IDF AGREES TO REFRAIN FROM INCURSIONS IN FOUR WEST

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001078 SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND NEA/IPA; NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR; JOINT STAFF FOR LTG SELVA E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2019 TAGS: PGOV PINS MOPS PTER KWBG IS SUBJECT: IDF AGREES TO REFRAIN FROM INCURSIONS IN FOUR WEST BANK CITIES FOR ONE WEEK Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Senior PA security officials told Post that the IDF informed them on June 24 of a halt to incursions into four West Bank cities -- Ramallah, Bethlehem, Qalqilia, and Jericho -- for one week, except in extreme cases. As of June 25, PA officials confirmed there had been no overnight incursions into these four cities. PA security officials asked Shin Bet for quicker responses on amnesty requests for Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade fugitives currently held by the PA, and the two sides agreed to discuss security arrangements for the Fatah Sixth Party Congress at a later date. End Summary. A One-Week "Offer": No IDF Incursions In Four Cities -------------- ¶2. (C) PA security chiefs met June 24 in Bethlehem with IDF West Bank Commander Noam Tivon, Civil Administration head General Yoav (Poli) Mordachei, and a Shin Bet representative. PA security contacts called the meeting "comfortable," and said the IDF officers traveled in civilian cars to the meeting site. According to NSF Commander Diab al-Ali, General Tivon said that the IDF would refrain from entering four West Bank cities -- Ramallah, Bethlehem, Qalqilia, and Jericho -- for one week beginning the night of June 24, except in extreme cases, such as hot pursuit. (Note: PA contacts confirmed on June 25 that there had been incursions the previous night. End Note.) Al-Ali reported that he "accepted" this move as a first step toward restoring PA control in Area A. Several of the PA chiefs reported to PolSpec that the IDF gave the impression that this one-week trial may be extended. PA Requests Amnesty Assistance -------------- ¶3. (C) The PA security chiefs report that they sought Shin Bet assistance to speed up the review of amnesty requests for Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade fugitives currently in PA custody, primarily in Nablus. The Israeli representatives agreed to convey the request, according to the PA officials, with a favorable recommendation. The two sides also discussed the upcoming Fatah Sixth Party Congress, now anticipated to take place in Bethlehem on August 4. The PASF and IDF reportedly agreed to coordinate security arrangements at a later date, but noted that access for delegates from abroad would require "higher-level discussions." Comment -------------- ¶4. (C) If implemented, a one-week halt to IDF incursions into these Palestinian cities would be an important step in responding to PM Fayyad's primary request of the GOI. Fayyad told the Consul General June 25 that he hopes this arrangement will be expanded, to encompass more cities with no time limit. WALLES