Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JERUSALEM4283
2006-09-25 13:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
RAFAH CROSSING OPENED FOR THREE DAYS THEN CLOSED;
how-toVZCZCXYZ0010 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHJM #4283 2681353 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 251353Z SEP 06 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5112 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 004283
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR
WILLIAMS/SHAMPAINE/STEINGER; PRM FOR PDAS GREENE AND
PRM/ANE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WATERS; TREASURY FOR
SZUBIN/LOEFFLER/NUGENT/HIRSON; BRUSSELS FOR LERNER; PLEASE
PASS TO USAID FOR KUNDER/MCCLOUD/BORODIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/25/16
TAGS: ECON PGOV PHUM PREL KPAL KWBG IS
SUBJECT: RAFAH CROSSING OPENED FOR THREE DAYS THEN CLOSED;
WEST BANK/GAZA CROSSINGS OPEN
REF: JERUSALEM 4275
Classified By: Deputy Principal Officer Thomas Duffy,
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 004283
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR
WILLIAMS/SHAMPAINE/STEINGER; PRM FOR PDAS GREENE AND
PRM/ANE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WATERS; TREASURY FOR
SZUBIN/LOEFFLER/NUGENT/HIRSON; BRUSSELS FOR LERNER; PLEASE
PASS TO USAID FOR KUNDER/MCCLOUD/BORODIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/25/16
TAGS: ECON PGOV PHUM PREL KPAL KWBG IS
SUBJECT: RAFAH CROSSING OPENED FOR THREE DAYS THEN CLOSED;
WEST BANK/GAZA CROSSINGS OPEN
REF: JERUSALEM 4275
Classified By: Deputy Principal Officer Thomas Duffy,
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (SBU) The Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and
Egypt was open for passenger traffic in both directions
September 22-24. Close to 10,000 travelers passed through
Rafah during the three-day period, according to press
reports. The crossing did not open September 25. Rafah had
been completely closed for almost a month and open for six
non-consecutive days only since June 25, when Palestinian
militants kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Pressure
had been building to open Rafah prior to the start of
Ramadan, during which many Muslim Gazans seek to travel to
Mecca for the Umra pilgrimage.
2. (C) EU-BAM mission shared a report September 24 that a
Hamas Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) member, Marwan
Abu Raas, passed through Rafah from Egypt September 23 with
USD 1 million. Abu Raas reportedly declared the cash upon
entry and provided documentation showing that the money had
been declared upon entry into Egypt. Abu Raas filed a
declaration stating that the money was for the Palestinian
Authority (PA) and would be handed over to the PA Ministry of
Finance.
3. (SBU) The IDF lifted September 25 the total closure
imposed on the West Bank and Gaza during the Jewish New Year
holiday of Rosh Hashanah. The Karni/al-Mintar crossing was
opened September 25 for goods entering and leaving Gaza.
(Note: We expect the IDF to reimpose a total closure on the
West Bank and Gaza October 1-2 during the Jewish holiday of
Yom Kippur. End Note.)
DUFFY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR
WILLIAMS/SHAMPAINE/STEINGER; PRM FOR PDAS GREENE AND
PRM/ANE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WATERS; TREASURY FOR
SZUBIN/LOEFFLER/NUGENT/HIRSON; BRUSSELS FOR LERNER; PLEASE
PASS TO USAID FOR KUNDER/MCCLOUD/BORODIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/25/16
TAGS: ECON PGOV PHUM PREL KPAL KWBG IS
SUBJECT: RAFAH CROSSING OPENED FOR THREE DAYS THEN CLOSED;
WEST BANK/GAZA CROSSINGS OPEN
REF: JERUSALEM 4275
Classified By: Deputy Principal Officer Thomas Duffy,
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (SBU) The Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and
Egypt was open for passenger traffic in both directions
September 22-24. Close to 10,000 travelers passed through
Rafah during the three-day period, according to press
reports. The crossing did not open September 25. Rafah had
been completely closed for almost a month and open for six
non-consecutive days only since June 25, when Palestinian
militants kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Pressure
had been building to open Rafah prior to the start of
Ramadan, during which many Muslim Gazans seek to travel to
Mecca for the Umra pilgrimage.
2. (C) EU-BAM mission shared a report September 24 that a
Hamas Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) member, Marwan
Abu Raas, passed through Rafah from Egypt September 23 with
USD 1 million. Abu Raas reportedly declared the cash upon
entry and provided documentation showing that the money had
been declared upon entry into Egypt. Abu Raas filed a
declaration stating that the money was for the Palestinian
Authority (PA) and would be handed over to the PA Ministry of
Finance.
3. (SBU) The IDF lifted September 25 the total closure
imposed on the West Bank and Gaza during the Jewish New Year
holiday of Rosh Hashanah. The Karni/al-Mintar crossing was
opened September 25 for goods entering and leaving Gaza.
(Note: We expect the IDF to reimpose a total closure on the
West Bank and Gaza October 1-2 during the Jewish holiday of
Yom Kippur. End Note.)
DUFFY