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. -------------- Full Cooperation on AMA Talks -------------- ¶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. -------------- 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. -------------- 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. -------------- 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. ********************************************* ******************** 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