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