PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY MINISTER OF INTERIOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002203 SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR; JOINT STAFF FOR LTGEN SELVA E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2019 TAGS: PGOV PTER KPAL PREL KWBG IS SUBJECT: PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY MINISTER OF INTERIOR CONCERNED ABOUT SETTLER VIOLENCE, PRISONER RELEASES REF: JERUSALEM 2130 Classified By: Consul General Daniel Rubinstein for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Palestinian Authority (PA) Minister of the Interior Said Abu Ali expressed concern about what he called a "troubled and tense" political climate. He predicted, "a resurgence of settler attacks on Palestinians" in the West Bank, and noted that the PA had little control over these altercations, which generally occurred in IDF-controlled Area ¶C. Abu Ali also expressed concern about a possible GOI release of Palestinian prisoners, which, he argued, would enhance the credibility of Hamas and damage that of the PA. End Summary. ¶2. (C) In a December 2 meeting in Ramallah, Abu Ali dismissed the moratorium on new West Bank settlement construction announced by the GOI on November 25 (Reftel) as "publicity," saying that the Israeli government was "marketing" the moratorium through deployment of inspectors to monitor building units. He noted that the PA was increasingly concerned about settler-Palestinian violence, arguing, "settler actions have escalated over the past year." "We've witnessed an increase in incidents following the freeze that Netanyahu announced," Abu Ali continued, and these are said to be in reaction to the announcement. This constitutes a violation of public order in the West Bank." ¶3. (SBU) Note: According to local press and NGO sources, the most significant settler-Palestinian violence since the moratorium announcement took place south of Nablus on November 28-30, when settlers from the Yitzhar outpost repeatedly entered the Palestinian village of Burin, assaulted residents, and caused property damage, including attempted arson. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intervened to halt the clashes. Yitzhar, an outpost occupied by "hilltop youth" and considered illegal by the GOI, is a frequent site of settler-Palestinian violence, most recently during the Palestinian olive harvest. End Note. ¶4. (C) Abu Ali said that the PA's ability to prevent and contain settler-Palestinian violence was limited, noting that most incidents occurred in Israeli-controlled Area C territory, particularly public roads and intersections adjacent to Israeli settlements. In these areas, he noted, the PA has no civil or security control. "The IDF could take on some of this," he said, "but it claims no legal mandate to deal with settlers. Still, it is nevertheless the responsibility of the (Israeli) army to protect civilians in occupied territory. So the security issue is one for the Israeli government and the IDF." ¶5. (C) Abu Ali added that several days previously, the IDF had contacted PA security officials and asked for reports on settler actions against Palestinians, as part of an IDF monitoring scheme. "This is a valuable step," Abu Ali said, "that they will coordinate with us to limit the threat." Still, he said, he remained worried. "The political atmosphere is troubled and tense," he explained. He also noted that he planned to meet soon with PA security service chiefs to discuss risks posed by any large-scale GOI release of prisoners to Hamas in return for the release of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. ¶6. (C) Abu Ali argued that such a release would "boost Hamas in the West Bank -- this has already begun to happen in a noticeable way. It strengthens those who oppose President Abbas and the PA." He criticized "the message this sends to extremists." which is that you get prisoners released in return for hostages. The implication is: extremism gets results, and negotiation doesn't." He anticipated little GOI-PA coordination on the security implications of the release, saying, "if the exchange happens, we'll be the last to know the timing and the substance." RUBINSTEIN