Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TELAVIV3457
2006-08-30 15:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:
SPIEGEL DENIES RAFAH CLOSED TO PRESSURE PA TO
how-tonull Leza L Olson 08/31/2006 09:18:11 AM From DB/Inbox: Leza L Olson Cable Text: C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 03457 SIPDIS CXTelA: ACTION: ECON INFO: IPSC SCI IMO CONS RES POL DCM AMB AID FCS PD ADM DISSEMINATION: ECON CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: AMB:RJONES DRAFTED: ECON:RRUFFER CLEARED: DCM:GCRETZ, ECON:WWEINSTEIN VZCZCTVI399 OO RUEHC RUEHXK DE RUEHTV #3457 2421540 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 301540Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6008 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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)
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
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