GOI ADOPTS POST-PLC MEASURES; EFFORTS TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 000756

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON KWBG PINR IS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS
SUBJECT: GOI ADOPTS POST-PLC MEASURES; EFFORTS TO
COORDINATE WITH DONORS

REF: TEL AVIV 697

Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Following the first meeting of the new
Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC),the GOI has adopted a
number of measures aimed at increasing security and
preventing funds from reaching Hamas, according to General
Yossef Mishlev. Mishlev said the GOI will end assistance for
PA security forces, immediately halt revenue transfers,
rescind VIP status for PLC members, and step up physical
checks of goods and people at the crossings. Mishlev is
coordinating an inter-agency committee that will review the
situation on a weekly basis and recommend any additional
measures. He said that the GOI wants to coordinate closely
with the U.S. to ensure that humanitarian assistance to the
Palestinians continues without aiding the Hamas government.
Post believes that the USG may be able to influence GOI
policy in areas where it is still undecided such as funding
for health care workers and teachers and assistance to
government bodies not under the control of the Cabinet. End
summary.

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GOI ADOPTS POST-PLC MEETING MEASURES
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2. (SBU) COGAT Head General Yossef Mishlev and Brig. Gen.
(res.) Baruch Spiegel discussed the future of foreign
assistance to the Palestinian Territories during a February
19 meeting with ECON Counselor and USAID Director. Mishlev
said that he will coordinate an inter-agency committee to
review weekly the situation with the Hamas government and to
recommend additional measures to take. He also said that the
GOI wants to coordinate closely with the U.S. and
international Community to ensure that present humanitarian
assistance continues without aiding the Hamas government.
Mishlev expressed the hope that plans to address Palestinian
environmental sewage/waste runoff into aquifers from which
Israel draws water or into the Mediterranean Sea, which could
affect Ashkelon,s desalination plant intakes, continued. He
said that the Israeli Government will continue to allow West
Bank workers with permits to enter Israel and work at Israeli
settlements inside the West Bank, but will likely cut back on
the 17,000 Palestinian businessmen allowed to enter Israel.


3. (SBU) Mishlev outlined the measures the GOI Cabinet has
adopted in response to Hamas entering the PLC, including
immediately halting revenue transfers, ending assistance,
including equipment, for PA security forces, canceling all
VIP privileges for PLC members, and stepping up security and
physical checks of people and goods passing through the
crossings. In addition, Mishlev said, the GOI will call on
the international community to stop financing on behalf of
the Hamas government, but continue humanitarian support for
the Palestinian people. He said the GOI will continue to
build the security fence, prevent the movement of Hamas
members and supporters between Gaza and the West Bank and
within the West Bank, especially to Ramallah, and supply
humanitarian supplies to the territories, including water,
electricity, sewage treatment, and fuel. General Spiegel
added that the GOI will continue with security and other
physical upgrades of the Israeli border crossings with Gaza
and the West Bank.

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Meeting with Donors
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4. (SBU) Mishlev and Spiegel held a separate meeting later
that day with the Task Force on Project Implementation (TFPI)
and other foreign donors, including UNRWA, World Bank, EU/EC,
UNICEF, CARE, ICRC, etc. Mishlev had no answer to questions
regarding the GOI approach toward "autonomous" parastatals
and government bodies that do not fall under the control of
Prime Minister or Cabinet Ministries or what would happen to
health and education delivery if the funding for the salaries
of the 50,000 teachers and health workers is cut off.
UNSRSYG De Soto said a detailed review between GOI/MOD and
TFPI on behalf of all donors would only be appropriate once
the Hamas Cabinet is sworn in and not before. In addition,
De Soto said, it is permissible for donors to have bilateral
meetings with the GOI, as needed, for coordination, until the
Hamas Cabinet is sworn in. The ICRC argued that the GOI is
not living up its humanitarian obligations and is trying to
get donors to do that, while simultaneously asking donors not
to provide financial/institutional support to key agencies of
the PA. The ICRC Representative claimed these actions
violate the Oslo accord.


5. (C) Comment: Although the outlines of the GOI policy on
assistance to the Palestinians are taking shape, several
areas remain undecided. For example, Mishlev had no answer
regarding pay for health care workers and teachers or
assistance to government bodies not under control of the
Prime Minister or Cabinet. The USG may be able to influence
GOI policy in this regard, although FM Livni was doubtful in
a later discussion with the Ambassador.

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