PALESTINIAN SECURITY/NETHERLANDS: DUTCH DONATION

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 001925

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MASS PREL KWBG IS NL PKPAL
SUBJECT: PALESTINIAN SECURITY/NETHERLANDS: DUTCH DONATION
FOR COMMUNICATIONS

REF: STATE 121751

THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE PROTECT
ACCORDINGLY.


1. (SBU) Acting POLCOUNS and Poloff discussed reftel
demarche with the MFA on June 30 and July 7. Astrid
Zonneveld (MFA Action Officer for security policy) told
A/POLCOUNS that the GoNL would provide up to 500,000 euro to
support the Ward Mission, drawing on the Security Policy
Bureau's discretionary funds that are not part of Dutch ODA.
Zonneveld said her office was working on approval for
disbursement now and would earmark its funding for
communications. Administrative procedures will take about a
week. The Dutch mission in Ramala is coordinating its
donation with the working group.


2. (SBU) Separately, Angelique Eijpe (MFA, Middle East desk
officer),told Poloff that the Dutch still need to coordinate
internally the several requests for assistance coming in from
several sides. Meanwhile, they are "watching how things
develop, nervous about how the fluidity of the situation
could affect the effectiveness of new contributions," she
said. In this context, Eijpe said the Dutch will continue a
program of "threat training." On materiel requests, she said
she would check with Ramala, but admitted the Dutch remain
cautious about Israeli border controls that have made it
difficult to supply the Palestinians in the past. Focusing
specifically on the last line of reftel demarche, she asked
if the USG could give greater assurances about GOI intentions
knew to expedite equipment through ports. Finally, even with
GOI and USG assurances, she said the GoNL would find it feels
it is more difficult to give equipment because of political
sensitivities involved. Poloff pressed Eijpe to consider a
more robust Dutch approach, while acknowledging that the
fluid situation and multiple requests require coordination
and reflection despite the compressed time line this summer
for the Gaza withdrawal.
BLAKEMAN