PA SECURITY FORCES ON ALERT FOR FRIDAY UNREST

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001755 SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR; JOINT STAFF FOR LTGEN SELVA E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2019 TAGS: PTER PINS PGOV MOPS ASEC PHUM KWBG IS SUBJECT: PA SECURITY FORCES ON ALERT FOR FRIDAY UNREST REF: JERUSALEM 1739 Classified By: Consul General Daniel Rubinstein for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) On October 1, PA Minister of Interior Said Abu Ali assessed the security situation in the West Bank as "extremely tense" following September 27 clashes at the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif (reftel). "It recalls the beginning of the second Intifada," he said, "when emotions ran very high." He pointed to "the perceived negative outcome of the New York summit meetings," the "lack of progress in (Fatah-Hamas) reconciliation" talks, and an upsurge in settler-Palestinian confrontations as aggravating factors. "All of these instigations together," said Abu Ali, "have prepared the ground for violent demonstrations," which he expected to materialize following October 2 Friday prayer. ¶2. (C) At the same time, Abu Ali portrayed the PA as fully seized with the challenge of preventing serious unrest. "We are now in a constant state of emergency," he said. "Both the President and the Prime Minister have been in constant contact as they flew back into the country," he said, "with instructions to prevent any spillover from al-Aqsa. The security chiefs have been gathering intelligence and monitoring contacts between different HAMAS groupings in the West Bank. They are making contacts in influential circles - even in Jerusalem - to make sure things don't get out of control." ¶3. (C) Abu Ali continued, "we have decided to give permission for peaceful demonstrations. But the Civil Police will block the access of the people to flashpoints, such as checkpoints, or places of Israeli presence." He also stressed the need for GOI cooperation with the PA's efforts to prevent confrontations. "We have had contacts with Israeli officials," he said, "to make sure they minimize their presence, so they do not provoke people. We hope the Israelis will exert efforts to reduce friction from their side, especially with the settlers. The less Israeli military activity, the better." ¶4. (C) Palestinian Civil Police (PCP) Chief Hazim Atullah identified the primary threat in the West Bank as cooperation between HAMAS and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). "Hamas will work with PIJ here," he said. "What happens in Gaza is not what happens in the West Bank. Those factions help each other here, because they're weak." He also expected that members of Fatah "who had relations with Hizbollah in Lebanon" would attempt to ignite clashes. "At the same time," Atullah said, "we are controlling things. From five o'clock today to Saturday morning, we are on Alert Number One. People will be allowed to demonstrate their feelings inside the (Area A) cities, peacefully, but that's it." RUBINSTEIN