LIVNI REPORTS USG ANTI-TRAFFICKING AWARD TO GOI

UNCLAS TEL AVIV 001422 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR G/TIP: GAYATRI PATEL; NEA/IPA: JOSHUA DAVIS; NEA/RA: JOHN MENARD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB IS KCRM ISRAELI SOCIETY GOI INTERNAL SUBJECT: LIVNI REPORTS USG ANTI-TRAFFICKING AWARD TO GOI CABINET REF: TEL AVIV 1391 ¶1. (SBU) News of the Department's acknowledgment of Rahel Gershuni as an anti-trafficking "hero" (reftel) has reached the highest level of the GOI. At the weekly Cabinet meeting of April 9, according to the official Cabinet communique, Foreign Minister and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni reported to Alternate Prime Minister Ehud Olmert "that Justice Ministry attorney Rachel Gershoni (sic) recently received a citation from US Ambassador to Israel Richard Jones for the State of Israel's efforts against human trafficking. The Minister added that Israel has been very active in both legislation and law enforcement on this issue." ¶2. (SBU) MFA Director for International Organizations Daniel Meron told poloff April 10: "We were all delighted to hear this news. We feel like it's an acknowledgment of not only Gershuni, but people throughout our government who have made fighting trafficking in persons a priority." ********************************************* ******************** Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website. ********************************************* ******************** CRETZ