Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TELAVIV1980
2006-05-19 17:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

OLMERT'S COS ON VISIT PREPARATIONS, AMA, MDA, AND

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C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 001980 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV PREF IS ICRC GTIP ISRAEL RELATIONS
SUBJECT: OLMERT'S COS ON VISIT PREPARATIONS, AMA, MDA, AND
ANTI-TRAFFICKING

Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones; Reasons 1.4 (B and D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 001980

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV PREF IS ICRC GTIP ISRAEL RELATIONS
SUBJECT: OLMERT'S COS ON VISIT PREPARATIONS, AMA, MDA, AND
ANTI-TRAFFICKING

Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones; Reasons 1.4 (B and D).


1. (C) In a meeting with the Ambassador and DCM on June 18,
PM Olmert's chief of staff, Yoram Turbowicz, described the
main goal of Olmert's upcoming visit to Washington as
building trust and getting to better know the President.
According to Turbowicz, he, Dov Weissglas, and Shalom
Tourgeman conducted "candid and open discussions" on the full
range of bilateral and international issues during advance
talks in Washington on May 15-16. Turbowicz maintained that
"Iran is an existential threat to the world," particularly
Israel. Despite the Israeli public's preoccupation with
other issues and the fact that they are used to living under
constant threat, he urged prompt action to prevent Iran from
developing a nuclear weapons capability. He revealed that
Olmert does not plan to raise specific economic issues,
adding that a GOI proposal to discuss joint development of
alternate energy sources had been dropped to maintain focus
on the major issues.


2. (C) The Ambassador raised a number of other issues that
remain important, although they are unlikely to come up
during Olmert's visit:

-- Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA): Reiterating points
already made with several GOI cabinet ministers, the
Ambassador urged the GOI to name participants for a security
working group meeting that USSC LTG Dayton has proposed for
June 7. He also stressed that the EU Border Assistance
Mission requires Israeli agreement to the customs protocol to
better control the flow of goods at Rafah.

-- Anti-trafficking efforts: Noting that he had raised this
issue with Weissglas, FM Livni, Justice Minister Ramon,
DefMin Peretz and others, the Ambassador requested that the
GOI expeditiously approve pending legislation to criminalize
trafficking in labor. Turbowicz replied that Olmert had
already made clear that he expected the government to "do
much more" to combat trafficking and to fully enforce the
law. Turbowicz welcomed the USG's focus on preventing
trafficking, said that the GOI would take the necessary steps
because they are in Israel's own interests, and claimed that
trafficking from the Sinai remains a problem.

-- Magen David Adom (MDA): The Ambassador urged the GOI to
take the necessary steps to facilitate the MDA's accession to
the International Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement. He added
that there are still a number of issues remaining on internal
MDA reform and from the MDA-Palestinian Red Crescent MOU that
need to be resolved prior to the June 20-21 meeting in
Geneva, and preferably prior to a compliance assessment visit
on May 31. Having made similar points with FM Livni and
others, the Ambassador stressed the importance of making
progress on this issue, which has been an Israeli and
American priority for decades. Turbowicz replied that he was
unfamiliar with the details of the MDA question, but would
check on the status.


3. (C) Bio notes and Turbowicz's views on coalition dynamics
are reported septel.

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