Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TELAVIV1110
2005-02-24 14:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:
ICRC OFFICIAL OPTIMISTIC ABOUT IMPROVED RELATIONS
how-toThis 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 TEL AVIV 001110
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2015
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV PREF IS GOI EXTERNAL GAZA DISENGAGEMENT
SUBJECT: ICRC OFFICIAL OPTIMISTIC ABOUT IMPROVED RELATIONS
WITH GOI
Classified By: DCM Gene A. Cretz for reasons 1.4(b) & (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 001110
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2015
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV PREF IS GOI EXTERNAL GAZA DISENGAGEMENT
SUBJECT: ICRC OFFICIAL OPTIMISTIC ABOUT IMPROVED RELATIONS
WITH GOI
Classified By: DCM Gene A. Cretz for reasons 1.4(b) & (d)
1. (C) Summary: Visiting ICRC Delegate-General for the
Middle East and North Africa Balthasar Stahelin told the DCM
February 18 that he believes that progress in the peace
process could help pave the way for the adoption of a Third
Additional Protocol that would facilitate full ICRC
membership for Magen David Adom. He said he had expressed
concerns to GOI officials about the route of the separation
barrier and had urged further prisoner releases as a
confidence-building measure in advance of disengagement. The
ICRC was surprised, he commented, that the GOI had not
included in the prisoner release any of what he said were 400
Palestinian minors detained by Israel. Relations between
ICRC and the IDF have improved, he said, as demonstrated by a
recent IDF request for ICRC input on rules of engagement.
End Summary.
--------------
Magen David Adom
--------------
2. (C) Saying that ICRC is "on the same page" as the U.S. on
the Magen David Adom issue, Stahelin assessed chances for
adoption of a Third Additional Protocol as optimum now in
light of progress in the peace process and what he said was
Swiss readiness to advance the issue. He noted that adoption
of a Third Additional Protocol could also help Eritrea, which
has used the double sign of the Red Cross and Red Crescent
for years. Stahelin noted that Secretary of State Rice and
ICRC President Kellenberger agreed to support this process
during their February 14 meeting in Washington. While
somewhat concerned about the chances of success on passage of
the protocol, he said that it was only necessary to get the
support of key players in each of the regional blocs and that
is where we needed to focus our efforts.
--------------
Fence/Prisoner Release
--------------
3. (C) Without providing details, Stahelin said he had
expressed ICRC concerns about the route of the separation
barrier in his meetings with GOI officials during his visit.
Turning to the issue of prisoner releases, Stahelin said that
the ICRC had asked the GOI to release more prisoners before
disengagement as a confidence-building measure. He noted the
disparity in the prison population between Gaza and the West
Bank (most Palestinian prisoners are from the West Bank). He
said there are currently 11,500 Palestinian prisoners in
Israeli hands, 1,000 of whom are administrative detainees,
clarifying that all Israeli jails are on Israeli territory.
4. (C) Stahelin said ICRC was surprised that none of the 400
Palestinian children currently detained by Israel were
included in the recent release. He said that the large
majority of these children are between 17 and 18, and that 60
are under 16. He emphasized that the large majority had
already served most of their sentences.
--------------
ICRC and the IDF
--------------
5. (C) Stahelin pointed to signs of growing trust between
ICRC and the IDF, notably a recent request by the IDF for
ICRC to advise/comment on revised IDF rules on engagement.
Prime Minister Sharon, MOD Political Security Chief Amos
Gilad and MFA officials have all, he said, recently expressed
greater support for the relationship. The Israeli impression
that ICRC had limited value was based on the GOI impression
that ICRC had done little on Israeli POWS/MIAs in the past
with the Syrians. Recent ICRC efforts on Israel's behalf --
assistance in the searches for Israeli MIAs from Sultan
Yakub, Ron Arad, and Guy Hever -- had, however, all helped to
strengthen the ICRC-IDF relationship, Stahelin said.
********************************************* ********************
Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv
You can also access this site through the State Department's
Classified SIPRNET website.
********************************************* ********************
KURTZER
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2015
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV PREF IS GOI EXTERNAL GAZA DISENGAGEMENT
SUBJECT: ICRC OFFICIAL OPTIMISTIC ABOUT IMPROVED RELATIONS
WITH GOI
Classified By: DCM Gene A. Cretz for reasons 1.4(b) & (d)
1. (C) Summary: Visiting ICRC Delegate-General for the
Middle East and North Africa Balthasar Stahelin told the DCM
February 18 that he believes that progress in the peace
process could help pave the way for the adoption of a Third
Additional Protocol that would facilitate full ICRC
membership for Magen David Adom. He said he had expressed
concerns to GOI officials about the route of the separation
barrier and had urged further prisoner releases as a
confidence-building measure in advance of disengagement. The
ICRC was surprised, he commented, that the GOI had not
included in the prisoner release any of what he said were 400
Palestinian minors detained by Israel. Relations between
ICRC and the IDF have improved, he said, as demonstrated by a
recent IDF request for ICRC input on rules of engagement.
End Summary.
--------------
Magen David Adom
--------------
2. (C) Saying that ICRC is "on the same page" as the U.S. on
the Magen David Adom issue, Stahelin assessed chances for
adoption of a Third Additional Protocol as optimum now in
light of progress in the peace process and what he said was
Swiss readiness to advance the issue. He noted that adoption
of a Third Additional Protocol could also help Eritrea, which
has used the double sign of the Red Cross and Red Crescent
for years. Stahelin noted that Secretary of State Rice and
ICRC President Kellenberger agreed to support this process
during their February 14 meeting in Washington. While
somewhat concerned about the chances of success on passage of
the protocol, he said that it was only necessary to get the
support of key players in each of the regional blocs and that
is where we needed to focus our efforts.
--------------
Fence/Prisoner Release
--------------
3. (C) Without providing details, Stahelin said he had
expressed ICRC concerns about the route of the separation
barrier in his meetings with GOI officials during his visit.
Turning to the issue of prisoner releases, Stahelin said that
the ICRC had asked the GOI to release more prisoners before
disengagement as a confidence-building measure. He noted the
disparity in the prison population between Gaza and the West
Bank (most Palestinian prisoners are from the West Bank). He
said there are currently 11,500 Palestinian prisoners in
Israeli hands, 1,000 of whom are administrative detainees,
clarifying that all Israeli jails are on Israeli territory.
4. (C) Stahelin said ICRC was surprised that none of the 400
Palestinian children currently detained by Israel were
included in the recent release. He said that the large
majority of these children are between 17 and 18, and that 60
are under 16. He emphasized that the large majority had
already served most of their sentences.
--------------
ICRC and the IDF
--------------
5. (C) Stahelin pointed to signs of growing trust between
ICRC and the IDF, notably a recent request by the IDF for
ICRC to advise/comment on revised IDF rules on engagement.
Prime Minister Sharon, MOD Political Security Chief Amos
Gilad and MFA officials have all, he said, recently expressed
greater support for the relationship. The Israeli impression
that ICRC had limited value was based on the GOI impression
that ICRC had done little on Israeli POWS/MIAs in the past
with the Syrians. Recent ICRC efforts on Israel's behalf --
assistance in the searches for Israeli MIAs from Sultan
Yakub, Ron Arad, and Guy Hever -- had, however, all helped to
strengthen the ICRC-IDF relationship, Stahelin said.
********************************************* ********************
Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv
You can also access this site through the State Department's
Classified SIPRNET website.
********************************************* ********************
KURTZER