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DE RUEHJM #1202 1911251
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O 091251Z JUL 08
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TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2052

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001202 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
NEA FOR WELCH/FELTMAN; NEA/IPA FOR GOLDBERGER/HANKINS; CA 
FOR DAS EDSON AND CA/VO/L/C, L FOR THESSIN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2018 
TAGS: CVIS CLOK PTER EFIN KWBG KPAL
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR REVIEW OF VISA INELIGIBILITY FINDING 
(JIHAD AL-WAZIR) 
 
Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C/NF) Post requests department review the finding of 
ineligibility under INA 212(a)(3)(B) for Jihad al-Wazir 
(DPOB: 20 July 1963, Gaza), the Governor of the Palestine 
Monetary Authority.  We understand the ineligibility results 
from claims that al-Wazir currently is a member of Fatah.  We 
have no evidence that al-Wazir is a member of Fatah or has 
ever been a member of Fatah.  He is in none of the official 
Fatah structures and did not participate in the last Fatah 
Congress.  In addition, when informed of his ineligibility, 
al-Wazir categorically denied being or having ever been a 
member of Fatah. 
 
¶2. (C/NF) Post based al-Wazir's most recent SAO (that did 
indicate Fatah membership) on a biography that assumed Fatah 
membership in connection with his family's history with the 
organization.  Al-Wazir's father, a founding member of Fatah, 
was killed by Israeli commandos in 1988 and his mother is 
currently a member of the Fatah Central Committee.  Post has 
since confirmed with multiple sources that there is no 
information available that would lead us to believe he has 
ever held Fatah membership. 
 
¶3. (C/NF) Post requests that Department review the 
information that led to the finding of ineligibility for 
al-Wazir.  Based on information available to us and our 
regular contact with al-Wazir, we have no reason to believe 
that he should be subject to this finding of ineligibility. 
Al-Wazir is a close and continuing contact of the USG, a 
strong proponent of the two-state solution and has traveled 
repeatedly to the United States for personal and official 
business over many years without any complications. 
 
¶4. (C/NF) Aside from the issue of al-Wazir's membership in 
Fatah, Post notes that Fatah is not included on any USG list 
of terrorist organizations.  We will address issues 
associated with visa ineligibility and the PLO/Fatah in a 
separate message. 
WALLES