Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09JERUSALEM1763
2009-10-02 14:46:00
SECRET
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
PA LEADERSHIP DISCUSSES SECURITY SECTOR REFORM
how-toVZCZCXRO0338 PP RUEHROV DE RUEHJM #1763/01 2751446 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 021446Z OCT 09 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6201 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 001763
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR; JOINT
STAFF FOR LTGEN SELVA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2019
TAGS: PGOV PINS PHUM PINR KWBG
SUBJECT: PA LEADERSHIP DISCUSSES SECURITY SECTOR REFORM
REF: A. JERUSALEM 1605
B. JERUSALEM 1698
Classified By: Consul General Daniel Rubinstein
for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 001763
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR; JOINT
STAFF FOR LTGEN SELVA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2019
TAGS: PGOV PINS PHUM PINR KWBG
SUBJECT: PA LEADERSHIP DISCUSSES SECURITY SECTOR REFORM
REF: A. JERUSALEM 1605
¶B. JERUSALEM 1698
Classified By: Consul General Daniel Rubinstein
for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
¶1. (S) Summary. Prime Minister Fayyad's highest priority in
the area of security sector reform at present is to address
allegations of, and prevent future, prisoner abuse. He
convened NGOs on September 30 to encourage active monitoring
of the situation, and threatened to dismiss any personnel
linked to abuse. Fayyad said consolidation of the PA
intelligence services was a matter of "months, not years,"
and the emerging service would direct its efforts externally.
Other key security leaders echoed these priorities in
separate October 1 meetings, noting PM Fayyad's emphasis on
ending prisoner abuse and the positive impact of recent
personnel changes. End summary.
FAYYAD FOCUSED ON PRISONER TREATMENT
--------------
¶2. (C) PM Fayyad told the Consul General October 1 that his
highest priority in this area is to address allegations of
prisoner abuse (Ref A). "We're focused on the elimination of
abuses," Fayyad said. "The greatest risk is not (the lack
of) consolidation, it is abuses in the system. This is as
big a threat as Hamas ever could be. This is not the kind of
state we want to build." Fayyad noted that he had met the
previous day to meet with human rights NGOs active in the
field. "I told them, 'monitor more'," said Fayyad. "I said,
'I want more frequent checks of my services -- I need your
help to deal with the problem."
¶3. (S) Fayyad also discussed his medium-term strategy for
consolidation of the existing PA intelligence services.
"It's like a bank merger," he said. "Sometimes, when you
merge two bad small banks, you end up with one big bad bank.
We need to fix the intelligence services first, then
re-orient them externally." The project would not wait
indefinitely, Fayyad said, adding, "this is a matter of
months, not years."
INTEL PERSONNAL CHANGES CLARIFY ROLES
--------------
¶4. (S) PA Civil Police Chief Hazim Atullah told Post
October 1 that he felt pressure from Fayyad to improve
prisoner treatment. "Fayyad is very sensitive about this,"
Atullah said. "And we know why. It is the principle, and it
is also the donors." Atullah noted that pers