LOCAL SECURITY INSUFFICIENT TO EASE REYDA JEWS'

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 002028


FOR NEA/ARP AMACDONALD
FOR SEAS S/E GRICKMAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREF KIRF YM
SUBJECT: LOCAL SECURITY INSUFFICIENT TO EASE REYDA JEWS'
CONCERN

REF: A. SANAA 2005

B. SANAA 1994

Classified By: Ambassador Stephen Seche for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY. Representatives of the Jewish community in
Reyda confirmed that they would accept President Saleh's
offer of land and money to build houses in Sana'a, but
worried that their immediate security needs in Reyda were not
being addressed. Deputy Head of the National Security Bureau
(NSB) Ammar Saleh promised the Ambassador on December 21 that
he would personally speak with Amran's security director and
the governor to ensure sufficient security measures are
implemented. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) On December 16, Suliman Yahya Yacoub, a member of the
delegation of Reyda Jews who met with President Saleh,
confirmed the President's offer of a plot of land in Sana'a
for each Jewish family and money to build houses on the land
(reftel A). Yacoub was unable to provide further details of
the offer.


3. (C) In a December 21 conversation with PolOff, Yahya
Yaish, a brother of Moshe Yaish Nahari, a Jewish man murdered
in Reyda on December 11, said that the overall security
posture in Reyda was unchanged since his brother's death,
despite last week's assurances of protection from the
President and Minister of Interior Rashad al-Masri (reftel B)
and a December 16 visit from the security directors of Amran
governorate and the town of Reyda. In a December 21 meeting,
Deputy Head of the NSB Ammar Saleh assured the Ambassador
that he would personally follow up on security measures with
Amran's leadership.


4. (C) The trial of Abdulaziz al-Abadi, the man accused of
murdering Nahari, began on December 20, but after charges
were read and the plea entered, was adjourned until December

22. The Yaish family continues to lobby heavily for the death
penalty for al-Abadi.


5. (C) COMMENT. Post will continue to closely monitor the
situation in Reyda and report significant updates. END
COMMENT.

SECHE