GOI HITS SNAG IN MEDICAL AID DISTRIBUTION;

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TEL AVIV 002120 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2016 TAGS: ECON EAID ETRD PGOV PREL KWBG KPAL PINR IS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS HUMANITARIAN AID SUBJECT: GOI HITS SNAG IN MEDICAL AID DISTRIBUTION; PROMISES CROSSING IMPROVEMENT REF: JERUSALEM 2068 Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). This cable has been cleared by ConGen Jerusalem. ¶1. (C) Summary: In a May 31 meeting, COGAT head General Yossef Mishlev said that the GOI intends to use NIS 50 million from frozen clearance revenues to purchase goods in Israel and transfer them through NGOs/international organizations to Palestinian hospitals or to the central medical supply warehouse, which can then pass the stocks to the hospitals. If the NGO option is closed, he said that Minister of Defense Peretz and FM Livni would have to approve any proposal which uses PA President Mahmud Abbas as the channel for delivering assistance. Mishlev promised to explore re-establishment of a special lane for USAID employees at Erez in order to avoid problems during security checks as well as look into the possibility of increasing exports at Karni. Mishlev said that he has spoken to the Israeli Airports Authority (IAA),which operates the terminal, about returning an additional ten empty containers a day through Karni. Regarding complaints by American distributors about Karni,s reservation system, Mishlev suggested that he would join any discussion on a more transparent system with IAA officials and the Embassy. He acknowledged the economic need to expand the fishing area off the Gaza coast and promised to discuss the issue with the Naval commander. In separate discussions with General Baruch Spiegel, he expressed an interest in finding a private sector mechanism for delivering medical assistance to the Palestinians that could be placed under an international umbrella. Spiegel also raised concerns about the lack of equipment maintenance at Rafah, which he said could lead to a deterioration of security at the crossing if not rectified. End summary. -------------- Humanitarian Medical Assistance -------------- ¶2. (SBU) COGAT head General Yossef Mishlev on May 31 discussed with EconCouns and USAID Deputy Mission Director the issue of using VAT and customs receipt revenues owed the PA but currently frozen by the GOI to purchase medicines and medical equipment for the Palestinians. Mishlev claimed that this idea had been his initiative. Mishlev said the GOI has approved using NIS 50 million to purchase goods in Israel and transfer them through NGOs/international organizations to the Palestinian hospitals or to the central medical supply warehouse, which can then pass the stocks to the hospitals. No money would be transferred, no salaries would be paid, and the GOI would not negotiate with Hamas. The medicine would not include any items that are in short supply in Israel, he said, but the GOI is still awaiting a needs assessment from Palestinian hospitals and their ideas on how best to make the transfer. Mishlev said that if a mechanism can be found that does not cross any red lines, it can be implemented immediately. ¶3. (C) USAID Deputy Mission Director said he had consulted with WHO, CARE, and UN representatives who told him that they do not want to be involved in the plan. He said they view the NIS 50 million as Palestinian funds and not funds available for GOI usage. However, he said, the NGOs would probably be supportive if PA President Mahmud Abbas blessed the plan. The Deputy Mission Director said that Abbas wants a direct agreement between his office and COGAT regarding the medical assistance and wants the items to be purchased from Palestinian sources, which would be cheaper than Israeli products. Mishlev said that it was bad news that CARE and the other organizations did not want to be involved. He said that whether or not to deal with Abbas is a political issue that would have to be decided by Minister of Defense Peretz and FM Livni. He speculated that purchasing goods in the territories could lead to corruption and would not guarantee that the assistance reached its intended destination. ¶4. (C) At a separate meeting on May 31, Brig. Gen. (res.) Baruch Spiegel told EconCouns that he will attend a conference hosted by the Aspen Institute in Washington that will discuss alternative mechanisms for delivering assistance to the Palestinians while bypassing Hamas. Spiegel said that this type of a discussion is useful, because the central medicine warehouse is under the PA Ministry of Health, which makes giving medical supplies to it politically complicated. He said that he is particularly interested in finding a private sector mechanism that could be placed under an international umbrella. -------------- Harassment of AID Employees -------------- ¶5. (C) EconCouns requested Mishlev,s intervention in situations where Palestinian USAID employees resident in Gaza have been subject to intense scrutiny, bordering on harassment, when they cross into Israel at Erez. In addition, expatriate employees have come under extra scrutiny at Ben Gurion Airport. USAID Deputy Director suggested giving the GOI a heads up when contractors are due to enter the country so their entry can be facilitated and finding a way to smooth the crossing of Palestinians with USAID employee IDs. Mishlev acknowledged increased security at Erez. He said it might be possible to add a special lane at the crossing for the employees. -------------- Karni Exports -------------- ¶6. (C) Mishlev said that Karni crossing is now open for two-way traffic. He noted that some of the cargo transfer cells had been closed due to the security situation, but that he had spoken with security officials on May 30 and asked them to find a way so that exports from Gaza into Israel could be increased. Deputy Mission Director noted that there is still a problem of a backlog of empty containers in Gaza. He urged that containers be sent back regularly, instead of sporadically, as is the case now. Mishlev said he has spoken with the Israeli Airport Authority (IAA),which operates the Karni terminal, about the problem and the IAA has agreed to allow an extra 10 empty containers to cross daily. He offered that using palettes instead of containers to transport some of the humanitarian assistance would also cut down on the number of empty containers in Gaza. (Note: the USG has provided scanners and other security equipment at Karni specifically in order to move away from costly and time-consuming handling of palletized cargoes. End note.) -------------- Karni Reservation System Complaint -------------- ¶7. (C) EconCouns raised complaints by American business distributors about Karni,s reservation system. He said they have called the system "chaotic" and criticized the fact that many of their cargoes have waited three-four months or more to cross, while other companies are able to transfer two loads a day with the same truck. He emphasized the need for a transparent system, such as a website where reservations can be obtained and queues monitored. EconCouns said it would be easier for businessmen to plan with such a system, even when security alerts close the terminal. Mishlev said that he had heard of problems from Israeli business leader Shraga Brosh and had tried to correct them. Mishlev agreed that corruption is the root of the problem, with companies having to pay NIS 9,000 or more to guarantee that their shipments can cross. (Note: Embassy contacts among the Palestinian business community report that payments to guarantee crossing Karni can reach NIS 12,000 or more and have presented written evidence thereof. End note.) He suggested that he would join U.S. officials in a meeting with IAA officials to discuss USG ideas, including fixes to the reservation system. -------------- Gaza Fishing -------------- ¶8. (C) EconCouns raised the issue of the depleting fish stocks off the Gaza coast (reftel). He said it is important to extend the fishing zone past the current reportedly 6-mile limit to avoid a total depletion of the fish stocks within the permitted area. Mishlev said that Gaza fishermen are, by current regulation, allowed to fish within a 10-mile zone, but he admitted there is a problem with overfishing in the restricted area. He said that he has been in contact with the ICRC on the issue and agreed there is a need to expand the current fishing area. Mishlev promised to talk to the naval commander about expanding the range. He said that security concerns will be a major factor in the decision. -------------- Permits for Palestinian Workers -------------- ¶9. (C) Mishlev said that a total of 11,000 permits have been issued for West Bank workers to enter Israel, with another 4,000 permits issued for Palestinian businessmen and 1,500 for workers in Jerusalem. He said he intends to speak with defMin Peretz about further increasing the number of permits for businessmen and workers. Mishlev said that he had recommended to various GOI officials that permits be issued for Gazan workers but his idea had been rejected. He said he had succeeded, however, in getting 250 permits approved for Gaza businessmen. -------------- Rafah Scanners -------------- ¶10. (C) Brig. Gen. Spiegel separately raised concerns about the equipment maintenance at Rafah. He said USAID had been responsible for bringing the crossing up to international security standards, but its involvement ended when Hamas had come to power. Spiegel noted that one of the two scanners has been broken for three weeks and asserted that when the other one breaks down, the crossing will have to close. If any other equipment breaks down, security would deteriorate and that would be a problem, he said. (Note: Embassy officers, along with General Dayton, again discussed this issue with Spiegel later in the day and are working on options to solve the problem. End note.) ********************************************* ******************** 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. ********************************************* ******************** JONES