Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TELAVIV3651
2006-09-13 14:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:
PRESSING THE EU TO RENEW EUBAM MANDATE FOR RAFAH
how-tonull Carol X Weakley 09/14/2006 01:47:53 PM From DB/Inbox: Carol X Weakley Cable Text: C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 03651 SIPDIS CXTelA: ACTION: ECON INFO: ADM CONS FCS IPSC SCI IMO PD RES POL DCM AMB AID DISSEMINATION: ECON CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: AMB:RJONES DRAFTED: ECON:RRUFFER CLEARED: DCM:GCRETZ, ECON:WWEINSTEIN, USSC:TKANE VZCZCTVI198 OO RUEHC RUEHXK DE RUEHTV #3651 2561450 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 131450Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6321 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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
--------------
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
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