VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHJM #0157/01 0131731
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 131731Z JAN 06
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9660
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000157 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MUSTAFA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2016 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KWBG PBTS IS KPAL KDEM
SUBJECT: PALESTINIAN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS SITREP 
#6: JANUARY 13, 2006: JERUSALEM CANDIDATES DEMAND THAT 
ELECTIONS BE HELD ON TIME; SHOTS FIRED AT NASSER YUSIF'S 
RAMALLAH RESIDENCE 
 
REF: JERUSALEM 00139 
 
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
Hamas, Independent Candidates Issue 
Statement on Jerusalem Voting 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶1.    (C) PLO Chief Negotiator Sa'eb Erekat January 12 
provided the Consul General a one-page statement endorsed by 
19 of the 39 Jerusalem PLC candidates.  The statement, which 
includes the signatures of four Hamas candidates, urges that 
elections be held as scheduled regardless of any potential 
Israeli interference.  The statement also calls on the US and 
EU to increase their efforts to ensure a free and fair 
election.  (Note: The first four signatories of the document 
are from Hamas, suggesting that Hamas composed the document. 
The signature of Fatah national slate candidate Jihad Abu 
Zneid and two Fatah independent candidates also appear on the 
document.  End note.) 
 
¶2.    (SBU) The following is an unofficial translation of the 
January 11 statement: 
 
Begin text: 
 
A statement released by candidates of Jerusalem district. 
 
On Wednesday January 11, the PLC candidates in the district 
of Jerusalem have come together to examine the procedures as 
were released by the Central Elections Commission (Jerusalem 
Branch), on the management of election campaigning in 
Jerusalem.  The signers agreed on the following: 
 
1 -- The candidates (signatories of this petition) would like 
to stress that the second Palestinian PLC election is an 
internal Palestinian affair.  No foreign body has the right 
to interfere in it. 
 
2 -- The candidates would like to stress that elections must 
be held as scheduled on January 25, 2006.  The elections must 
not be delayed for whatever reason and no matter the Israeli 
obstructions. 
 
3 -- The candidates highly value the supportive position of 
the international community to conduct free and fair 
elections. 
 
4 -- The candidates request the international community, 
particularly the EU and the US, to increase their initiatives 
meant to conduct free and fair elections.  The candidates 
demand that all offices of civil society organizations, UN 
headquarters, and other international organizations be made 
available to the disposal of the Palestinian Central 
Elections Commission. 
 
5 -- The candidates demand that Palestinian citizens in 
Jerusalem be allowed to vote while presenting their identity 
cards (in lieu of prior registration).  The candidates also 
demand that Israeli authorities must not harass citizens on 
Elections Day. 
 
6 -- Candidates request the international community and all 
freedom and democracy-loving bodies to render the Palestinian 
elections as a successful endeavor. 
 
7 -- Candidates condemn the Israeli measures of summoning and 
questioning of candidates and supporters, some of whom have 
been arrested. 
 
8 -- Candidates demand the cancellation of all Israeli 
prosecution measures that have been taken or will be taken on 
grounds of the Palestinian elections in the city of Jerusalem. 
 
9 -- Candidates urge all Jerusalem residents to head to the 
polling stations wherever they will be located. 
 
Signatories: 
Dr. Ibrahim Abu Salem (Change and Reform) 
Mohammed Toutah (Change and Reform) 
Ahmad Atoun (Change and Reform) 
Wael Husseini (Change and Reform) 
Dr. Talal Abu Afifa (Fatah Independent candidate) 
Iyad Salaymeh (Independent) 
Hana Siniora (Independent) 
Fadwa Khader (Independent) 
Asad Ghazawneh (Independent) 
 
 
 
Majed Aloush (Independent) 
Mitri Nasrawi (Independent) 
Hatem Abbas (Fatah Independent candidate) 
Ziad Abu Zayyad (Independent) 
Younis Jafar (Independent) 
Hani Isawi (Independent) 
Abdel Latif Ghaith (Independent) 
Yacoub Ghaith (Independent) 
Simon Awad (Independent) 
Jihad Abu Zneid (Candidate on Fatah national list) 
 
Unrest in Ramallah 
------------------ 
 
¶3.    (C) Unidentified gunmen the evening of January 12 
reportedly fired gunshots at the al-Bireh residence of PA 
Minister of Interior Nasser Yusif.  PA police guarding the 
residence returned fire, causing the driver of a passing 
vehicle to crash, injuring two passengers.  The police 
arrested two individuals from the vehicle, on suspicion that 
they were the suspected shooters.  Following the arrest, 
scores of Fatah activists took to the streets of al-Bireh, 
where they blocked traffic, burned tires, and demanded the 
release of the two suspects.  The activists charged that the 
two men in custody were not involved in the shooting.  (Note: 
This may be correct, since a similar shooting took place at 
the Council of Ministers by speeding car immediately 
following the incident at Yusif's residence.  No injuries 
were reported.  According to an official from the Preventive 
Security Organization, initial findings from the 
interrogation of the two suspects indicated that the actual 
gunmen who shot at Yusif's residence had managed to flee the 
scene.  End note.)  PA security officials suggested that the 
motive behind the shootings was linked to opposition within 
Fatah to holding PLC elections on January 25. 
 
More Problems Reported for 
"Third Way" in Tulkarm 
-------------------------- 
 
¶4.    (C) In a separate incident in Tulkarm, unknown gunmen 
fired shots at the vehicle of Samir Hilal, the campaign 
coordinator for Salam Fayyad's "Third Way" national list. 
There were no reported injuries.  Sources in the "Third Way" 
have reported several incidents of harassment, including the 
January 10 flyer denouncing Fayyad as a US agent (reftel). 
 
¶5.    (C) Hamas officials in Tulkarm January 12 charged that 
eleven activists arrested in the early morning hours during 
an Israeli arrest operation were engaged in official 
campaigning for the Hamas slate, "Change and Reform".  The 
Hamas officials said that the Israeli round-up was blatant 
interference in internal Palestinian affairs. 
 
WALLES