VZCZCXRO9515
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #2203 3411335
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 071335Z DEC 09
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6883
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC 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:            
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