IFRC ENVOY PAR STENBACK FAIRLY POSITIVE ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 003285 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2012 TAGS: PREL PHUM PREF PGOV KPAL IS SUBJECT: IFRC ENVOY PAR STENBACK FAIRLY POSITIVE ON IMPLEMENTATION OF MDA-PRCS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING REF: A. TEL AVIV 3045 ¶B. JERUSALEM 2185 ¶C. GENEVA 2478 ¶D. NOVEMBER 8 NEA/IPA EMAIL ¶E. NOVEMBER 14 GOI EMAIL TO THE AMBASSADOR Classified By: Ambassador Richard Jones for Reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) Summary. International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) Special Envoy Par Stenback suggested to the Ambassador on November 2 that his progress report on the implementation of the MOU between Magen David Adom and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society would be fairly positive. He expected the remaining technical details for the operation of five PRCS ambulances in East Jerusalem would soon be resolved. According to Stenback, the Israeli MFA had forwarded to the Civil Administration the PRCS request to increase the number of West Bank ambulances that could transfer patients to East Jerusalem hospitals. He said that he intends to use vague language on MDA,s progress in transferring ownership of MDA ambulances operating in West Bank Israeli settlements to the settlement authorities. Stenback planned to soon share his progress report with MDA and PRCS and then, on November 22, he will share it with Arab societies prior to the Council of Delegates meeting on November 24. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) In a November 2 meeting, IFRC Special Envoy Per Stenback thanked the Ambassador for helping to change GOI attitudes towards the MDA-PRCS MOU, which are dramatically different now than in June, he said. The Ambassador noted that, on October 30, he had discussed separately with Shalom Tourgeman, Prime Minister Olmert,s Foreign Policy Advisor, and Ambassador Ron Prosor, Senior Advisor to Minister of Transportation Mofaz, the remaining technical details for the five PRCS ambulances to operate in East Jerusalem. Both Tourgeman and Prosor had assured the Ambassador that an exemption would be made to allow the PRCS ambulances to bear the colors and markings of the national society. Stenback said that he, too, was convinced that this issue would be resolved. He also indicated that the MFA had found a formula to allow PRCS to import the vehicles without paying customs duties. ¶3. (SBU) Other steps to implement the MOU, including facilitated access for PRCS ambulances through internal West Bank checkpoints and an increased number of pre-authorized ambulances to transfer patients to East Jerusalem hospitals, remain on the table. According to Stenback, the MFA has forwarded to the IDF-led Civil Administration the PRCS request to add another 14 ambulances and 70 - 80 medics and drivers to the pre-authorized list allowed access to East Jerusalem. The Ambassador noted that ICRC and PRCS should expect the IDF to approve 70 - 80 percent of permit requests, as is the norm. Stenback said he had discussed the delays caused by internal West Bank checkpoints with COGAT Mishlev, who asserted that there are standing instructions for the IDF to allow facilitated access to ambulances. Stenback noted, however, that implementation is difficult since most checkpoints lack the infrastructure, e.g., a "humanitarian lane," needed for quick entry and exit. He expressed confidence in the MFA,s commitment to follow-up on these issues. ¶4. (C) Stenback acknowledged that the question of operational territory for the two societies is a prickly political issue, but that IFRC rules stipulate that a national society may not operate in another society,s territory. (Note: The MDA-PRCS MOU states that "MDA will ensure that it has no chapters outside the internationally recognized borders of the State of Israel." End Note.) MDA Chairman Noam Yifrach, he said, had agreed to transfer ownership of MDA ambulances in three Israeli West Bank settlements to the settlement,s municipal authorities prior to the November IFRC conference. Stenback believes the MFA General Legal Advisor Daniel Taub is pressuring Yifrach not to do this, arguing that MDA is meddling in politics prior to the Annapolis conference. ¶5. (C) Stenback reported that, in a November 1 meeting, Taub made a legal argument against MDA pulling out its West Bank chapters based on the Oslo Accords, provision that the GOI is responsible for health in the occupied territories. Stenback regards this argument as irrelevant in the context of two non-political national societies. Stenback said that Taub also expressed concern that, if the territorial issue becomes public, there will be a strong backlash against MDA. The Ambassador pointed out that this should be Yifrach,s concern, not the GOI,s concern. Stenback agreed. However, he said, Yifrach and other MDA officers are "under threat" from the MFA; one senior MDA officer feels his career will be ruined if he pursues this issue. In response to MDA,s fears, Stenback said he is prepared to "tone down" the language of his progress report to reflect the ongoing cooperation of the two societies on this issue. Ari Varon in the Prime Minister,s office seemed to accept this approach, he added, and hoped other IFRC delegates would as well. ¶6. (SBU) Stenback plans to provide his progress report to the Council of Delegates when it meets November 23-24. Under the original agenda item, he was scheduled to present his report on November 30, at the conclusion of the International Conference of Red Cross/Red Crescent (November 26-30.) However, the Arab members of the council have requested IFRC to add an agenda item specifically on implementation of the MDA-PRCS MOU, so that date could change, he said. Stenback anticipated that he would first share his report with MDA and PRCS, after which he would present it to the Arab members at a November 22 meeting convened by Jordanian Red Crescent Society President and Chairman of the IFRC Standing Commission Jordanian Mohammed Al-Hadid. The Arab members have agreed to keep their draft resolution open until after Stenback provides them his report. ¶7. (C) Comment. Since the Ambassador's meeting with Stenback, new snags have again delayed implementation of the ambulance agreement. Mofaz told U/S Burns November 7 (reftel D) that PRCS ambulances would never be allowed to operate in East Jerusalem, but the next day changed his tune and agreed that Israel had made a commitment to us on the five ambulances. On November 13, however, MFA conveyed to Regional Refugee Officer and Embassy Refugee Reporting Officer that the Ministry of Health would not agree to the ambulances without significant changes in the ambulance markings by the PRCS, undercutting the MOT commitment. With the GOI stance on the ambulances seemingly changing on a daily basis, often depending on which office we speak with, we cannot predict with certainty whether the ambulances will be operational before the ICRC conference. We are hopeful that the most recent commitment from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to the Ambassador -- the PMO sent a letter November 15 to the Ministry of Health clarifying that the ambulances should be allowed to operate in East Jerusalem -- proves successful. If the GOI does not deliver on its ambulance promises, Stenback's optimistic forecast for the IFRC report will be compromised, and Arab/Muslim calls for retaliation against MDA will be strengthened. End Comment. ********************************************* ******************** 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