COGAT PLEDGES FULL SUPPORT FOR AMA IMPLEMENTATION;

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 004581

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2016
TAGS: PREL KWBG KPAL ECON IS
SUBJECT: COGAT PLEDGES FULL SUPPORT FOR AMA IMPLEMENTATION;
OUTLINES PERMIT SYSTEM

REF: TEL AVIV 4465

Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones; Reasons: 1.4 (B and D).


1. (C) Summary: The GOI's Coordinator of Government
Activities in the Territories, MG Yossef Mishlev, pledged
"full cooperation" to implement the Agreement on Movement and
Access during the November 20 inaugural meeting of the
working group on permits. He outlined GOI permit policies in
the West Bank and Gaza, noting that the GOI had agreed to a
request by President Mahmud Abbas to increase to 60 the
number of "VIP" Palestinians with freedom of movement between
Gaza and the West Bank. Mishlev acknowledged that other
problem areas -- especially movement in the Jordan Valley --
need to be addressed. Embassy representatives raised the
need to keep Karni open, to agree on a reliable back-up
system for emergencies, to allow U.S. exports to enter Gaza,
and to bring empty containers currently stuck in Gaza back
into Israel. Septel covers the discussion on Mishlev's ideas
for resolving the issue of visas for American citizens
residing in the West Bank. End Summary.

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Full Cooperation on AMA Talks
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2. (C) In a meeting with PolCouns, EconCouns, and USAID
Director, Mishlev pledged his "full cooperation" in
implementing AMA steps intended to improve social conditions
for the Palestinian population. He asked the USG to provide
technical papers to serve as the basis for detailed follow-up
meetings on specific issues.

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Description of GOI Permit System
--------------


3. (C) Mishlev noted that DefMin Amir Peretz receives daily
recommendations from the IDF Chief of Staff, the ISA, and
COGAT before making his decisions on movements by permit
holders. The ISA checks all permit applicants prior to
issuance. Mishlev outlined the current permit system, noting
recent improvements made in response to a request by
President Abbas:

-- 350 Gazan businessmen have three-month-renewable permits
to travel to the West Bank;

-- approximately 350 Gazans employed by international
organizations have permits to travel to the West Bank;

-- 20 Palestinian VIPs -- a list that will soon expand to 60
at the request of Abbas -- have permits allowing them to move
freely between Gaza and the West Bank and to use the
Allenby/King Hussein Bridge to Jordan. Mishlev claimed that
these individuals (55 of the 60 names on a list provided by
Sa'eb Erakat had already been cleared by the ISA) are not
subject to search. PolCouns said the USG welcomes steps that
strengthen Abbas.

-- special humanitarian cases are allowed to enter Israel on
a case-by-case basis;

-- 23,000 West Bankers (restricted to married Palestinians
above a certain age) have three-month-renewable permits to
enter Israel for work, including 3,000 for the olive harvest
and 3,000 others for general agricultural work;

-- 18,000 West Bankers have permits for work in the
settlements and their associated industrial zones;

-- 12,000 West Bank businessmen have three-month-renewable
permits to move within the West Bank and enter Israel;

-- 1,700 West Bankers employed by international organizations
have permits to move within the West Bank;

-- 2,200 West Bankers have permits to enter Jerusalem to work
in the education, tourism, and health-care fields. In
addition, special arrangements are in place for the movement
of Palestinian ambulances into Jerusalem; and

-- West Bankers resident along the security barrier with
property on the western side may apply for two-year permits
to enter those areas. At present, 19,000 West Bankers have
permits to work in this area (referred to by Israel as the
"seam zone"). Mishlev complained that the UN still refuses
to apply for such permits for its Palestinian staff.

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COGAT Admits to Problems in the Jordan Valley
--------------


4. (C) Mishlev acknowledged that a number of problem areas
need to be addressed. He reported that on November 20 the
IDF had lifted the 16-35 age restriction on Palestinian men
moving from the Nablus area southward. He acknowledged
"difficulties" resulting from restrictions in the Jordan
Valley and said his office is "speaking with the army about
easing controls," especially on the movement of cargo along
Route 90, the main north-south highway through the area. He
asked about possible assistance from USAID in improving the
Jordan Valley road network. (Note: Currently such activity
is outside the approved assistance framework. End note).
When questioned on movement out of Hebron, Mishlev maintained
that the Palestinians continue to use existing bypass tunnels
and overpasses to ambush Israeli travelers.

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Crossings and Other Issues
--------------


5. (C) USAID Director stressed the need to find a way to keep
Karni open for the export of agricultural goods and to find a
reliable back-up system to deal with emergencies. Mishlev
replied that the GOI is working with the USSC to improve
security at Karni. He claimed that recent difficulties were
attributable to confusion on the Palestinian side; a work
strike affected both their ability to protect Karni and to
clear the Sufa crossing for use as an emergency back up. In
Mishlev's opinion, the only reliable back up to Karni is
Kerem Shalom, which the Palestinians refuse to utilize.


6. (C) EconCouns and USAID Director raised a number of other
outstanding issues. Mishlev said his office was still
working on permits for a list of judges whose travel is
intended to support rule-of-law programs. He requested
additional details on shipments of U.S. exports to the West
Bank and Gaza that remain stalled at Ashdod port. His staff
acknowledged that over 200 empty containers belonging to (and
consuming the resources of) groups such as the WFP and UNRWA
remain stuck in Gaza.

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