MOFAZ TELLS A/S WELCH HE WILL SHUT KARNI, EREZ IF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 006875

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER KPAL KWBG EG IS SY ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS
SUBJECT: MOFAZ TELLS A/S WELCH HE WILL SHUT KARNI, EREZ IF
PA DOES NOT IMPLEMENT NOVEMBER 15 AGREEMENT

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


1. (C) Summary: Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz told NEA A/S
Welch and the Ambassador December 9 that the Palestinian
Authority (PA) has done nothing to implement the Agreement on
Movement and Access since both sides met with the Secretary
November 15. He underscored repeatedly that security
concerns and the current political climate will compel him to
turn Karni and Erez into "international crossings" by Sunday,
December 11, if the PA does not fully implement the
agreement. A/S Welch concurred that the PA had not
implemented the agreement satisfactorily, but progress is
steady; he asked that before making any decision on Sunday,
Mofaz take into consideration technological improvements that
the EU continues to make to comply with the agreement. Welch
also said remaining GOI concerns would be addressed.


2. (C) Summary cont. Mofaz also charged that the PA has not
taken meaningful actions against the Palestinian Islamic
Jihad (PIJ),even though, Mofaz asserted, PA President Mahmud
Abbas "has the power to deal with the PIJ." Mofaz expressed
concern that Syria will support an escalation in Hizballah
activity along the Israel-Lebanon border to detract attention
from the release of the Mehlis Report next week. Mofaz
expressed concern that the PIJ and Hamas could become
stronger after the January Palestinian Legislative Council
elections, buttressed by continued smuggling into Gaza of
arms from Egypt. A/S Welch agreed that the PIJ is a serious
concern, noted that the PA has taken some actions against
that terrorist group, and added that if PIJ is being directed
and funded externally, it may be beyond PA control. Welch
underlined the importance that the PLC elections be as free
and open as possible. End Summary.


3. (C) A/S Welch and the Ambassador were accompanied by DCM
Cretz, Pol/C Olsen, Econ/C Weinstein, Col. Mark Dugger
(USSC),and Embassy notetaker Bernstein-Zabza. Mofaz was
joined by MOD Pol-Mil Director Amos Gilad and Mofaz's Chief
of Staff Brig. General Eitan Dangot.

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Mofaz: "I Won't Take Any Risks After Sunday."
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4. (C) Defense Minister Mofaz began the meeting with A/S
Welch December 9 by charging that the PA has "implemented
nothing, but nothing," of the November 15 Agreement on
Movement and Access. In contrast, Mofaz asserted, the GOI
has made good on its commitments under the agreement, opening
Karni and Erez, and increasing the number of Palestinian
workers crossing into Israel. Mofaz complained that the PA
is not conveying real-time information and image feed to the
GOI at Rafah, thereby putting Israelis at risk. The PA could
easily improve the technology to comply with the agreement in
a day, Mofaz charged, and characterized the PA's failure to
comply as lack of "good will." The PA, he asserted, is
"playing games with us." Mofaz, in a clearly agitated state,
continued that "three and a half weeks after we sat with the
Secretary...and the PA side has done nothing, and they

SIPDIS
continue to attack us... No other country would be as
patient." Mofaz also asserted that "blacklisted persons"
were entering Gaza from Egypt, including Al Qaeda elements.
"This is an unacceptable situation," Mofaz underscored.


5. (C) Mofaz said that on Sunday, December 11, he intends to
assess the situation, and, if PA noncompliance continues, to
make "deep inspections" at the Karni and Erez crossings, and
convert them to international passages, unless and until the
PA conforms with the agreement. After the Netanya and Hadera
terrorist attacks, Mofaz stressed, he, as Defense Minister,
could not take risks with Israeli lives. He said that Prime
Minister Sharon has deferred to Mofaz's judgment in how to
respond to the PA's noncompliance. Mofaz said that Welch's
presence in Israel at this time is "critical" to conveying
the severity of the situation. Mofaz asked for a read-out of
Welch's meetings with the PA before Welch leaves on December
10 to help inform Mofaz's decision on Karni and Erez.


6. (C) A/S Welch stressed that while the USG is also not
satisfied with the PA's level of compliance with the
agreement, the PA is making improvements and there has been
real progress. He said that in the late morning December 8,
with support from the EU as well as Egypt, data transmission
and image feed at Rafah was transmitted fully and more
effectively and that most of the GOI's concerns were being
addressed. Welch said that in a morning meeting, EU Special
Representative to the Middle East Peace Process Marc Otte
indicated that the EU was assisting the PA to address GOI
concerns. Welch said it would be preferable if the GOI could
stay on schedule with the November 15 agreement deadline as
the PA continues to address GOI concerns. Dangot
acknowledged that the PA had decreased the data and image
transmission time from eight minutes to two-to-three minutes.
Dangot added, however, that while the PA is improving
operations at Rafah, it is not implementing the agreement "at
the level we agreed." Gilad added that the Haj pilgrimage
will soon start, a time during which recruitment of
terrorists increases, making transmittal of pictures and data
at Rafah even more critical. Welch committed to convey in
his meeting with PA officials that the USG expects the PA to
live up to the agreement. Welch said remaining Israeli
concerns would be fixed.


7. (C) Note: Mofaz appeared not to have been briefed on the
most recent improvements in the quality and speed of data
transmission in Rafah. Mofaz turned to Gilad and Dangot
during the meeting and asked in Hebrew about the situation
and Gilad again noted the decrease in transmission time down
to two-to-three minutes. End note.
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PIJ and Hizbollah
--------------


8. (C) Mofaz charged that PA President Abbas "could do more
against PIJ" since it is a small, extremist group, with an
insignificant public base. He claimed that Abbas knows where
PIJ is located and "has the power to deal" with it. He
recounted the GOI's recent activity against PIJ in the West
Bank and against Qassam rocket attacks coming from Gaza.
Mofaz assessed that the PIJ is receiving orders and funding
from Syria. Mofaz expressed concern that Syria would
escalate Hizballah attacks along the Israel-Lebanon border to
distract international attention from the anticipated release
of the Mehlis Report next week. Welch underlined that the PA
can and should deal with PIJ, but added that if PIJ is also
directed from outside PA, this places PIJ to a certain extent
beyond the reach of the PA. He said that the USG is also
addressing the problem of Hizballah activity, adding that the
U.S. is looking to Lebanon to exercise greater control over
its territory.

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Fatah Elections
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9. (C) The PA, Mofaz charged, is not acting against
terrorist activity in and Qassam rocket attacks from Gaza in
the run-up to the January 25, 2006 PLC elections. As a
result, terrorist groups will be more powerful after the
elections, Mofaz asserted. He claimed that smuggling of
weapons, including anti-aircraft missiles, across the border
with Egypt continues, although he acknowledged that Egypt is
making its "best effort" to prevent smuggling.


10. (U) NEA A/S Welch cleared this message.

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