Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06CAIRO5927
2006-09-21 10:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cairo
how-toVZCZCXYZ0039 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHEG #5927 2641030 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 211030Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1513 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 005927
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2011
TAGS: PREL PHUM KPAL EG IS
SUBJECT: RAFAH BORDER UPDATE
Classified By: Minister Counselor for Economic and Political Affairs
William R. Stewart for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 005927
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2011
TAGS: PREL PHUM KPAL EG IS
SUBJECT: RAFAH BORDER UPDATE
Classified By: Minister Counselor for Economic and Political Affairs
William R. Stewart for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) An Egyptian military official in the Liaison Agency
with International Organizations (LAWIO) told POLOFF on
September 20 that LAWIO is working closely with Israeli
liaison counterparts, including General Udi Dekel, to
coordinate the opening of the Rafah terminal in the near
future. He said that during a meeting on September 12 in
Sinai, Egyptian and Israeli liaison agreed to coordinate with
their governments to schedule a Rafah opening to allow:
-- Palestinians currently in Egypt to return to Gaza;
-- an undetermined but large number of Palestinians to enter
Egypt en route to Saudi Arabia for Umrah;
-- Palestinian students to enter Egypt to return to school;
-- Palestinian humanitarian/medical cases to enter Egypt for
treatment.
2. (C) According to LAWIO, Egypt is ready to open Rafah,
but the GOI has not yet agreed. The LAWIO officer said that
he had spoken to General Dekel three times since September 12
asking him to press this issue with Israeli officials. The
officer said he stressed the urgency of allowing students and
Umrah travelers to enter Egypt. Dekel pledged to follow up.
The LAWIO officer said he heard "unofficially" that the GOI
may agree to open the terminal on September 24.
3. (C) The LAWIO officer confirmed that current GOE
procedures prevent Palestinians wanting to return to Gaza
from entering Sinai until the border opening has been
confirmed. (Note: The GOE previously allowed Palestinians
to stay in the northern Sinai town of Al Arish while waiting
for Rafah terminal to open. Egypt ended this practice after
an incident in which armed Palestinians forced their way into
the Egyptian terminal to allow Palestinians to exit Egypt and
enter Gaza. In that episode, four Ministry of Interior
representatives, including one officer, were wounded by
Palestinian militants. End note). He also said that the
police, currently at their posts in Al Arish, are ready to
deploy to the border to support the Egyptian Border Guard
Forces (BGF) in ensuring that the crossings are orderly.
LAWIO Chief Major General Nagy reported separately that the
BGF continue their focus on cross-border smuggling. The
forces uncovered 1.5 tons of TNT during the week of September
11.
RICCIARDONE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2011
TAGS: PREL PHUM KPAL EG IS
SUBJECT: RAFAH BORDER UPDATE
Classified By: Minister Counselor for Economic and Political Affairs
William R. Stewart for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) An Egyptian military official in the Liaison Agency
with International Organizations (LAWIO) told POLOFF on
September 20 that LAWIO is working closely with Israeli
liaison counterparts, including General Udi Dekel, to
coordinate the opening of the Rafah terminal in the near
future. He said that during a meeting on September 12 in
Sinai, Egyptian and Israeli liaison agreed to coordinate with
their governments to schedule a Rafah opening to allow:
-- Palestinians currently in Egypt to return to Gaza;
-- an undetermined but large number of Palestinians to enter
Egypt en route to Saudi Arabia for Umrah;
-- Palestinian students to enter Egypt to return to school;
-- Palestinian humanitarian/medical cases to enter Egypt for
treatment.
2. (C) According to LAWIO, Egypt is ready to open Rafah,
but the GOI has not yet agreed. The LAWIO officer said that
he had spoken to General Dekel three times since September 12
asking him to press this issue with Israeli officials. The
officer said he stressed the urgency of allowing students and
Umrah travelers to enter Egypt. Dekel pledged to follow up.
The LAWIO officer said he heard "unofficially" that the GOI
may agree to open the terminal on September 24.
3. (C) The LAWIO officer confirmed that current GOE
procedures prevent Palestinians wanting to return to Gaza
from entering Sinai until the border opening has been
confirmed. (Note: The GOE previously allowed Palestinians
to stay in the northern Sinai town of Al Arish while waiting
for Rafah terminal to open. Egypt ended this practice after
an incident in which armed Palestinians forced their way into
the Egyptian terminal to allow Palestinians to exit Egypt and
enter Gaza. In that episode, four Ministry of Interior
representatives, including one officer, were wounded by
Palestinian militants. End note). He also said that the
police, currently at their posts in Al Arish, are ready to
deploy to the border to support the Egyptian Border Guard
Forces (BGF) in ensuring that the crossings are orderly.
LAWIO Chief Major General Nagy reported separately that the
BGF continue their focus on cross-border smuggling. The
forces uncovered 1.5 tons of TNT during the week of September
11.
RICCIARDONE