Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09JERUSALEM1284
2009-07-28 14:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:  

MINISTER OF RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS ON MOSQUES, HAMAS,

Tags:  PGOV PROP PTER KWBG KPAL KISL IS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8307
RR RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #1284 2091416
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 281416Z JUL 09
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5561
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS JERUSALEM 001284 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA, NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR, JSC
FOR SELVA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PROP PTER KWBG KPAL KISL IS
SUBJECT: MINISTER OF RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS ON MOSQUES, HAMAS,
AND RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 001284

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA, NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR, JSC
FOR SELVA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PROP PTER KWBG KPAL KISL IS
SUBJECT: MINISTER OF RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS ON MOSQUES, HAMAS,
AND RELIGIOUS EDUCATION


1. (SBU) Summary. Minister of Religious Affairs Mahmud al
Habbash outlined progress in the Palestinian Authority (PA)
government's campaign against mosque incitement in a July 16
meeting. Compliance with mandatory PA sermons in the West
Bank's 1,800 mosques is now over ninety percent, he claimed.
The PA is now focused on removing problematic staff and
training a new generation of clergy in its religious schools.
Al Habbash claimed politicization of Hamas mosques has led
some Gazans to shift to independent mosques instead, and he
raised concerns over Israeli National Police (INP) actions at
the Temple Mount/Haram al Sharif. End Summary.

Compliance With Mandatory Sermons "Over Ninety Percent"
-------------- --------------


2. (SBU) In a July 16 meeting with Polchief, al Habbash
described the ongoing PA campaign against incitement in
mosques. He said the situation in the West Bank's 1,800
mosques has improved dramatically in recent months as a
government campaign to monitor Friday sermons takes hold.
"Every mosque belongs to the state in theory," he said, "but
we didn't really control any of them before." The first step
in the PA's effort was to distribute a document containing
"key points" for Friday sermons to all West Bank mosques, he
said. The document also prohibits incitement or criticism of
the PA. An investigative division under the ministry
prepares a twice-monthly compliance report based on feedback
from government employees and the security services.
Compliance rates have risen from around twenty percent at the
inception of the program to over ninety percent today, he
claimed.

Next Steps: Firings, Training New Generation
--------------


3. (SBU) Al Habbash said that, despite this success, some
employees have refused to accept the PA's policy of
separating politics from the mosques. "There is a clear
difference between those who serve religion and those who use
it for political purposes," he said, adding, "you can see
clearly who is obeying and who is not." For that reason, al
Habbash said, the ministry recently initiated a second stage
in the campaign focused on forcibly retiring problematic
mosque staff.


4. (SBU) The third stage in the PA campaign against
incitement is to revamp the religious education system, al
Habbash said. "Some of what children learn comes from inside
the mosques," he noted, "but (training in) the Qu'ran and the
Hadith outside of schools is very important. It is here they
learn Hamas equals religion, Fatah are pagans, and the U.S.
is evil." In order to address the situation, he said, the PA
had reformed the eight religious schools under the ministry.
"Soon we will have trained 400 new imams who are loyal to the
PA, who teach religion (and not factional) politics," he
said.

Hamas Mosques Losing Some of Their Followers?
--------------


5. (SBU) In response to a question on the situation in the
Gaza mosques, al Habbash said "ninety percent" remain under
Hamas' control, with the remainder divided among Salafists,
Sufis, and radical groups such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Al Habbash, who once ran the Islamic Dawa in Gaza before he
left Hamas in 1994, said the politicized message in Hamas-run
mosques had alienated some Gazans. Consequently, attendance
at independent mosques is on the rise, he claimed.

INP Actions at the Temple Mount/Haram al Sharif
-------------- --


6. (SBU) Finally, al Habbash expressed concern over INP
actions at the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif. He claimed the
INP had prevented "necessary" repairs at the site and cited
cases of mistreatment of female worshippers. Although he
acknowledged his ministry has no direct authority in the
matter, he said he travels to Jerusalem frequently and
remains in touch with the Office of the Awqaf there. He said
the situation had worsened since PM Netanyahu came into
office and could "ignite" if not addressed.
WALLES