PASF CRIME SWEEP EXAMPLE OF ONGOING LOW-LEVEL

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001934

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR; JOINT
STAFF FOR LTGEN SELVA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/21/2034
TAGS: PGOV KWBG KPAL KCRM MOPS IS
SUBJECT: PASF CRIME SWEEP EXAMPLE OF ONGOING LOW-LEVEL
COORDINATION WITH IDF

Classified By: Consul General Daniel Rubinstein
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary and Comment. A recent two-day "crime sweep"
by PA security forces (PASF) northwest of Ramallah
exemplifies ongoing low-level security coordination with the
IDF in the West Bank. PASF sources said they conducted the
operation in areas under partial (Area B) and full (Area C)
Israeli control, with IDF coordination. The resulting
arrests and confiscations represent a successful use of
existing IDF-PASF coordination mechanisms to allow PASF
operations in areas from which they are ordinarily
prohibited. End Summary and Comment.

Two Day Crime Sweep
--------------


2. (C) On October 18-19, 75 PA National Security Forces
(NSF) personnel from the 4th Special Battalion teamed up with
50 Palestinian Civil Police (PCP) and two dozen officers from
the Preventive Security Organization (PSO) and General
Intelligence (GI) to conduct a "crime sweep" northwest of
Ramallah. The operation took place in the Area B villages of
Deir 'Ammar and Jammala and the Deir 'Ammar Refugee Camp, as
well as the village of Beitillu, which straddles Areas B and

C. Note: The NSF 4th Special Battalion is one of four NSF
battalions that have received U.S.-funded training at the
Jordan International Police Training Center. End Note. The
operation, which was organized by the NSF Ramallah Area
Commander BG Munjid Zeidan, received IDF permission through
the local GOI District Coordination Office (DCO) on October

18.


3. (C) BG Zaidan told Post that the operation resulted in
the arrest of approximately 10 Palestinian suspects, and the
destruction of 84 illegal vehicles. Note: The term "illegal
vehicles" generally refers to cars that have fallen off the
Israeli motor vehicle registry for various reasons, and then
are re-used in the West Bank without authorization. End
Note. NSF West Bank Bank Commander Thiab Ali (Abu al-Fatah)
commented on this operation, saying that "There's nothing
much to do in Area A cities anymore (crime-wise),so we might
as well go to the villages."


4. (C) PASF area commanders tell Post that they seek
permission on a regular basis for targeted operations against
suspected lawbreakers in Areas B and C. Ramallah-based PASF
contacts say that a second request for GOI permission for a
similar raid is currently pending with the Ramallah DCO.

Comment: Successful Use of
Existing Coordination Mechanisms
--------------


5. (C) This recent operation is notable primarily for its
size, and because -- according to PASF contacts -- requests
for permission to enter Areas B and C in order to carry out
arrests of Palestinians are often delayed or refused by the
IDF. In this case, permission was granted by the DCO on
October 18, and operations commenced shortly afterwards,
according to PASF sources. The resulting arrests and
confiscations represent a successful use of existing IDF-PASF
coordination mechanisms to allow PASF operations in areas
from which they are ordinarily prohibited.

RUBINSTEIN