Date: 2008-12-30
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S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 002314 
SENSITIVE SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, IPA;
NSC FOR ABRAMS/PASCUAL/RAMCHAND
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2018 
TAGS: KWBG, IS, PGOV, PTER, ASEC 
SUBJECT: SENIOR IDF, PASF COMMANDERS MEET TO DISCUSS 
WEST BANK SECURITY SITUATION 
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

1. (S) PA security chiefs met with top IDF and COGAT 
officers late December 29 at Bet El (outside Ramallah) to discuss the 
West Bank security situation in light of Israeli operations in the Gaza 
Strip. PA security chiefs told ConGenOffs that the PA urged the IDF to 
avoid Palestinian demonstrations and to refrain from using live 
ammunition, which killed three Palestinian demonstrators in recent days.
According to PA commanders, the two sides agreed to expedite 
coordination and exchange information on disturbances and agreed both 
sides have an interest in avoiding violent clashes. Separately, PM Salam
Fayyad confirmed to the Consul General that Israeli MoD officials have 
expressed their understanding of the need to avoid confrontations in the
West Bank. End summary. 

2. (S) According to PA National Security Forces (NSF) 
commander MG Thiab Mustafa Ali (Abu al-Fatah), PA Joint Security 
Committees (JSC) commander BG Qays Makhzumi and other senior security 
contacts, PA commanders met with IDF West Bank Division Commander BG 
Noam Tibon, West Bank COGAT Director BG Yoav (Poly) Mordechai and IDF 
staff principals late December 29 at Bet El DCL (District Coordination 
Liaison) office outside Ramallah. In addition to MG Ali and Makhzumi, PA
police chief MG Hazim Attallah, Preventive Security (PSO) director MG 
Ziad Hab al-Rih, acting General Intelligence (Mukhabarat) chief Muhammad
Thib Mansur, and Military Intelligence (Istikhbarat) chief BG Majid 
al-Farraj attended the meeting. Security commanders told ConGenOffs that
they discussed the overall security situation the West Bank in light of
Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip, and better methods of dealing 
with protests.

PA Commanders Urge IDF to
Avoid Use of Live Ammunition
----------------------------

3. (C) PA commanders complained about IDF use of live 
ammunition, responsible for three Palestinian fatalities in December 
27-28 protests. MG Ali said IDF commanders told them live ammunition is 
the last resort when dealing with Palestinian demonstrators, and IDF 
rules of engagement only authorize it when the lives of IDF soldiers or 
Israeli citizens are at immediate risk. PA security chiefs said IDF BG 
Tibon reported that the Nil'in village shooting (in which two 
Palestinian were killed by IDF fire) was quickly investigated by the 
IDF, and that an IDF officer has already been referred to a disciplinary
board for improper use of live ammunition during the incident. 
According to MG Ali, both BGs Tibon and Mordechai said they re-issued 
instructions to all forces operating in the West Bank to abide strictly 
by rules of engagement and refrain from using live rounds against 
unarmed demonstrators. 

4. (C) MG Ali added that IDF commanders said that in 
the Silwad incidents the Palestinian was about to throw a firebomb, thus
endangering soldiers' lives, and that according to IDF rules of 
engagement Palestinians with firebombs are a threat to life and can be 
engaged with live ammunition. He added that both IDF commanders agreed, 
however, that in most cases, even demonstrators with firebombs should 
not be engaged, and troops should find non-lethal means of controlling 
the situation. 

Both Sides Agree to Increase Coordination 
-----------------------------------------

5. (S) According to PA security chiefs, the second part 
of the meeting was dedicated to a review the West Bank security 
situation. PA commanders said they told IDF officers that President 
Abbas and PM Fayyad both directed them to avoid situations that could 
develop into confrontations with the IDF. The security chiefs said Abbas
and Fayyad passed a message to all Palestinian factions, at a PLO 
Executive Committee meeting on December 29, that only peaceful marches 
away from flashpoints would be permitted. PA commanders noted they have 
no control on over B/C areas such as Qalandiya and Nil'in, and would 
need IDF approval to move PA forces to those areas to prevent clashes 
between protesters and the IDF. PA commanders said both sides agreed 
that Hebron is a problem, and cooperation on a case-by-case basis is 
critical. PA commanders said their IDF counterparts agreed to expedite 
coordination and movement requests and exchange information on possible 
disturbances, as both sides have an interest in preventing West Bank 
violence. They said both sides also agreed not to leak substantive 
discussions about the meeting to the press, given the sensitivity of 
JERUSALEM 00002314 002 OF 002 PA-GOI security coordination in a time of 
Palestinian outrage over events in Gaza. 

Fayyad Confirms MoD Contacts 
----------------------------

6. (S) In a separate conversation with the Consul 
General, PM Fayyad said he had received messages from the Israeli MoD on
December 29 indicating that the Israeli security leadership understands
the need for the IDF to deploy in the West Bank in a way that will 
minimize confrontations with Palestinian civilians. Fayyad said he was 
encouraged by the messages, but would watch carefully to see how these 
instructions are implemented by IDF commanders on the ground.

WALLES
30/12/08 Tel Aviv
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