MOD'S AMOS GILAD SAYS HE WILL PUSH TO GET GAZAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TEL AVIV 006397

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/IPA
PENTAGON FOR OSD (JAMES ANDERSON)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2015
TAGS: PREL PINR PGOV KPAL KWBG MARR MASS EG IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS
SUBJECT: MOD'S AMOS GILAD SAYS HE WILL PUSH TO GET GAZAN
HARVEST TO MARKET, OPEN RAFAH CROSSING

Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones. Reasons: 1.4 (b, d).

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) Israeli MOD POL-MIL Bureau Director Amos Gilad told
the Ambassador November 8 that (a) he will work vigorously to
ensure that this year's harvest from Gaza is allowed to pass
through the Qarni crossing between Gaza and Israel so that it
can be distributed to markets beyond; and (b) he will raise
with the Egyptians the idea of having Palestinian video feed
of the Rafah crossing transmitted live to the Israeli side
via the Egyptian side as a way forward in resolving the video
issue currently delaying the opening of the Rafah crossing.
Gilad cautioned that further negotiations with the
Palestinian side are necessary to secure agreement on how to
deal with suspected terrorists trying to cross at Rafah. He
noted that the Israeli and Palestinian sides reached
agreement on the passage of goods through Rafah, and the
procedure whereby cars could transit the Gaza-Egypt border
via Rafah and Kerem Shalom. Gilad said work is still
underway on defining the role of a third party. Gilad
lamented what he described as an uncoordinated Palestinian
Authority. He noted that PA Civil Affairs Minister Mohammad
Dahlan has returned and appears eager to produce results,
attributing his eagerness to a possible "political payoff"
from PA President Abbas. END SUMMARY.

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GOI TO PUSH TO GET GAZAN PRODUCE OUT TO MARKET VIA QARNI
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2. (C) Stressing that he sees the importance of getting
Gaza's produce to markets in Israel and beyond, Gilad said
that he will work vigorously to ensure that this year's
harvest is processed quickly through the Qarni passage
between Gaza and Israel. Gilad said the GOI will address the
Qarni issue on November 10, and that he will press for this
position. He noted that the Israeli Transportation Minister
is responsible for operating Qarni, adding that if the
defense minister were responsible, the issue would already
have been resolved. Gilad said he already told IDF
commanders at Qarni that, if necessary, they are authorized
to use emergency powers to expedite the passage of the
produce through the passage. "Every time this produce goes
bad, it feeds Hamas," Gilad emphasized.


3. (C) The Ambassador noted that USAID is in a position to
provide scanners on an accelerated time schedule to ensure
that Qarni crossing operates efficiently. Although
encouraged by this, Gilad replied that if he has his way,
Israel will institute a procedure with or without scanners.
He stressed that "This will not be a lost harvest."

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RAFAH CROSSING: ISRAEL TO SHARE IDEAS ON A WAY AHEAD
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4. (C) As a possible solution to the video feed problem that
is delaying the opening of the Rafah passage between Gaza and
Egypt, Gilad said that he will discuss with the Egyptians on
November 9 the idea of having live video feed transmitted
from the Palestinian side to the Israelis via the Egyptian
side of Rafah. He admitted that he is not sure whether it is
operationally possible, but said he wants the USG to know
about it to (a) make it clear that the video feed issue is a
real red line for Israel; and (b) demonstrate that he and
others in the GOI are trying to find a solution that meets
their security needs and the Palestinians' concern for their
"honor." He explained that the video feed issue is causing
problems with the Palestinians because they interpret the GOI
position as patronizing. Gilad said that in his talks
November 7 with Sa'eb Erekat, PA Civil Affairs Minister
Mohammed Dahlan and PA Planning Minister Ghassan Al-Khatib,
he explained that Israel must be able to view people crossing
via live feed because the Palestinians have a record of
allowing terrorists into Gaza. Gilad said that he pointed
out to his Palestinian interlocutors that the Israelis do not
demand this from the Egyptians and Jordanians because those
officials do not allow terrorists to cross into Israel.
Gilad said he stressed to the Palestinians that the video
feed process would not be needed if the PA security services
were effective. Gilad explained that his proposed solution
must first be run by MOD experts to ensure that it is
technically feasible. If so, it must then be approved by the
Cabinet before Israel can raise it with the Egyptians. The
Ambassador suggested that if the Palestinians reject Gilad's
proposed solution, Gilad might propose to the Palestinian and
Egyptian sides that they exchange their video feeds
reciprocally. In this way, no one's honor would be offended.



5. (C) Gilad said Israel's other red line on Rafah concerns
its right to refuse entry into Gaza of suspected terrorists.
Gilad said that he raised the issue with Erekat, Dahlan and
Khatib, explaining that Israel could use "face" cameras to
ensure that the process of checking entrants is not
intrusive. Gilad said Erekat is "interested" in the idea,
and that the Palestinian side might accept a dialogue
procedure in which the Israelis would explain why they insist
entry be denied, and the Palestinians would have a chance to
ask questions. Gilad admitted, however, that from his point
of view, the Palestinian position on this issue is still not
entirely clear. He said he anticipates that more discussion
on the issue will be necessary. Gilad said that the Israeli
side will ask the Egyptian side to help if Israel cannot
secure agreement from the Palestinian side.


6. (C) Gilad noted that progress was made in other areas on
Rafah. He said that the two sides agreed that goods would be
exported through Rafah, and agreed on a listing of categories
for passage entrants. Gilad said that the MOD finished work
on a set of principles relevant to security involving a third
party, and that this has been transmitted to Minister Without
Portfolio Haim Ramon. He stressed that it is very important
to reach agreement on the third party's role: "We want them
to be active, but not too active."


7. (C) Gilad noted that the Palestinian side called for a
timetable that would end with the removal of the
security-related constraints on operations at Rafah. He said
the Israeli side made clear that it is adamantly against
this, and that constraints would only be lifted on the basis
of demonstrated Palestinian performance.

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AGREEMENT REACHED ON KEREM SHALOM CROSSING
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8. (C) Gilad said that the Israeli and Palestinian sides
agreed, in principle, that cars would travel from Rafah to
Egypt, and from Egypt to Kerem Shalom, provided that the
Palestinians and Egyptians put in place the infrastructure to
support thorough inspections.

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GILAD LAMENTS UNCOORDINATED PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY
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9. (C) Gilad said that he is still troubled by what he
described as an uncoordinated Palestinian Authority that
refuses to exert its authority. He noted that in his
November 7 meeting, none of his three PA interlocutors shared
a common view on any issue. He said he considers Dahlan to
be the most serious now and the one most desirous of
achieving something. As an explanation why, he shared his
own view that Dahlan has been "bought off" by PA President
Mahmud Abbas. He explained his "theory" that in exchange for
Dahlan's public calls for Israel to release Marwan Barghouti,
Abbas will give Dahlan and Barghouti important places on the
party list for the January 2006 elections. Gilad laughingly
suggested that nobody within the PA really wants to see
Barghouti released from his Israeli prison cell: "He's more
popular with the Palestinians (as a subject of Israeli
oppression) than he would be if he were released."


10. (C) Gilad said that, in his view, Abbas's strategy is to
achieve statehood without taking on roadmap obligations.
Gilad said he is not sure that Abbas can follow through on
any promises he makes, and that the PA President changes his
version of events to suit himself. Gilad admitted, however,
that he believes Abbas sees the political route as the best
way to defeat terrorism.


11. (C) Responding to a comment by the Ambassador about the
relative absence of terrorist violence inside Israel since
his arrival, Gilad lamented that this was not because
terrorists are not trying to stage attacks. Instead, he
said, it is because of Israel's operational counterterrorism
capabilities. The Ambassador noted that the USG is working
with the Egyptians on the way ahead concerning the transfer
of ammunition to Palestinian security services, as approved
by the GOI, and will keep the Israeli side informed of
progress.

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...ASKS HOW TO PROCEED ON PALESTINIAN ELECTIONS
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12. (C) Gilad asked for the Ambassador's views on how to
address the issue of Hamas running in Palestinian elections
scheduled for January 2006. The Ambassador suggested that
Israel follow the USG approach: make it clear to the
Palestinians what Israel's principles are (e.g. that it will
not talk to those who perpetrate or advocate violence),and
then lay out what the costs of ignoring them will be. The
Ambassador stressed that this is a better approach than
calling for a prohibition on Hamas by name, especially as it
is sometimes difficult to determine whether specific
candidates are actually members of Hamas.

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