MOFAZ DISCUSSES KARNI AND RAFAH CROSSINGS,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TEL AVIV 000773

SIPDIS

EMBASSY ABU DHABI FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY DAVID WELCH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KWBG IS ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS GOI EXTERNAL
SUBJECT: MOFAZ DISCUSSES KARNI AND RAFAH CROSSINGS,
DELIVERY OF HUMANITARIAN AID TO PALESTINIANS

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


1. (C) Summary: Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz told the
Ambassador on February 22 that while the GOI appreciates
Egypt's efforts to combat smuggling at the Philadelphi
Corridor, weapons smuggling continues nevertheless and
terrorists are getting into Gaza. He said that if Egypt and
the Palestinian Authority (PA) do not operate appropriately
at Rafah, the GOI would consider making Karni and Erez
international border crossings. Mofaz commented that the GOI
wants to keep the Karni crossing open, but that he knows
attempts to attack the passage will continue, so the GOI is
preparing Kerem Shalom as an alternative if it has to close
Karni. The Ambassador told Mofaz that the USG considers
Karni a lifeline for the Palestinian economy, and asked
whether there is a way to reinforce security at the crossing.
Regarding contacts with a Hamas-led government, Mofaz said
Israel would consider it a terrorist entity if it does not
accept the GOI's three stated conditions. He said
working-level contacts may be difficult in the future
depending on who controls the Palestinian security
establishment. The Ambassador emphasized that the USG has a
worldwide diplomatic campaign to encourage support for the
Quartet principles and to discourage any contacts with Hamas.
Mofaz also told the Ambassador that the GOI's policy would
be for humanitarian aid to be delivered directly to the
Palestinian people through organizations such as USAID,
UNRWA, and the Red Cross, but not through Hamas. He said
that COGAT Major General Yosef Mishlev had been charged to
explain this policy to the heads of aid organizations. End
summary.

--------------
Karni and Rafah Passages
--------------


2. (C) Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and the Ambassador on
February 22 discussed issues related to the Karni and Rafah
passages in the Gaza Strip. The Ambassador told Mofaz that
Karni is a lifeline for the Palestinian economy, and that the
transit of goods through the passage can be made safer with
the proper technology and support infrastructure. He also
informed Mofaz that over the last few weeks, the USG has been
working with the Palestinian Authority (PA) to try to obtain
a letter from the PA explicitly acknowledging the security
protocol of the Rafah crossing. USSC General Dayton told
Mofaz that he had attended a meeting with EU/BAM Lt. Gen.
Pistolese earlier in the day, and that Pistolese had
mentioned four security issues to be resolved under the
auspices of the Security Working Group. Dayton explained to
Mofaz that Pistolese is concerned about the effectiveness of
the Egyptian local commander at Rafah because the GOE
official does not have the proper guidance from Cairo.
Dayton said that he had scheduled a meeting on March 9 with
GOE, GOI, PA, and U.S. security officials to resolve the
problems at Rafah, and that he would suggest that Egypt
establish a liaison office either in Ashkelon or at Rafah to
be in direct contact with Cairo at all times. As Dayton
explained, Pistolese wanted Mofaz to know that Israel's
security needs are very important to the EU, and that he
expects Egypt to "do better." The Ambassador assured Mofaz
that the USG is working closely with all parties involved.


3. (C) Mofaz told the Ambassador that he appreciates Egypt's
efforts to try to combat smuggling along the Philadelphi
Corridor, but stressed that the smuggling continues. He said
that EGIS Chief Omar Soliman had asked for a list of "every
problem" at their February 14 meeting, and had promised Mofaz
that the GOE would take care of the issues the GOI presented
to Egypt. Amos Gilad, political director of the Ministry of
Defense (MOD),emphasized that it is important to control the
Rafah crossing because even "Zarqawi elements are moving in."
He claimed that the Zarqawi elements have the direct goal of
hurting "U.S. targets." Gilad said that with respect to
Rafah, everyone is happy except the GOI. Mofaz added that if
the security problems continue at Rafah, and the Palestinians
and Egyptians do not operate appropriately, the GOI's next
option would be to make Karni and Erez international border
crossings because it is difficult for Israel to accept that
arms and terrorists are getting into Gaza. The Ambassador
asked whether the GOI had passed Egypt a "blacklist" of names
that it does not want to be allowed into Gaza. Gilad
responded that Egypt had been given a GOI list, but 200
individuals had entered regardless. Soliman claimed not to
know anything about this at their recent meeting.


4. (C) Regarding Karni, Mofaz commented that the GOI knew
that there was a tunnel being built to attack the passage,
and said that Israel was lucky on February 21 that no one was
hurt. He asserted, however, that attempts to attack the
passage will continue, and that although the GOI wants Karni
to remain open, Israel cannot take the risk. He asked that
the U.S. pass a clear message to the Palestinians that they
must stop terror attacks on the crossing, or the GOI would
close Karni and open Kerem Shalom instead. Mofaz mentioned
that Israel is currently preparing Kerem Shalom as an
alternative because he "believe(s) there are more plans to
attack Karni," even though he knows "they will eventually
attack Kerem Shalom, too." He said that he would meet with
COGAT Major General Yosef Mishlev on February 23 to determine
how long Karni should be closed in light of the February 21.
He commented that he knows it is a lifeline for the
Palestinian people, but that the GOI is responsible for the
lives of its people and it cannot take the risk of exposing
its soldiers or civilians to damage. The Ambassador asked
whether there was a new plan to reinforce security at the
crossings, besides scanners. Mofaz replied that,
notwithstanding the cabinet declarations of February 19,
there has been no change in policy regarding security at
Karni and Kerem Shalom.

--------------
Hamas-led Government
--------------


5. (C) The Ambassador inquired about what the GOI would do
when Hamas and Ismail Haniya take over the Palestinian
government. Mofaz responded that from Israel's perspective,
the government is a terrorist government until it accepts
Israel's three stated conditions. Gilad interjected that it
was "disturbing" to hear that Fatah elements may want to join
a coalition. Mofaz continued that it would be difficult for
the GOI to speak to anyone in the PA, and that Israel does
not make a distinction between Haniya and PA President Mahmud
Abbas because the government is "one authority, one entity."
He rhetorically asked who would take responsibility if
terrorism continued after the government was established, and
added that for the time being, the GOI is waiting to see if
Hamas accepts its conditions.

--------------
Humanitarian Needs of the Palestinians
--------------


6. (C) The Ambassador also asked how Israel would handle the
issue of the humanitarian needs of the Palestinians. Mofaz
replied that humanitarian channels such as USAID, UNRWA, and
the Red Cross would continue as long as the aid goes directly
to the Palestinian people and not through Hamas. He said
that Mishlev would have a meeting with the heads of NGOs to
explain the GOI's policy on this matter. He also said that
the GOI expects to review this policy every week. The
Ambassador told Mofaz that A/S David Welch would be
interested in discussing the humanitarian needs of the
Palestinians with Israeli officials during his visit this
weekend. The Ambassador explained that the PA currently has
a budgetary shortfall of about $65 million, and asked whether
the GOI would continue to provide water, electricity, and
fuel to the Palestinians. Mofaz replied that Israel would do
so, but did not address the issue of payment for fuel
supplies. He emphasized that while it would not limit
humanitarian support, it would change the way the support is
delivered. The Ambassador stressed the need for creativity
from Israel on how to meet the humanitarian needs of the
Palestinians.

--------------
Who Does the GOI Talk To?
--------------


7. (C) The Ambassador told Mofaz that he had recently
learned that Alternate Prime Minister Ehud Olmert would not
move forward on the AMA customs agreement with the
Palestinians. Mofaz said that the GOI cannot sign a document
with "someone who doesn't recognize us." In response to the
Ambassador's question, Gilad replied that the GOI attitude on
the customs agreement might change if the Palestinians
recognized the AMA security protocol. Dayton asked for
clarification on the GOI's policy on meeting with Palestinian
officials, and Mofaz explained that on specific issues, such
as Rafah, GOI officials would have to get permission from the
cabinet before the meeting took place on a case-by-case
basis. The Ambassador asked whether security forces in the
West Bank would be able to talk to their Palestinian
counterparts. Mofaz replied that they could, but in the
future that could be more difficult depending on whether
Hamas gains control of security at an operational level.

********************************************* ********************
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