GAZA CROSSINGS: GOI TIGHTENS INSPECTIONS OF GOODS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 005797

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR GREENE/LOGERFO/WATERS;
NSC FOR ABRAMS/MUSTAFA; TREASURY FOR NUGENT AND ADKINS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/23/2015
TAGS: ECON ELTN ETRD PREL KWBG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT GOI EXTERNAL GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS
SUBJECT: GAZA CROSSINGS: GOI TIGHTENS INSPECTIONS OF GOODS
AT KARNI; INTRODUCES NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR WEST BANK TRUCKS

REF: JERUSALEM 4403

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


1. (U) This cable was cleared with ConGen Jerusalem


2. (SBU) Summary: In response to last week's unrestricted
flow of people and goods through the Rafah crossing on the
Egypt-Gaza border, the GOI recently implemented additional
measures regulating the flow of goods through the Karni
crossing on the Israel-Gaza border. The GOI is applying
greater scrutiny to Gaza-origin shipments in order to prevent
the possible entry of arms and explosives that may have
passed through Rafah, according to the IDF. West Bank
shippers also report that the GOI has introduced new
registration requirements for West Bank trucks traveling to
Karni. Contrary to previous reports, however, these
requirements do not oblige West Bank trucks to undergo x-ray
inspection at Ashdod, Israel before proceeding to Karni,
according to IDF and Gaza contacts. End Summary.


3. (C) On September 22, Major Uri Singer, IDF Command
Liaison at the Erez crossing, confirmed to Econoff that the
GOI had recently altered inspection procedures at Karni
Terminal in order to better detect possible arms and
explosives hidden in shipments of Gaza-origin goods. (Note:
Karni is the main transit point for goods shipped between
Israel and Gaza). Singer said that the pallet height
required for scanning had been reduced from about three feet
to two feet. He explained that the GOI had been obliged to
change the inspection protocol because of the "unrestricted
entry" of people and goods through Rafah crossing in the days
immediately following the September 12 IDF withdrawal from
the Philadelphi corridor between Egypt and Gaza. (Note: DAO
contacts with the IDF indicate that Egypt-Gaza crossings have
been stopped in many locations along the border, but
crossings continue at three northern points on September 22,
according to the IDF. Rafah opened at 6 a.m. on September 23
for 48 hours to allow passage of persons on humanitarian
grounds.)


4. (C) Palestinian Business Association (Gaza) Chairman
Mohammed Yazgi told Econoff on September 22 that he was aware
of GOI changes implemented at Karni. In addition to the
reduction in both height of pallets to be scanned, Yazgi said
that more concrete barriers had been installed and a greater
distance (from six to ten meters) provided between a
protective wall and vehicle lanes. He said Karni had been
closed for three hours on September 21 while some of these
changes were made. Yazgi attributed these and other measures
to GOI concerns over what had occurred at Rafah and, as a
consequence, the heightened threat of arms being smuggled
into Israel. While he understood the reasons for GOI
actions, Yazgi said that the changes would further limit both
the volume and speed of goods flowing from Gaza. He added
that, in the wake of the GOI's disengagement from Gaza,
Gazans expect to see signs of an economic revival, including
an increase in exports. He said he hoped that the GOI and PA
will soon reach agreement on the operation of all borders,
before frustrations begin to escalate.


5. (SBU) West Bank contacts of ConGen Jerusalem confirmed
the pallet height change at Karni and added that the height
requirement was dependent on the product being scanned. For
example, a pallet of cans can only be 15 cm high, but the
height requirement for some other items remains 40-60 cm.
According to the same contacts, West Bank shippers are
complaining that they have nothing in writing on the new
protocol at Karni and, as a result, truckers have been
obliged to breakdown the pallets at the border after being
informed of the relevant height requirement.


6. (SBU) West Bank shippers also told ConGen EconChief that
the GOI has introduced new requirements for West Bank trucks
bound for Karni. According to these sources, West Bank
shippers are now required to fax an invoice to an office in
Ashdod with the details of the company, shipments, truck
number, invoice and bank account number at an Israeli bank.
The office will then deduct Karni passage fees from the
Israeli bank account and, depending on the schedule, notify
the West Bank shipper a day in advance as to when his truck
can proceed to Karni. The new requirements reportedly apply
only to West Bank-sourced shipments. Gaza-bound shipments
from inside Israel or from one of the Israeli ports do not
need to first register with the Ashdod office. We will seek
confirmation from the GOI of the aforementioned changes and,
if true, determine what impact they may be having on West
Bank-Gaza trade.


7. (C) Singer refuted reports (reftel) that the GOI was now
requiring trucks from the West Bank to go to Ashdod for x-ray
inspection prior to crossing into Gaza. Yazgi also denied
that West Bank trucks were now being obliged to travel to
Ashdod. (Note: Neither Singer nor Yazgi were aware of the
additional registration requirements claimed above for West
Bank trucks headed to Gaza.)
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