Intelligence (Mukhabarat) West Bank
director Aql Sa'adi, Military Intelligence (Istikhbarat)
chief BG Majid al-Farraj and deputy police commander BG Majid
al-Huwwari at the IDF headquarters at Bet El on April 28.
The NSF commander told ConGen POL FSN that the IDF commanders
said they had received instructions from the Ministry of
Defense (MoD) to facilitate PASF deployments in and around
Jenin. The commanders agreed to hold a subsequent meeting to
complete logistical and technical arrangements once the PA
completes its deployment plan. PA plans for an early May
deployment are discussed septel.

Agreement on Opening Area B Police
Stations, Still Discussing Armaments
--------------


3. (C) JSC and police contacts report that the IDF
commanders said the MoD approved reopening of 20 Area B
police stations. PASF contacts say the IDF was not concerned
with the number of policemen who will work at these stations
but wants to limit PA armaments at the stations to 2 rifles
for every 4 policemen. These contacts say a subsequent
meeting will be held to complete discussions on armaments.
(Comment: The main delaying factor in opening the stations is
incomplete PA logistical preparations. While the two sides
continue to discuss minor details on personnel and armaments,
the PA remains unprepared to reopen all 20 stations even if
agreement on these matters is reached. The return of police
commander MG Hazim Attallah on May 3 from a preparatory
meeting for the Berlin law enforcement conference will likely
speed preparations for the stations' operation. End comment).

PA: IDF Pledges to Expedite Area B
Ops Clearance, Bethlehem Support
--------------


4. (C) NSF Commander MG Ali said that BG Mordechai said the
IDF will expedite clearance for PASF to conduct operations in
most B Areas, pledging to reduce wait times to 25 minutes
after notification for nearly all operations. According to
Ali, Mordechai also said the Civil Administration will also
expedite clearance for PASF activities in and around
Bethlehem for the May Investment Conference and will
authorize 5,000 more work permits for West Bank Palestinians.


IDF Complains About Jericho Breakout
--------------


5. (C) PASF chiefs said the IDF commanders blasted the PA
for allowing three al-Aqsa Brigades militants to escape from
Jericho prison early on April 28 and urged the PA to
apprehend the escapees quickly and prevent further breakouts.
(Note: Mukhabarat contacts report that all three are back in
custody as of late April 29, with two captured in Ramallah
and one in Bethlehem. The escapees, Hani Halawa, Nidal
Malash and Mahmud Mustafa, are all prominent al-Aqsa
militants with reported ties to both al-Aqsa and PRC cells in
Gaza. End note).

Request to Expedite,
Expand Fugitives Program
--------------


JERUSALEM 00000733 002 OF 002



6. (C) PA intelligence contacts said they asked the IDF
commanders to expedite amnesty for 280 fugitives, all
previously included on amnesty lists, who the PA said had
surrendered their weapons, complied with PA monitoring and
signed commitments to refrain from violence against Israelis.
They said they also asked the GOI to consider allowing
additional fugitives to join the disarmament/amnesty deal.
WALLES