Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05CAIRO7795
2005-10-11 14:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:  

SPECIAL ENVOY FOR DISENGAGEMENT WOLFENSOHN'S

Tags:  PREL ECON EAID KPAL PTER EG IS 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 007795 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2015
TAGS: PREL ECON EAID KPAL PTER EG IS
SUBJECT: SPECIAL ENVOY FOR DISENGAGEMENT WOLFENSOHN'S
OCTOBER 9 CAIRO VISIT


Classified by DCM Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

-------
Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 007795

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2015
TAGS: PREL ECON EAID KPAL PTER EG IS
SUBJECT: SPECIAL ENVOY FOR DISENGAGEMENT WOLFENSOHN'S
OCTOBER 9 CAIRO VISIT


Classified by DCM Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (C) Quartet Special Envoy for Disengagement, James
Wolfensohn visited Cairo October 9 and met with President
Mubarak, Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Soliman, Defense
Minister Tantawi, and Trade Minister Rachid. He briefed the
Ambassador on the way out of town. Key points as follows:

-- On the Rafah crossing, Wolfensohn said the GOE could open
the Gaza border as early as November 15. Sought USG help to
press conclusion of deal as early as possible to reduce
political tensions. GOE "neutral" on third party presence.

-- On Gaza settlement rubble, Wolfensohn found little GOE
interest to move forward. Egyptians are now raising
environmental and land title issues that they had not
previously raised. Wolfensohn suggested that the current
absence of PA Minister Dahlan may have dampened enthusiasm.
Additional cost/benefit analysis may be required to
facilitate conclusion of deal.

-- Wolfensohn focused on job growth and investment for
Gaza/WB. GOE shares enthusiasm and will host investment
promotion conference for Palestinian territories in November.

-- Success by PA in disarming militants key to next steps in
Gaza development. GOE concerned that January PLC elections
could again be postponed if disarmament does not take place.
Egyptians working well with GOI counterparts.

End summary.

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Rafah Crossing
--------------


2. (C) Wolfensohn told the Ambassador that EGIS Chief
Soliman said Egypt would be prepared to re-open the Rafah
border by November 15 at the earliest, but that mid-December
was more likely. Israeli officials, he noted, were focused
on mid-December as a target date for re-opening the crossing.
Soliman detailed GOE expectations that people would cross at
the Rafah Terminal, while goods would enter and depart Gaza
via Israel's Kerem Shalom. Emergency and humanitarian
travel between Gaza and Egyptian Rafah would continue to be

addressed on an ad hoc basis during the interim. The GOE was
reportedly "neutral" on the question of a third-party
presence (i.e., European Union personnel) at the border
crossing to monitor the flow of people and goods and customs
collections. The Egyptians emphasized to Wolfensohn the
importance of pressing Israel to come to final agreement
rapidly on the border crossings issue. Similarly, Wolfensohn
encouraged the Ambassador to press Egypt to commit to the
earliest possible date for reopening the Rafah crossing.
Should this crossing remain closed, he added, pressure will
only increase on the Palestinian Authority, as militants may
try to open the border by force, thereby putting the Egyptian
Border Guard Force in the position of having to forcibly
prevent Gazans from crossing into Egypt. Israel, he said,
understands this dilemma and wants to avoid such a scenario.
Soliman told Wolfensohn that Egypt would strengthen the Gaza
border and maintain order there by force, as required.

--------------
Rubble: Back to Square One
--------------


3. (C) Wolfensohn said he raised the rubble removal issue in
separate meetings with President Mubarak and EGIS Chief
Soliman, but found little enthusiasm for moving forward. The
Egyptians, he said, raised numerous "problems" (i.e.,
environmental concerns, national sovereignty, etc.) and were
"not as explicit" on the subject as he had hoped. Still, he
added, the issue "is not dead" but will require additional
cajoling and cost/benefit analysis to see what will get the
Egyptians moving again. He noted that PA Minister Mohamed
Dahlan had been instrumental in early talks on this topic
with the GOE, and that his current absence from Gaza may have
slowed progress.

-------------- --------------
Investment, Job Security: Ultimate Security Guarantee
-------------- --------------


4. (C) Wolfensohn focused on job creation in Gaza and the
West Bank, calling this the "ultimate security guarantee" for
the Palestinians and Israelis. Noting Turkish and German
industrial development commitments in the territories, he
hoped Egypt may be interested in infrastructure projects in
southern Gaza. Egyptian Trade Minister Rachid invited
Wolfensohn to participate in a GOE-hosted investment
promotion conference for Palestine to be held in Cairo this
November.

--------------
Disarmament of Palestinian Militants Key
--------------


5. (C) Wolfensohn conveyed that the key to his own work is
the successful disarmament of Palestinian militant groups,
particularly in Gaza. Soliman reportedly agreed, and said
that planned January Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC)
might be delayed if the PA is unable by that time to disarm
Hamas and other militants. On security in general, he
expressed his personal "surprise" at the moderation and
solicitousness of senior Egyptian officials toward Israel.
He told the Ambassador that the GOE's "tone" toward Israel on
this visit had been "far more constructive" than had been the
case several months earlier. GOE Defense Ministry officials
had conveyed that they were preparing for a visit to Egypt by
Israeli Defense Minister Mofaz.


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