PRESSING THE EU TO RENEW EUBAM MANDATE FOR RAFAH

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 003651 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/13/2016 TAGS: KWBG PREL PGOV IS SUBJECT: PRESSING THE EU TO RENEW EUBAM MANDATE FOR RAFAH CROSSING POINT Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) -------------- EUBAM at Rafah -------------- ¶1. (C) European Commission Pol/Econ Counselor Emanuele Giaufret told EconCouns on September 7 that the EU is having a difficult time justifying the existence of the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) to Rafah because the crossing has been basically closed since June 25, either for security threats or to prevent Gilad Shalit's kidnappers from getting Shalit out of the Gaza Strip. Giaufret said that the closure of Rafah and inactivity of the EUBAM undermines the EU's credibility because it cannot operate properly at the crossing. He admitted that the EUBAM has made some progress on working out temporary openings with the GOI, but noted that overall there is no concrete sign from any of the parties involved that Rafah will operate on a more regular basis. According to Giaufret, the EU has not made any final decisions yet on whether to keep the EUBAM in Israel, but it reserves the "option to reconsider the whole thing." ¶2. (C) EconCouns responded that from the USG's point of view, the EUBAM itself has been quite successful, even if Rafah has been closed for a long time. He said that when the crossing is open, operations run smoothly with the EUBAM, and that the Mission is the only presence at Rafah that provides serious capacity-building for the Palestinians. EconCouns added that even when the crossing is closed, LTG Pietro Pistolese and BGEN (ret.) Baruch Spiegel continue behind-the-scenes discussions that have a real impact on the ground. He explained that having an effective international force at its borders is a big shift in Israeli thinking, such that the GOI is now considering an international presence at Karni crossing under USSC LTG Dayton's security plan for Karni. EconCouns also noted that one way to move forward on solving outstanding issues for the EUBAM is to encourage the GOI to begin negotiations on the renewal of the EUBAM's mandate under the AMA. ¶3. (C) Giaufret responded that the general trend in the EU is supportive of the EUBAM presence, and that having EU troops on the Lebanese border is a sign that there is an appetite for EU involvement in the region, both from the EU and the GOI. He commented, however, that he also sees signs of significant frustration on the part of some EU member states, and that it may be difficult for them "to sign in Brussels without concrete results." ********************************************* ******************** 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