SPIEGEL DENIES RAFAH CLOSED TO PRESSURE PA TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 003457 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2016 TAGS: KWBG PREL PGOV IS SUBJECT: SPIEGEL DENIES RAFAH CLOSED TO PRESSURE PA TO RELEASE SHALIT Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) Ha'aretz reported today, August 30, that the IDF and Shin Bet recommended six days ago that the GOI keep Rafah crossing closed to pressure the Palestinians to release kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit. Ha'aretz apparently obtained a copy of a transcript from a Ministry of Defense (MOD) meeting where the recommendation was made, and the article claims that this is the first time that it has been proven that Rafah has been closed for reasons other than terror alerts. ¶2. (C) Brig. Gen. (ret.) Baruch Spiegel and Lt. Col. Oded Herman told EconCouns and econoff on August 30 that the crossing is not closed to pressure the Palestinians to release Shalit. They said that this is not the MOD's official position, and that the meeting cited above was only a preparatory meeting to begin working on the extension of the Rafah mandate, which expires in November. Spiegel said that he and others wrote a strong recommendation to Defense Minister Amir Peretz to open the crossing on a continuous basis as soon as possible, and that Peretz will be evaluating the recommendation today or tomorrow. ********************************************* ******************** 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