Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TELAVIV4862
2005-08-05 15:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

GAZA DISENGAGEMENT UPDATE, AUGUST 5, 2005

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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 004862 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/05/2015
TAGS: ECON EAID KWBG KPAL PREL IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT
SUBJECT: GAZA DISENGAGEMENT UPDATE, AUGUST 5, 2005

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Gene A. Cretz for reasons 1.4 (b
) and (d)

This cable was cleared with Consulate General Jerusalem.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 004862

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/05/2015
TAGS: ECON EAID KWBG KPAL PREL IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT
SUBJECT: GAZA DISENGAGEMENT UPDATE, AUGUST 5, 2005

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Gene A. Cretz for reasons 1.4 (b
) and (d)

This cable was cleared with Consulate General Jerusalem.


1. (C) This report summarizes current GOI views on the
progress of disengagement coordination between the GOI and
the PA and updates from the Quartet Special Envoy's (QSE)
staff. The August 4 trilateral held under QSE Wolfensohn
auspices generated concurrence on how to organize upcoming
GOI-PA negotiations on Karni and Erez crossings, including
regarding door-to-door shipping. Technical-level teams will
meet on the crossings the week of August 7, with the PA's
agreement that management and technological improvements will
align with Israeli security standards. The GOI and PA also
agreed to postpone talks about dispute resolution mechanisms
at the crossings, asking instead that the World Bank draft
universally acceptable proposals. The MoD believes it will
be difficult to remove a small number of West Bank barriers
and checkpoints in the immediate term as a
confidence-building measure, citing a tightened security
situation in the West Bank in the run-up to disengagement.
The GOI has determined that money for demolition of the
settlement houses will come out of the Ministry of Defense
budget, with Wolfensohn suggesting that the money go through
the World Bank rather than directly to the PA. Wolfensohn
has agreed to help encourage potential private sector and
philanthropic donations for greenhouses in Gaza. End summary.


2. (C) Passages and Trade:

-- According to Brig. Gen. Baruch Spiegel, the August 4
trilateral held under the auspices of QSE Wolfensohn
generated practical steps forward on crossings coordination,
including agreements on door-to-door shipping, although
details remain to be worked out. The two sides agreed that a
GOI-PA team will work with international experts to define
parameters on waiting times and scanning procedures at Erez
crossing, with the PA agreeing this will be done in
accordance with Israeli security standards.

-- Spiegel noted that the PA is addressing their concerns on
Gaza's Erez border at the ministerial level, leaving the

technical teams free to discuss practicalities.

-- The GOI and PA agreed to postpone talks about dispute
resolution mechanisms, asking instead that the World Bank
draft universally acceptable proposals. Earlier discussions
of integrated management systems will also be put on hold,
Spiegel said, in favor of a "bottom-up" approach to
addressing the different management issues that will
incorporate the findings of the GOI group that recently
returned from a tour of U.S. scanner technology and
management solutions.


3. (C) WB/Gaza Link:

-- According to Ramon, it will be faster to build a railroad
as the West Bank-Gaza link due to Israeli regulations and
legal issues. He said the GOI hopes the PA will agree now to
rail construction with the potential to discuss a sunken road
in the future.


4. (C) Movement in the West Bank:

-- Spiegel confirmed that a working-level OCHA-IDF group has
begun meeting to deconflict IDF and OCHA barrier tallies, but
he has not yet met with OCHA head David Schearer. Spiegel
said the GOI is focused on tightening pre-disengagement
security in the West Bank, and it will be difficult to remove
even a small number of checkpoints and barriers in the
immediate term as a confidence-building measure.


5. (C) Air/Seaports:

-- Ramon confirmed that the Dutch have agreed to finance
construction of the Gaza seaport. He noted that the GOI will
be unable to give the Dutch the official go-ahead until after
disengagement, when the GOI and PA have agreed on the
modalities for resolving security, legal, and environmental
concerns. He noted that the PA has agreed to build the
seaport in the originally planned location, close to the
evacuated Nitzanim settlement area, but this proposal has
been slowed by Israeli environmental objections. (Note: QSE
Wolfensohn has agreed that the World Bank and EC will take
60-90 days to re-visit studies and recommendations on the
location of the seaport before donor funding begins. End
note.)


6. (C) Settlement Housing:

-- According to Ramon, Israeli money for demolition of the
settlement houses will come out of the MoD budget. The GOI
prefers that the money go through the World Bank, as
suggested by QSE Wolfensohn, rather than directly to the PA;
Wolfensohn is currently forming bilateral private sector
groups to determine a Palestinian contractor for the
demolition and removal. The GOI believes that only 20
percent of rubble will need to be removed to Egypt, Ramon
said, but the GOI has not received confirmation from the
Egyptians that they will accept it.


7. (C) Greenhouses:

--QSE Wolfensohn has identified USD 15 million in l private
sector and philanthropic donations that could be used for
greenhouses in Gaza. Various parties are working together to
structure a deal. Wolfensohn has asked that this matter,
including the identities of the private donors, be kept
close-hold.

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