PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY SECURITY OFFICIALS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000258 SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2020 TAGS: PGOV PREL KPAL KWBG IS SUBJECT: PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY SECURITY OFFICIALS ON NONVIOLENCE, IDF INCURSIONS, ISRAEL-PA COORDINATION Classified By: CG Daniel Rubinstein, per reason 1.4 (d). ¶1. (C) Summary. In a series of February 7 meetings in Ramallah, Palestinian Authority (PA) security officials emphasized that nonviolence was the only viable strategy for the Palestinian pro-peace camp, and said they were committed to interdicting violent actors in the West Bank, regardless of political party or factional affiliation. PA officials argued that continued Israeli military operations in major Palestinian population centers were eroding PA credibility, as were Israeli restrictions on the operation of PA security forces in many areas of the West Bank, which left Palestinian residents vulnerable to crime and settler violence. PA security officials criticized what they perceived as Israeli government efforts to link Israeli-Palestinian security coordination with "political" issues, such as the resumption of negotiations. End summary. Leadership Unified on Nonviolence -------------- ¶2. (C) In separate meetings with Post on February 7, PA security officials offered their views on the PA's enforcement of security in areas of the West Bank under their control. Civil Police Chief Hazim Atallah said that for the first time since the PA's establishment in 1994, a strong consensus existed among the Palestinian leadership and its security commanders on nonviolence as the correct path to liberation. According to Atallah, PA President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) warned the PLO Central Council (PLO-CC) and Fatah Revolutionary Council (FRC) in recent meetings that violence will not be permitted, and emphasized that Fatah members will be "the first to be arrested by the PA security forces" if they resort to violence. ¶3. (C) Atallah said this political support gives the PA security forces cover to take action against Fatah or other PLO-affiliated factions. He claimed to have told PLO Central Council members that the PA security forces are ready to fight against "any challenges" to their security control. "We paid blood for this; we paid blood to get where we are, and we won't let (violence) destroy it," he said. Atallah referenced ongoing contacts with Fatah leaders on the importance of maintaining law and order. "I don't want Fatah... going after Hamas," he said. "We (the PA security forces) will do it; we are ready." He stated that the only possible policy is "one gun, one law," otherwise there would be chaos. Security Operations Continue Against All Factions -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Both Atallah and National Security Forces (NSF) Commander Thiab Ali (Abu al-Fatah) emphasized the PA security forces' determination to counter any threat to security, regardless of political affiliation. Atallah emphasized that the PA security forces are taking action not only against Hamas, but also against members of PLO factions, including Fatah, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and other groups, such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad, when warranted. Abu al-Fatah noted that the PA security forces' arrests are based on intelligence on security threats posed by various groups and individuals, some of whom are also bringing criminals and drug traffickers into Palestinian cities. ¶5. (C) Atallah and Abu al-Fatah identified the biggest problem undermining the PA security forces' position as unilateral Israeli actions (arrest operations, incursions, and harassment) in the West Bank, and the inability of PA security forces to defend Palestinians against Israeli settler attacks. "We are being attacked in all directions," said Atallah, including by Fatah, the PLO, Hamas, and others. Abu al-Fatah said that these groups are trying to increase public pressure on the PA security forces in order to undermine them and inhibit security cooperation with Israel. To do so, they are exploiting public frustration over the lack of movement on the political front, a continued sense of Israeli humiliation, and lack of progress in reducing restrictions on movement and access, into anti-PA sentiment, he said. Update on Current Operations -------------- ¶6. (C) Atallah criticized the Israeli government's decision to link increased PA security responsibility in Areas B and C of the West Bank to the start of negotiations. He warned against politicizing security coordination, arguing that this JERUSALEM 00000258 002 OF 002 served the interests of neither the PA nor Israel. Atallah added that at present, PA Civil Police operations in Areas B and C require between five minutes and an hour of prior coordination with the IDF. Abu al-Fatah described NSF coordination with the IDF as "ad hoc," noting criminals often have time to flee the area before PA security forces can deploy. ¶7. (C) According to Atallah, the absence of a constant PA security presence during the Second Intifada caused ordinary Palestinians to "forget that a Palestinian National Authority existed." Now, he said, police presence reminds them of its existence. Atallah said that the police (and potentially other plain-clothes PA security services) operate continuously in all West Bank Area A cities except Nablus and the H2 area of Hebron. Note: The extent to which these round-the-clock patrols are formally sanctioned by the IDF is unclear. In Nablus, the police do not operate between 12 midnight and early dawn. End note. ¶8. (C) Both Abu al-Fatah and Atallah denounced media reports claiming that a joint Israeli-Palestinian security operation recently apprehended jihadists linked to al-Qa'ida. Note: The incident was reported in Israeli daily Haaretz and other media on February 7. End note. According to Abu al-Fatah, a cross-service PA security forces operation led by the Preventive Security Organization (PSO) took place without any prior coordination with Israel. He added that the extremists were "Salafi propagandists" without links to al-Qa'ida or weapons training, and that the PSO arrested the group before it was able to recruit and indoctrinate followers. Abu al-Fatah noted that the radical Islamist group had some links to Hizb al-Tahrir, but nothing that amounted to terrorism. RUBINSTEIN