ISRAELI DEFMIN PERETZ ON PALESTINIAN HUMANITARIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 001947

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA (MAHER)
STATE FOR S/CT (AMBASSADOR CRUMPTON)
PENTAGON FOR OSD ISRAEL DESK OFFICER (ANDERSON)
DIA FOR DHO-6
NSC FOR DPNSA ABRAMS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/18/2016
TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM KWBG IS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS HUMANITARIAN AID
SUBJECT: ISRAELI DEFMIN PERETZ ON PALESTINIAN HUMANITARIAN
ISSUES


Classified By: DCM Gene A. Cretz for reason 1.4 (b and d).

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) New Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz told
Ambassador Jones May 17 that he wants negotiations with the
Palestinians to begin as soon as possible, and that PA
President Abbas should be strengthened. He said that he has
ordered that the Karni crossing remain open for traffic in
both directions between Israel and the Gaza Strip as long as
security conditions permit, and is considering allowing a
limited number of West Bank workers access to Green-Line
Israel. Peretz said that on May 21 he will submit a detailed
proposal to the GOI to address Palestinian health care
problems. At the Ambassador's request, Peretz said he will
look to secure GOI acceptance of the customs protocol called
for in the Agreement on Access and Movement (AMA),and fuel
sales to the Palestinians for humanitarian purposes.
Peretz's comments on terrorism, Iran and other security
issues, the MDA and human trafficking are covered in septels.
END SUMMARY.

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PERETZ TO PUSH TO RESOLVE HUMANITARIAN ISSUES
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2. (C) Peretz said that, in his view, negotiations with the
Palestinians, and efforts to strengthen Palestinian Authority
(PA) President Mahmud Abbas, need to start as soon as
possible. Unlike most of his senior Cabinet colleagues,
Peretz characterized Abbas as "relevant" and noted that since
Hamas took control of the PA, organizations that were
formerly not beholden to Abbas now want to strengthen him and
"keep him alive." Describing the official GOI position as an
"intention to conduct negotiations with the Palestinians,"
Peretz said his own position is more firm: "We must
recognize him as a legitimate partner for negotiations." He
admitted that he is uncertain whether Abbas could secure
passage of a referendum on the future status of a Palestinian
state, and said this must be discussed later.


3. (C) Peretz told the Ambassador that earlier in the day,
"after hearing the positions of all sides," he ordered that
the Karni crossing between Israel and Gaza remain open for
traffic in both directions as long as security conditions
permit. He lamented the fact that Karni had been closed for
much of the last three months, and promised to balance the
security of the personnel working at the crossing with the
Palestinians' humanitarian needs: "There are risks to this,
but we need to stop the ferment on the Palestinian side."


4. (C) Peretz told the Ambassador that he is examining how
far Israel can go in allowing West Bank workers into
Green-Line Israel for employment. He said that last week he
authorized the transit between the West Bank and Gaza of
Palestinians working for international organizations. In
response to the Ambassador's request, the DefMin said he will
also consider whether Israel can allow Gazans to work in
Green-Line Israel.


5. (C) Peretz said that on May 21, he plans to submit a
detailed proposal to purchase equipment and medicines for
Palestinian hospitals in order to address what he termed the
Palestinian health care crisis. The DefMin said that he
objects to paying salaries to Palestinian civil servants, but
wants to help the Palestinian people.


6. (C) Responding to the Ambassador's request, Peretz said
that he would look into ways to obtain GOI agreement to the
customs protocol called for in the Agreement on Movement and
Access (AMA).


7. (C) In response to the Ambassador's request, Peretz said
that he would look into the possibility of selling fuel to
the Palestinians for humanitarian purposes, but cautioned
that the issue is "complex" due to allegations of corruption
on the Palestinian side. He said that an agreement is being
worked out that involves the Dor Energiya company and NIS 130
million from a Palestinian investment fund.
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JONES