Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DAMASCUS14
2009-01-05 14:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Damascus
Cable title:
UNWRA SAYS SARG RESTRAINING HAMAS EFFORTS TO
how-toVZCZCXRO9857 PP RUEHAG RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHDM #0014 0051424 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 051424Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5758 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 5682 RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0505
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 000014
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA, IPA
NSC FOR ABRAMS
LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR WALLER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/04/2018
TAGS: PINS PREF PHUM KPAL SY
SUBJECT: UNWRA SAYS SARG RESTRAINING HAMAS EFFORTS TO
ORGANIZE PUBLIC PROTESTS OVER GAZA
REF: DAMASCUS 12
Classified By: CDA Maura Connelly, American Embassy Damascus, Reasons 1
.4 b and d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 000014
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA, IPA
NSC FOR ABRAMS
LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR WALLER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/04/2018
TAGS: PINS PREF PHUM KPAL SY
SUBJECT: UNWRA SAYS SARG RESTRAINING HAMAS EFFORTS TO
ORGANIZE PUBLIC PROTESTS OVER GAZA
REF: DAMASCUS 12
Classified By: CDA Maura Connelly, American Embassy Damascus, Reasons 1
.4 b and d.
1. (C) UNWRA Country Director Panos Moumtzis (strictly
protect) told us January 5 that tensions among Fatah and Gaza
factions had increased dramatically in Syrian Palestinian
refugee camps. Syrian security services had restrained Hamas
leaders from organizing demonstrations and had beefed up
security around the camps to maintain control. "They don,t
want a replay of Nahr al Bared here," Moumtzis commented.
In October, the security forces had engaged in several armed
exchanges with Fatah al-Islam elements inside the Yarmuk
camp, and they have been on high alert since December 27 to
prevent any militant extremists from exploiting the Gaza
crisis to foment attacks within Syria, noted Moumtzis. The
SARG had nixed HAMAS plans to organize a Palestinian "million
man march," which had led to grumbling in many of the camps.
Moumtzis added that factional tensions had spilled over to
his own Palestinian staff.
2. (C) Meanwhile, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent would be
launching its own appeal for humanitarian assistance for
Gaza, Moumtzis reported. Moumtzis said Syrian assistance,
like all international aid, was trickling into Gaza slowly.
CNN had filmed a couple of trucks ferrying Syrian supplies
(with Jordanian license plates) entering Gaza the previous
day.
3. (C) Comment: Up to now, the security forces have
allowed some demonstrations in a few of the major camps, but
most of the protests elsewhere have been limited to Syrian
students, trade unions, and civil servants. As noted in
reftel, Syrian tolerance of large-scale Palestinian
participation in public protests would signal the SARG's
willingness to live with the risk of crowds that may spin out
of control.
CONNELLY
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA, IPA
NSC FOR ABRAMS
LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR WALLER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/04/2018
TAGS: PINS PREF PHUM KPAL SY
SUBJECT: UNWRA SAYS SARG RESTRAINING HAMAS EFFORTS TO
ORGANIZE PUBLIC PROTESTS OVER GAZA
REF: DAMASCUS 12
Classified By: CDA Maura Connelly, American Embassy Damascus, Reasons 1
.4 b and d.
1. (C) UNWRA Country Director Panos Moumtzis (strictly
protect) told us January 5 that tensions among Fatah and Gaza
factions had increased dramatically in Syrian Palestinian
refugee camps. Syrian security services had restrained Hamas
leaders from organizing demonstrations and had beefed up
security around the camps to maintain control. "They don,t
want a replay of Nahr al Bared here," Moumtzis commented.
In October, the security forces had engaged in several armed
exchanges with Fatah al-Islam elements inside the Yarmuk
camp, and they have been on high alert since December 27 to
prevent any militant extremists from exploiting the Gaza
crisis to foment attacks within Syria, noted Moumtzis. The
SARG had nixed HAMAS plans to organize a Palestinian "million
man march," which had led to grumbling in many of the camps.
Moumtzis added that factional tensions had spilled over to
his own Palestinian staff.
2. (C) Meanwhile, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent would be
launching its own appeal for humanitarian assistance for
Gaza, Moumtzis reported. Moumtzis said Syrian assistance,
like all international aid, was trickling into Gaza slowly.
CNN had filmed a couple of trucks ferrying Syrian supplies
(with Jordanian license plates) entering Gaza the previous
day.
3. (C) Comment: Up to now, the security forces have
allowed some demonstrations in a few of the major camps, but
most of the protests elsewhere have been limited to Syrian
students, trade unions, and civil servants. As noted in
reftel, Syrian tolerance of large-scale Palestinian
participation in public protests would signal the SARG's
willingness to live with the risk of crowds that may spin out
of control.
CONNELLY