ABU MAZEN EXPLAINS GOLDSTONE DECISION DURING NEW

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 001906

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA. NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2024
TAGS: IS KDEM KPAL KWBG PGOV PHUM
SUBJECT: ABU MAZEN EXPLAINS GOLDSTONE DECISION DURING NEW
FRC'S FIRST OFFICIAL MEETING

REF: JERUSALEM 1450

Classified By: CG Daniel Rubinstein, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary. President Mahmud Abbas (Abu Mazen) took
personal responsibility for the PA's handling of the
Goldstone report during an October 16 speech to the Fatah
Revolutionary Council (FRC),and emphasized that he had acted
at all times with the Palestinians' best interests in mind.
He also said that he would call for elections in January

2010. The FRC endorsed Abbas's decision not to resume
negotiations until Israel fulfills its Roadmap obligations.
The FRC also elected Deputy Interior Minister and FRC member
Amin Maqbul as its Secretary General, and filled other key
internal leadership positions. Newly-elected FRC member
Sabri Saidam told PolChief prior to the FRC meeting that the
new FRC hopes to play a more active role in Fatah by
"monitoring" the Fatah Central Committee (FCC) and giving
input on policy. However, FCC members -- including Abbas
himself -- are skeptical that the FRC will do so. End
summary.

ABBAS'S ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR
GOLDSTONE CONTROVERSY IN SPEECH AT THE FRC
--------------


2. (U) In a speech at the opening session of the
recently-elected FRC's first meeting on October 16, Abu Mazen
personally accepted responsibility for the PA's handling of
the Goldstone report. According to press reports, Abu Mazen
explained his initial decision to support deferring
discussion of the report as an effort to compromise between
Arab and Western proposals. He said he was quick to resubmit
the report for discussion when that tactic did not work. Abu
Mazen rejected claims that he had acted "treasonously,"
saying that he welcomed the report as soon as it was
released, but that he wanted to take practical action and
avoid fruitless hype. Abu Mazen also reportedly told the FRC
that on October 25, he intends to call for elections in
January 2010, based on Hamas's refusal to sign the
Egyptian-proposed reconciliation document. The FRC endorsed
a resolution supporting Abu Mazen's decision not to resume
negotiations until Israel meets its Roadmap obligations.

FRC ELECTS INTERNAL LEADERSHIP, FILLS MEMBERSHIP RANKS
-------------- --------------


3. (SBU) The FRC meeting continued through October 19,
conducting internal elections and administrative tasks. The
FRC elected veteran West Bank Fatah leader Amin Maqbul as
Secretary General, and FRC members Sabri Saidam and Amal
Hamad as the first and second deputies, respectively.
According to Fatah contacts, leadership of 12 internal
committees was beginning to emerge on October 19. The FRC
confirmed Abu Mazen's selection of Zakaria al-Agha and Sakhir
Bsayso to fill two of the final three FCC seats, and endorsed
a list of 19 additional FRC members that was submitted by the
FCC. Note: The August Fatah Congress elected 81 FRC
members, leaving 24 positions to be filled by the FCC in
coordination with the FRC. End note. The FRC also submitted
a recommendation to the FCC to create a new Fatah body, the
"General Conference," composed of the FCC, the FRC, and
dozens of as-yet-undetermined Fatah leaders, to meet in
emergency sessions to make policy.

NEW FRC DEPUTY HOPES FRC WILL PLAY A LARGER ROLE
-------------- ---


4. (C) Newly-elected FRC member Sabri Saidam told PolChief
in mid-October (before the FRC meeting) that he hopes the FRC
will meet regularly and begin playing an active role in
Fatah. The Fatah charter establishes the FRC as "the highest
layer of command in Fatah, when it is in session," Saidam
said. The new FRC will "monitor" the FCC, give guidance on
Fatah policy, and establish a unified media message for the
party, he said, adding that the FRC has the authority to
"impeach Fatah leaders," thereby exerting greater control.
He said Fatah needs to regain Palestinians' trust and prove
its relevance after Hamas's 2006 electoral victory. "We need
to convince the people that Fatah is an active party with an
agenda." He warned, however, that he will "wait to see
action" before judging the success of the new FRC.

COMMENT
--------------


5. (S) Although some members appear eager for the FRC to
play a greater role, the FCC remains Fatah's dominant
executive arm. Abu Mazen was dismissive of the FRC's

JERUSALEM 00001906 002 OF 002


relevance in an October 18 meeting with the Consul General,
saying that members "just wanted a chance to appear on
television, to impress their wives." The FRC's primary
relevance to USG interests in the past has been its role as a
training ground for up-and-coming Fatah leaders. The FRC
will have to overcome significant inertia -- and opposition
by FCC members -- if it wants to play a more active role.

RUBINSTEIN